Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 8, 2021 – Newaygo, Michigan

Muskegon River Fishing Report – February 8, 2021 – Newaygo, Michigan

Adam, from CO, with a REALLY NICE Smallmouth bass taken on a streamer, during a trip back to Michigan last year.

The Muskegon river fishing report for February 8, 2021 in the Newaygo, Michigan area is about ARCTIC weather !!

With another “polar vortex” upon us, most won’t be thinking for fishing for a bit, as air temperatures are going to be in the single digits for the most part, for the better part of a week.  Click HERE for current and forecasted weather for the Newaygo, Michigan area.

Muskegon river flows have dropped a bit in the last couple days and is settled around 1,800 cfs and with the coldest water temperatures of the winter up to this point.  Click HERE for current Muskegon river water flow data.

For those considering getting out on your own for a couple hours here and there, some suggestions include the following.  Fish with a partner, “accidents” this time of year will find you with a very small window of time to resolve anything that you encounter.  A slip in the river will lead to your body exposed to a hypothermic environment REALLY fast.  As for the fishing, think small and light.  Small nymphs such as midge larva, caddis pupa and pheasant tails, coupled with 2.5 – 4# tippet, will be your best bet to find feeding fish.  Make the unhook and release part of your caching, a quick series of events.  A fish exposed to such cold air temps, will find it with gills freezing to each other if out of the water for too long.  Set a time limit on your outing and don’t forget the walk back.  It’s easy to get tied up with fishing, while you wander up or down river…..remember you have to get back to your vehicle and be aware of how long of a walk you sign up for, with frozen waders, iced up wading boots and any water that ends up “on you”, that will ultimately freeze in very little time.

Once this next round of cold air passes, I’ll be back out to chase some steelhead and trout….but not in THESE temps !

For those looking ahead to warmer days and nights, know that my schedule for prime steelhead and trout dry fly trips is filling fast.   In no time, I won’t have any open weekend dates left for sure and dates in prime time for steelhead being few and those for prime trout/dry fly fishing from late May – mid June being limited.

Good fishing !

Jeff