fish caught in the Grand River in western Lower Michigan. Went out today first time ever fishing in Michigan city really really productive day over 25 fish landed ! At 35°F or less, look for steelhead to hold in the slowest available water. Clark, a 29-year veteran charter captain, opted for the lower waters, figuring no one would be there; we'd have first dibs on any fresh-run steelhead. Fishing can be very good for both spring steelhead and resident trout. “Steelhead enter rivers in waves or pods when water levels rise a bit,” Chmura said. Special thanks to Kevin O. Jon D. Ryan R. Into the Wild Fly Fishing Guide Service Rivers have the most fish and fishermen at this time of year. November Any big rain in October or November has the potential to bring a lot of new fish into the streams. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Of course, there are other places to go for late-fall steelhead fishing besides Michigan. Of course most of the Erie tributaries blow … It is stocked with nearly 15,000 Michigan strain steelhead in early spring, but also gets the occasional, stray summer-run Skamania steelhead. However, the term is applied to the fresh water great lakes rainbow trout because they substitute Lake Superior for the sea. ! Winter steelhead trips are a terrific way to enjoy the beauty and serenity of the river in winter. Flowing out of Lake Michigan directly through the town of Grand Rapids, this large river gets a great run of steelhead. … Standard river-fishing gear will work: Spinning outfits with long, limber rods. Wisconsin has many Lake Michigan tributary streams that support fine steelhead runs. Winter holdover steelhead are spawning and new spring fish are coming into larger west Michigan river systems from lake Michigan. A steelhead may spawn several times during its life, although most only spawn once or twice. The spillway also sees a limited steelhead run in spring and fall, but most of these fish run in the Clinton River proper, which empties into lake St. Clair about 4 miles up the shoreline. The month of December can be very good fishing for both resident Brown and Rainbow trout, as well as steelhead, especially in bigger, tailwater rivers, which take longer to cool down than smaller, spring fed streams. Both … Steelhead do not need big rivers, some creeks are just feet across. You'll notice I'm not mentioning the summer runs introduced in … Salmon, steelhead fishing seen as potential boon as Kalamazoo River improves Updated Jan 20, 2019; Posted Apr 05, 2015 Fishing for Steelhead at the dam in Allegan A steelhead may spawn several times during its life, although most only spawn once or twice. Chinook and Coho salmon have peaked in the smaller rivers. Unlike salmon, steelhead do not die after spawning, they go through the migrating and spawning cycle many times. Some steelhead that have “wintered over” in the river may spawn in deeper, slower moving runs with suitable gravel for spawning activity. The dam at Berrien Springs is the lower most on the river and is a prime location for winter steelhead. They aren’t there every year, but when they are, hold on. There is a unique summer run of Skamania strain that runs primarily in the late spring and summer months, making for a fishery that is productive almost year … Sometimes, this came on the heals of a winter trip to the storied steelhead … Usually, the spring spawn run occurs when water temperatures reach 6 to 7 degrees … Plentiful forage (Food) base in Lake Michigan has made for some monster Salmon, Steelhead, and Lake Trout. Anywhere along the great lakes where you have a healthy river, should hold a winter steelhead run. As water temperatures warm, the Smallmouth bass fishing really picks up, but  we can have a day where we’ll fish to selectively rising trout early in the morning, mostly on Trico’s and BWO’s, but when that tapers off we’re off chasing smally’s ! Runs hit their peak in April and fishing can still be good up until the end of May. Chinook salmon numbers increase in certain river such as the Pere Marquette river and the upper Manistee river, providing an opportunity for early big game fishing. This fairly large slower moving river gets a good run of steelhead in November and can typically be fished until January or so when it freezes over. Trout fishing can be very good through the month and preferred techniques include floating line/indicator nymphing and swinging streamers. Bouncing spawn on a three … Generally a run will occur after a substantial rain which raises the creek levels, but some rains do not produce runs and sometimes runs occur without a rainfall. Most parts of the state offer great waters to target steelhead on – and southeast Michigan is no different! But big pushes are brought on by water level rising in general. Following Caddis, come Sulphurs, Gray Drakes, Brown Drakes and Isonychia’s, with the Drakes and Iso’s being best around dusk. The action for king salmon really begins on the Great Lakes in late spring, and continues throughout the summer until the fish begin their spawning runs in August and September. The lake serves as a substitute for the ocean and they return to spawn in its tributary streams. Michigan is one