Muskegon River Fishing Report – September 2, 2017 – Newaygo, MI

Antonio came from Brazil with 18 others to do some fishing in the United States. After leaving AK, they came to west MI to get in on some  Michigan salmon fishing on the Pere Marquette river and he got this nice, 20# female Chinook on day 1.

The Muskegon river fishing report for September 2, 2017 has a emphasis on “seasons of change”…..as we’re about to see a BIG change over the next few weeks.

With the arrival of shorter days, cooler nights and the first of the changing leaves on the Maple tree’s, so come the first signs of our fall Chinook salmon run on the Muskegon river.  We are not far from seeing the first salmon make it into the river, where they will stage in deeper pools and runs, before working their way towards spawning grounds.

We ARE in the heart of the Chinook salmon run on the Pere Marquette river (PM), between the port town of Ludington and east towards Baldwin where the headwaters of the PM are.  Recent outings have been closer to Ludington, where we’re casting-retrieving lures to fresh run salmon, as well as floating bait rigs under bobbers, with long rods for these same fish.  Fishing IS going to improve in the days ahead, as we’re amidst a good spell of east winds, which is going to make lake Michigan “turn over” and bring cold water closer to shore and more fish up the Pere Marquette river.  The fish are MEAN this year…..AND BIG !!  With predominantly spinning and casting rods, we use heavy braided line to counter the size and strength of these beasts, occasionally we’ll run a attention getting fly by them with heavy fly rods and light sink tips.

Although the Muskegon river does not have much/any salmon fishing available now, it does have good Smallmouth bass fishing, as well as a legitimate shot at both Northern Pike and Walleye, depending on stretch of river and the runs or pools that one fishes.

With both fly fishing and light spin tackle equipment, we can put the right offering in front of all these fish and even have a chance at some topwater fishing early and late in the day.

Present water temperature in the Muskegon river around the Newaygo area is in the 66-67 degree range, a bit cooler closer to Croton dam.