Muskegon River Fishing Report – May 27, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan

Muskegon River Fishing Report – May 27, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan

The Smally Topwater Box is loaded and ready for some “bronzebacks” !!!

The Muskegon river near the Newaygo, Michigan area is still running well above average flows due to the heavy rains and flooding that swept across Michigan the week before last.  Click HERE for current Muskegon river water flow data below Croton hydroelectric dam.

We’re coming into the 4-6 week time frame of early summer, where we’ll see a majority of the insect activity and hatches, that provide the best dry fly fishing of the year on this great tailwater fishery.  Caddis are coming off now, as well as a few Sulphurs and the famous Gray Drake hatch, flights and spinner falls are just beginning.  Pending changes in river conditions due to more heavy rains, this “hatch schedule” should hold true in the weeks ahead.  Click HERE for current and forecasted weather for the Newaygo, Michigan area.  As river levels continue to drop, we’ll see prolific flights of these bugs, with Gray Drakes in the evening being the most impressive.  

The best rigs/techniques for pursuing the resident Brown and Rainbow trout of the Muskegon river include dry fly fishing with 5-6 weight rods, leaders from 9-11′ long tapered down to 3-4# test and an assortment of Caddis and Sulphur emergers and dries, along with inert and spinner Gray Drake patterns.  We’ll see other bugs come out in the weeks ahead, but it’s most likely that the trout will be “looking up” for any one of these 3 flies.

Streamer fishing with baitfish or general attractor patterns, using 6-8 weight rods and reels spooled with a 2-300 grain sinking line or floating line and 10-15′ sink tip section looped onto your floating line, will also get flies down to where they need to be.  Patterns to have on hand include 2-3″ light colored baitfish patterns, larger imitations of baby Rainbow and Brown trout, along with some sparsely tied, but flashy “attractor” patterns.

Not too far ahead we’ll be looking to swap out the trout rigs for setups to pursue Smallmouth bass, Pike and the occasional Walleye on the Muskegon starting late June-early July, depending on how “summer” conditions set in this year.

With all the hectic “aspects” of life right now, there may never be a better time to get out for some hydro therapy.  Should you look to venture out on your own for a couple hours on a local stream and would like an updated report, feel free to call – 616-560-3195.  If you would like to talk about getting out for a full or half day outing with me, touch base and we’ll talk options, available dates and discuss general plans for such a trip.

For now….

Jeff