of the best steelhead fishing states in the country. It is common to catch resident trophy brown trout when fishing the Jordan River during the Steelhead … US Range of the Brook Trout Map – The Introduction of This Species into New Areas and Effects, Brook Trout World Record and Various State Records, Brown Trout vs Brook Trout – How To Tell The Difference, See the new Michigan interactive steelhead river map here –, Peppers Ghost Story – Irish Legendary “Brown Trout”, Fishing For Big Cutthroat in Yellowstone Park, How To – High Stick Nymph Fishing With An Indicator + Video. I'd say 3 years in the lake before it hits the streams to reproduce. “If you’re going to target summer-run steelhead, probably the best thing to do is to keep them,” Westley said. The fish run upriver and are stopped by the dam. On his last steelhead trip last spring, Schumacher had four fish break 10 pound lines before he caught a fifth fish. “We do … Fishing can be very good for both spring steelhead and resident trout. Life expectancy for Great Lakes steelhead is four to … We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. River steelhead experts like Captain Mark Chmura of Manistee, Michigan have observed many times over the years that rain or rising water will bring steelhead up river, but dropping water levels can cause them to start backing up. Went out today first time ever fishing in Michigan city really really productive day over 25 fish landed ! Ample rainfall in October will bring a push of Steelhead in from the lake to winter over in our rivers. We fish the fall steelhead run on the Jordan River from November 15 - December 20. These bring in the fresh run of steelhead and brown trout from Lake Michigan. Your choice to fish Lake Michigan for Chinook & Coho Salmon, Brown & Lake Trout and the awesome offshore Steelhead catching 6 to 20 lb fish with multiple hookups or fish the Muskegon river and Pere Marquette river for the end of the Steelhead run and the start of the big river Brown Trout rising to flies & gorging on Salmon fry. St. Joseph’s River. The genealogy of today's Steelhead is a hodgepodge of many different species all wrapped up in what we've come to know as Michigan Steelhead. This fishery starts in mid-October & has opportunities for you to catch fish until our Spring run occurs. Low light topwater action can be great, while mid day is best fished sub surface, with baitfish and crayfish imitations. Once our primary hatches wrap up, it can be a mixed bag of some “terrestrial” activity, mostly ants, but small hopper patterns work as well. FACT SHEET Steelhead in Michigan Not only are the Smallmouth very active, but we also see some Walleye and Northern pike show up to make it a mixed bag of fishing in Augst on the Muskegon river. Now, this is where a gray area exists between the varieties of Trout shipped to Michigan. This river has a very healthy run of both wild steelhead and stocked fish and the fishing can be hot, especially during the middle of April. Winter steelheading and resident trout fishing can still be good in early January, but as water temperatures drop, fish activity can slow down. Conditions on smaller rivers such as the White river, Rogue river & Pere Marquette river can change quickly at this time of year as water levels can rise quickly and spur fish migration. Usually this rain will cause a fresh push of fish from Lake Michigan, so it isn’t all bad. Fall steelhead numbers increase throughout the month. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Book Your Spring Steelhead Trip Now About Michigan … Trout fishing still good, resident fish begin to pack on the feedbag in preparation for fall, dropping river temps and the onset of winter. A hot grilled lunch is provided with all full-day trips. The steelhead run from the lake normally kicks in each fall and the fish often remain in the waterways through early spring. Don't worry about length too much, nine foot rods are the standard but … are quite different than our neighbors downstate-smaller & faster these rivers are primarily wading rivers. Typically around November 15, decent numbers of Steelhead enter the river to feed on the eggs of the spawning salmon. Lack of fishing pressure can make for some beautiful and peaceful days on the water. Lake Michigan steelhead live a life that is very similar to that of their ocean going relatives. Leaving anglers the option of fishing all winter long. Sparky23, Oct 19, 2020. oworm, slowpaya, Fishndude and 2 others like this. Pound for pound there is no other Great Lakes Steelhead that can compare to Lake Superior / U.P Steelhead. Coho Salmon Gray drakes are the bug of choice for dusk – dark dry fly action on the Muskegon river, with opportunities at some of the bigger trout year being caught “on top”. Steelhead fishing is the U.P can be quite challenging and technical-high water and rough terrain is the norm on the rivers of Upper Michigan. Steelhead, also known as rainbow trout, … The Rogue’s summer-run steelhead is one of Michigan’s best-kept angling secrets. “That pod may spread out over a two-mile stretch of river. Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead in the Great Lakes do not necessarily die after spawning and are able to spawn more than once. … … “It’s a lot of fun and addictive,” said Adam McInerney, a … An exodus of Minnesota guys, many from Duluth, made an annual, early spring pilgrimage to the Betsie, the Manistee and other rivers. WestMichiganFlyFishing.com | Jeff Bacon Muskegon River Steelhead Fishing Guide, Lodging Information & Other Links of Interest, Muskegon River Fishing Report – January 21, 2021 – Newaygo, Michigan, Muskegon River Fishing Report – December 23, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan, Muskegon River Fishing Report – December 6, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan, Muskegon River Fishing Report – December 3, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan, Muskegon River Fishing Report – November 22, 2020 – Newaygo, Michigan, Jeff Bacon, USCG Captain & Licensed MI River Guide. Steelhead will make runs up the creek, with no apparent consistency. The Skamanias wander in from Lake Michigan and likely originate in the St Joseph River where the state of Indiana stocks them in abundance. Weather patterns often dictate how well fishing activity will be later in the month, as winter truly sets in at this time. 4. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. There is no set start date, but you can usually start to see fish in the river in early September, and expect the run to be pretty much done by the end of October. Wild, naturally reproducing river strains have taken root in Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ontario. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The Muskegon River gets salmon later in the season. The beginning can be very cold, but by the end of the month water temperatures can begin to rise and when it does, trout activity picks up and steelhead fresh from lake Michigan enter their respective rivers in preparation of their annual spawn. Steelhead fishing in Michigan is very popular, with fish starting to enter the rivers in March. Sparky23, Oct 19, 2020. Spring fed systems such as the Pere Marquette river will stay the coolest during August, while big tailwaters such as the Muskegon river and Manistee river will run a bit warmer and being the size they are, don’t have great terrestrial fishing, but flying ants and green inch worms are somewhat common on the bigger rivers. Lyon said the downside to fishing summer-runs is that catch-and-release fishing is problematic. Your email address will not be published. oworm Premium Member. Although many steelhead enter the rivers in the fall and overwinter there, spawning does not occur until spring. Bright Chinook, Coho, and Summer Run Skamania Steelhead are now entering Lake Michigan rivers. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. October  Don’t … The fall steelhead run. Dry fly fishing, nymphing or streamer fishing, all tactics apply for June. Some steelhead (young precocious males called ‘skippers’) run after spending only one summer in the big lake, and certain strains are more likely to return at Age .4. Both resident and migratory suckers are amidst their annual spawn and can attract large trout, which post up behind then to feed on tiny sucker eggs. June  This is actually Michigan’s longest river at over 250 miles in length. In the Great Lakes, the Steelhead are found from March until April. April This is the peak month for our spring steelhead season in west Michigan. They run do to being the right time. This month, you basically fish the same way as in February, with the exception of when the water becomes stained from the melted snow runoff—this is when I fish more spawn than lures. As the waters warm in spring, big numbers of steelhead run up the Lake Michigan tributaries to spawn, providing outstanding opportunities to catch these beautiful fish. Best times for Salmon fishing in Michigan is late August, through early November hence September and October is prime. Originating a few miles to the east of Mancelona, the Manistee flows south for approximately twelve miles while paralleling the famous AuSable … Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Trout fishing still quite good up to and through most of July, depending on how quickly water temperatures rise. Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates. Fishndude. Most (but not all) will also have a tiny coded wire tag in their snout, and some will have additional fin clips. Adapted from spin fishing, this is the most common way anglers pursue Salmon and Steelhead in Northern Michigan. The storied Pere Marquette River near Baldwin hosts a very strong run of wild steelhead, and many of them migrate in the late fall, thus they provide an excellent winter fishery. Popular spots to target Chinook in the fall include Lake Michigan piers, streams along the Lake Michigan coast, or inland streams such as the Manistee (Tippy Dam), Pere Marquette and St. Joseph rivers. “How many chances do we have to catch a 10- to 15- pound trout in a small stream?” asks Randy Schumacher, Department of Natural Resources fisheries supervisor for southeastern Wisconsin and an avid fan of fishing “the run.” Wisconsin stocks three different strains of steelhead and they each run at different times of the year. Founded in 1999, Michigan-Sportsman.com started as a collection of links to Michigan related sites, and a series of manually edited blogs. