Muskegon Steelhead Fishing Report – March 4, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan

Paul got a pretty bright one today on the Muskegon river…..

The Muskegon river steelhead fishing report for March 4, 2020 in the Newaygo, Michigan area is all about the beginning of the spring steelhead run !

With much more mild weather than we’re accustomed to for this time of late winter, the Muskegon river spring run of steelhead will be starting a bit earlier than most years.  With almost all of the snow pack all but gone in the woods surrounding the river basin throughout the watershed, river temperatures will begin to rise quickly as warmer days and nights arrive.  Click HERE for current and forecasted weather for the Newaygo, Michigan area.

With both fly fishing and light spin tackle equipment, we’ll be targeting pre-spawn steelhead through the rest of March and into early April in rather specific “staging” pools and runs.  Historically, our spring steelhead run on the Muskegon river kicks off early to mid March and goes into May.  How long it actually fishes well, depends on river levels and temperatures.

Due to a “fair at best” fall and early winter steelhead season in 2019, we did not have a lot of steelhead winter over in the river and as a result, there are not a lot of “winter fish” that will be seeking out spawning grounds early.   Those that are in, will be quick to find suitable spawning habitat for the colder river conditions, over the next couple weeks. 

There have been some new steelhead coming into the river from lake Michigan recently, and we should see more “chromers” on their way in over the next week to 10 days.  

Present river levels are around average for this time of March, but the river is very clear with visibility up to nearly 10′.  Click HERE for current Muskegon river water flow data.

River temperature today was in the 36 degree range, but warmer times are coming !