Fisheries biologists believe that were Croton Dam, the first dam upstream from Lake Michigan, to have a cold water draw from its reservoir, Muskegon River trout fly fishing would be national, if not world class in quality. As it stands as a so-called warm water draw impoundment, the Muskegon offers good, if not very good at times, classic fly fishing for trout. Hatches of caddis and May flies - most notably blue wing olives, sulphers, brown and grey drakes, caddis, and mahogany duns - occur up and down the river. May fly emergences are increasing in numbers, duration, and variety as the ecology of the river continues to evolve. The result is reliable, good to excellent, dry fly fishing.

Moreover, the river is loaded with steelhead and Chinook salmon smolts, as well as crayfish, making the Muskegon a premier streamer river for larger trout. Sculpin, bunny strip, and zonker streamer patterns "match the hatch" of the smolts and crayfish patterns are reliable and effective. The result: large brown and rainbow trout hooked on sink tip floating lines - trout that sometimes put our clients well into their fly line backing. In short, stripping streamers on the Muskegon River is a blast. The clear water allows one to see the takes and follows of the trout, only adding to the excitement of the day.

A unique resident trout fly fishery also occurs on the Muskegon River when we fish the so-called "sucker hatch." Using four weight rods with floating lines and strike indicators rigged with #18-20 egg patterns, we sight fish some special trout. Large browns and rainbows shoulder up behind the spawning suckers to snap up their eggs - and our clients' flies. These fish may run to over 20" so lots of care is required to bring them to hand. Once landed, these fish make memories sure to be long remembered and valued.