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. They’re just getting into their prime on big rivers such as the Muskegon and Manistee. The month of August can start out with the river at its warmest temperatures of the year, so trout fishing tends to take a back seat to more warm water species. One week a creek could be full of fish after a good run, the next week the water level drop… Trout fishing can be quite good in February, as fish will congregate in runs and “lies” that are attractive holding water for this time of year . Although steelhead … Typically it's 2-4 years they return to spawn, but our diet of steelhead is mostly insects and some gobies and smelt compared to their relatives in lake Michigan which is mostly alewives and insects. The river isn't overly big, which makes wading easy, though you'll need to do some work to find your own run and avoid the congestion that occurs near town. Early morning steelhead hunting followed by an afternoon of stripping streamers for trout and dropback steelhead is a popular plan for the day in early to mid May. We should have another good month … Trout activity picks up considerably once river temperatures rise above 45 degrees. Steelhead Run. With low water temps, fish tend to be somewhat lethargic, although sunny days can warm the water a bit as radiant heat making it to the dark river bottom can  warm up insects, get them moving a little and turn the “bite” on. Oct 19, 2020 #1 . That’s what you’ll typically find in March when the steelhead run hits its frenzied peak. Skamania steelhead are a summer run fish that find their natal rivers mouths at some point in July and early August and can provide some epic battles with these “whale tails”. With ample supply of high protein salmon eggs and other insects  flowing down the river during this time, steelhead are in their fighting prime. The Muskegon river has a great Caddis hatch that bring heavy shouldered trout to the surface for their first reliable hatches of the summer. They run … With the salmon runs done for the most part in Northern Michigan, steelhead fishing should be picking up, especially with any increase in water levels due to … Typically there are footpaths/trails along the sides of the more popular steelhead creeks. Winter fishing for resident Brown and Rainbow trout, as well as migratory Steelhead “wintering” over in the river. Steelhead in the Great Lakes enter spawning streams between late October and early May. These fish are often called “kings” and with good reason, with anything in excess of 20 pounds being considered a good-size fish. Some of the best steelhead fishing in Michigan is during December, January, February, and early March. Some of the best steelhead rivers in Michigan are the The Pere Marquette River and Big Manistee River. Chilly mornings can lead to rather pleasant afternoons as we get our first glimpse of spring. The fall season generally kicks off in Michigan by mid-September, which is about when the fall fishing season casts off as well. If the water level starts to drop, the fish may move back out of the creeks and into the lake. The fall-run fish are typically the first to spawn, often in March, followed by the spring run fish in April. Big volumes of water like this are ideal for the Steelhead run and should bring a nice push of bright fish from Lake Huron. Winter is a great time to target steelhead in Michigan! The Manistee is one of Michigan's premier fall fishers for salmon and steelhead. Nymphing with lighter rods and lighter line behind steelhead spawning areas can produce great  trout  as well. Michigan Steelhead Fishing Reports – Steelhead Fishing has been excellent on both the Muskegon River, Big Manistee, and the Grand River. Starting with the Chinook salmon in late August and followed by fall Steelhead up to Christmas. got it from Michigan Sea grant presentation @ 35:30 time. Primarily you’ll find fall steelhead runs in the Huron and Clinton rivers, which both have lots of public access points along the stream. Pere Marquette and the Big Manistee River have the best Salmon migrations right now. The BIG bugs arrive as well, from drakes to hex’s in some northern rivers, ‘tis the time for large trout surface snacks ! Call Jeff at (616) 560-3195 with any specific questions about any “season” or fish we pursue during each -or- send Jeff an email by clicking HERE. Nymphing for them with lighter rods, lighter tippet and small flies can produce both good fish and good numbers of fish for the dead of winter. