◆ Guiding the Muskegon since 1997 · USCG-licensed guides
Plan your trip
Muskegon River
seasons
Steelhead, trout, smallmouth, pike and salmon, month by month.
Month by month
The Muskegon calendar
Tap a month to see what we’re fishing.
What we’re fishing
Tap a month to see what’s biting on the Muskegon.
| Species | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelheadSwung flies & nymphs | ||||||||||||
| Lake-run brown troutSculpin & baitfish flies | ||||||||||||
| King salmonFall run | ||||||||||||
| Resident troutBelow Croton Dam | ||||||||||||
| Smallmouth bassPoppers & crayfish | ||||||||||||
| Northern pikeSlow water & reservoirs |
Fall: September to December
Kings concentrate in October, lake-run browns arrive, and fall steelhead get strong by the third week of October. Prime time for swung flies, and the fall colors are spectacular.
Winter: December to February
Steelhead on swung flies and nymphs, lake-run browns on sculpins, and resident trout on the soft edges.
Spring: March to May
Peak steelhead numbers in late March and April, stonefly dries in March and April, and big hatches by May.
Summer: June to September
Dry flies for trout in June, then smallmouth on poppers and crayfish from late June to late September, plus northern pike.
Licenses
Get your license before the trip
You need a valid Michigan fishing license. Buy one online from the Michigan DNR.
Water levels
Check the USGS gauge
Flows and water temperature drive the fishing. Check the gauge near Croton, or just ask your guide.
See you on the Muskegon.
Pick a full or half day and a date and book it online in a minute. Your guide confirms the start time and meeting spot before the trip.