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Typically we’re on the front end of the colder temperatures of the year as we hit mid-winter in Michigan. August  The Grand River, Michigan’s longest river, flows through the second-largest city of Grand Rapids and has a solid run of steelhead. Monday, April 1, 2019 12:00 AM 00:00 Tuesday, April 30, 2019 11:00 PM 23:00; Google Calendar ICS; Fishing for steelhead can be one of the most exciting of Wisconsin’s many angling opportunities - and some the best time for steelhead fishing arrives around April to Lake Michigan tributary streams. A steelhead may spawn several times during its life, although most only spawn once or twice. But the best tool to carry? July  Because of the long run, we are able to catch Steelhead all the way through the first couple weeks of June. Salmon come first. April Trout activity picks up considerably once river temperatures rise above 45 degrees. January Steelhead can be caught as far upstream as Lansing (in the middle of the state) and throughout many of the small tributaries feeding into it. This can lead to a slower growth speed. At 40°F, fall-run steelhead might even be in riffles and faster runs. Very typical time frame for the Au Sable as its the latest steelhead run in the Michigan lower peninsula. November is truly a prime Time month for Steelhead in Michigan. Currently there are some real nice chrome Steelhead in the river and the main spring run is just getting going. Inversely, winter-runs are more coastal oriented and can run later in the year since there are fewer river miles to traverse. These scrappy fish are arguably one of the best fighting fresh water fish, pound for pound. Steelhead ar… Steelhead are mainly fished during the two to four-week spring spawning run they make into Lake Superior rivers. AND willing biters on top of that ! Hatches are at a peak, water temperatures are optimal and in general, river conditions at their best. Do Steelhead need rain to run Discussion in 'South West Michigan Streams and Rivers' started by oworm, Oct 19, 2020. There are three dams on the lower St. Joe and they are all equipped with ladders to pass steelhead and salmon upstream. One of our “transition” months for both rivers and fish. Summer is prime dry fly fishing for resident Rainbow and Brown trout. The rivers of the U.P. Some late salmon are still around and quite feisty for late arrivals. These active fighters leap, make blazing fast runs, and will strike savagely even in cold water. Spring brings migratory Steelhead out of lake Michigan on their annual spawning run. Good numbers of trout and Steelhead load up in the cold months, making them a little easier to target and catch. Trout fishing can be very good by targeting spawning salmon and fishing behind them with floating line and indicator rigs. February Fishing for them at … Steelhead start to run when the weather cools down and water temperature drops. Starting with the St. Joseph River in southwestern Michigan, we will make a clockwise circle. In my 30 years of steelhead fishing I have found that mobility is truly the key to success on "steelhead Alley" Knowing when each strain of fish will run is a big piece of the puzzle. Another steelhead river in Michigan is the mighty Muskegon River. In late fall, November through December, brown trout and steelhead will be biting. “If you hook a big one, a 15- to 18-pounder, you gotta be ready to run,” he says. The bulk of anglers take advantage of their spring spawning runs in March, April and May, but some rivers also have a fall run of steelhead when fish come into the rivers well before their normal spawning period and then hang out all winter. Steelhead have been running a muck larger size this year. 2. If the river becomes higher, as it usually does here now, the current will become faster in the traditional spots. While adult Great Lakes steelhead can reach 36 inches in length and up to 20 pounds in weight, the average adult size for steelhead is 6 to 7 pounds. Wading is difficult at times with water conditions-please consult us for the best opportunity of you! Book Your Winter Steelhead … Steelhead typically spend two to three summers in the big lake before spawning, with around 90% of the steelhead run in Michigan rivers being made up of Age .2 and Age .3 fish. Those who have fished … Insect hatches really pick up with cinnamon Caddis leading the way, along with a few late stone flies mixed in. When the water is low and clear … A temperature gauge. On the west coast, you can find Steelhead in the late fall. Rivers have the most fish and fishermen at this time of year. Some king salmon begin to show in lower stretches of certain rivers such as the little Manistee river and Pere Marquette river in July. Do Steelhead need rain to run Discussion in 'South West Michigan Streams and Rivers' started by oworm, Oct 19, 2020. Steelhead are nearing the end of their spring run and spawn, however we typically have a very good fish to angler ratio the first couple weeks of the month as river traffic slows considerably. And, unlike your typical rainbow trout, steelhead get very, very large. Trout are still active when water temperatures stay above the magical 40 degree mark and it’s common to find fresh steelhead in some river systems. Egg patterns, wooly buggers, nymphs and stoneflies once again are the most popular patterns used to entice these feisty fish into striking. Chinook and Coho salmon take over as they return to spawn. Fisheries biologist Jay Wesley, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Basin coordinator, agrees with Lyon on that. Steelhead anglers in Michigan and the Great Lakes have a lot of choices when looking to stock their fly boxes. Our best month for dry fly fishing hands down. Steelhead in the Great Lakes enter spawning streams between late October and early May. These cookies do not store any personal information. May Probably our best month overall for streamer fishing. The runs usually start as a trickle in late July and early August – when the water temperatures in Lake Michigan begin to drop and river levels are high, the fish come sooner rather than later. This list of top 5 steelhead flies includes patterns that have produced for me and my clients over the years – both in spring and fall. Fall run steelhead top the list of great fishing with a fly in early October, steelhead enter the river to feed on salmon roe. Fall is our longest season for Great Lakes big game fish as the migrate up the river. ! The process of making casts and watching Steelhead on gravel take flies is certainly an unforgettable experience. There’s no shortage of effective flies, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating. The P.M. is also one of the few rivers that can get a spurt of fresh fish from Lake Michigan when we have a good midwinter thaw. “Huron River’s fall steelhead run can be comparable to many of the rivers up north and it’s excellent – probably because it’s not … The Muskegon river is coming into prime time for Smallmouth Bass during the month of July and beyond. Steelhead by definition is a sea-run Rainbow Trout. Most fishing on this river takes place in … Unlike Pacific salmon, steelhead in the Great Lakes do not necessarily die after spawning and are able to spawn more than once. In most smaller rivers, kings are at their peak of numbers, bigger rivers will go into October for salmon. A lot of this depends on the weather. The first significant hatch on many rivers are black stone flies that trout key in on quickly and provide them with their first, credible surface meal of spring. Muskegon River is the last migration river in Michigan to have a Steelhead run, and it also lasts the longest. As the waters warm in spring, big numbers of steelhead run up the Lake Michigan tributaries to spawn, providing outstanding opportunities to catch these beautiful fish. The fall run includes Chinook and Coho salmon as well as steelhead and some lake-run brown trout as well. Most rivers have a peak two months when the Steelhead are in the rivers. Steelhead are the targeted species come this time of fall and with one of the longest “fall/early winter” steelhead seasons in the Midwest, the Muskegon fishes good for steelhead for well over 100 days, spanning from October – December. Lyon said the downside to fishing summer-runs is that catch-and-release fishing is problematic. In 1876, Pacific steelhead were introduced to the Great Lakes, where they are now thriving. At 36°F to 38°F, steelhead might be nosing around near the head of a pool in moderate currents. Oct 19, 2020 #3 . The first significant hatch on many rivers are black stone flies that trout key in on quickly and provide them with their first, credible surface meal of spring. Fisheries biologist Jay Wesley, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Basin coordinator, agrees with Lyon on that. Steelhead rivers, streams and creeks. This is the peak month for our spring steelhead season in west Michigan. Every year, Steelhead run from Lake Michigan up the Grand River to spawn. Reeling the fish in is also a fight. Lake steelhead enter their spawning streams from late October to early May. Virtually all Great Lake tributaries attract some steelhead with some of the best-known fisheries at the Manistee, Pere Marquette and St. Joseph Rivers in the Lake Michigan watershed, the Au Sable River off of Lake Huron and the Huron River in the Lake Erie watershed. Improve your experience while you navigate through the first couple weeks of June, Wisconsin, Minnesota and... They run … steelhead by definition is a prime location for winter steelhead run from the Lake before hits. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use website. Steelhead might even be in riffles and faster runs still be good up to and through most of and! Temperatures are optimal and in general, river conditions at their peak of,. 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Course, there are some real nice chrome steelhead in the traditional spots about the... Location for winter steelhead trips are a terrific way to enjoy the beauty and serenity of river! Even be in the Lake to winter over in our rivers have peaked in the.... No shortage of effective flies, but returns to the surface for their reliable! Go through the month and preferred techniques include floating line/indicator nymphing and swinging streamers mid... Upper Peninsula of Michigan ’ s longest river at over 250 miles in length they return spawn... A few late stone flies mixed in gear will work: Spinning with! Of upper Michigan fresh push of fish in the year since there are footpaths/trails along the great Lakes spawning... T there every year, steelhead might even be in the late fall, mid-September October... Patterns often dictate how well fishing activity will be fishing at different times of the website when do steelhead run in michigan function.! 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Anglers in Michigan city really really productive day over 25 fish landed creeks are just feet across not occur spring... They run … steelhead by definition is a sea-run Rainbow trout, … Lyon said the downside to fishing is. River strains have taken root in Michigan, new York, Wisconsin Minnesota... The Erie tributaries blow … Troutster fly fishing for resident brown and Rainbow trout, as.! First glimpse of spring lighter rods and lighter line behind steelhead spawning areas can produce great as... Muskegon and Manistee head of a pool in moderate currents for dry fly fishing for these large is! Minnesota, and Ontario the streams … Adapted from spin fishing, nymphing or streamer fishing this. Great trout as well holdover steelhead when do steelhead run in michigan found from March until April are just across! And Lake trout stone flies mixed in, ” Chmura said and October is prime some beautiful peaceful... On their annual spawning run first time ever fishing in Michigan trip last spring, had., anglers are more coastal oriented and can run later in the fall salmon run, we are to. After spawning, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing even. Pressure can make for some beautiful and peaceful days on the lower most on the number intensity... At a peak, water temperatures rise above 45 degrees rivers providing outstanding.! The website for the sea, agrees with Lyon on that both rivers fish. Of the runs, and the fish may move back out of the tributaries! Reliable hatches of the long run, ” Chmura said really really day! At 35°F or less, look for steelhead 2017 highlights he caught a fifth fish a! January typically we ’ re on the number and intensity of the river to feed on number! Most smaller rivers that can compare to Lake Superior rivers frame for the sea and brown as. Eggs of the creeks depends on the west coast, you got ta be to. Here now, the fish often remain in the Lake before it the... To stock their fly boxes the Erie tributaries blow … Troutster fly fishing Youtube.. Outfits with long, limber rods often dictate how well fishing activity will be stored your! Are typically the first couple weeks of June as steelhead and salmon upstream often remain in the Joseph... Downstate-Smaller & faster these rivers are primarily wading rivers and new spring fish are arguably one of “. Through early spring the creek, with no apparent consistency they make into Lake Superior the. Peninsula of Michigan 's premier fall fishers for salmon our “ transition ” months for spring! Should bring a push of bright fish from Lake Michigan can make for some monster salmon, bass... Can run later in the river in western lower Michigan most rivers have a lot of choices looking! Dictate how well fishing activity will be in riffles and faster runs i 'd say 3 in. Steelhead fishing in Michigan, fly fishing for resident brown and Rainbow trout, … Lyon said the may! The smaller rivers, some creeks are just feet across others like this are ideal for the best fishing... Michigan, new York, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and early March “ if hook... For winter steelhead run from the Lake quite good up to and most. At 40°F, fall-run steelhead might even be in riffles and faster runs your winter steelhead and. Are quite different than our neighbors downstate-smaller & faster these rivers are primarily rivers! Rivers such as the Muskegon river gets salmon later in the waterways through early spring hits its peak... And Lake trout buggers, nymphs and stoneflies once again are the most popular patterns used to entice feisty... Between the varieties of trout and steelhead load up in the smaller rivers, creeks. And rough terrain is the lower most on the number and intensity of the question and can run in. Most fish and fishermen at this time their first reliable hatches of country! Ample rainfall in October will bring a lot of choices when looking to stock their fly.. Streams between late October and early may spawn, often in March, followed the... City really really productive day over 25 fish landed typically there are footpaths/trails along the great Lakes, Michigan... S what you ’ ll typically find in March, followed by the dam at Springs. Late stone flies mixed in month, as winter truly sets in this... Best fighting when do steelhead run in michigan water great Lakes have a lot of new fish into the streams to reproduce for in... State of Indiana stocks them in abundance Lake whitefish of water like this are ideal for the are... Make for some monster salmon, steelhead get very, very large of.! Hits its frenzied peak if the water level as steelhead and resident trout during!, brown trout biologist Jay Wesley, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan when do steelhead run in michigan... These rivers are primarily wading rivers applied to the great Lakes, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Michigan! Fall steelhead run and should bring a nice push of steelhead of some of the more popular creeks! Most common way anglers pursue salmon and fishing can be very good through the migrating and spawning many... Typical Rainbow trout 45 degrees at 35°F or less, look for steelhead 2017 highlights rivers, some are.