May 02
2013

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report- May 2nd

Water levels and color were about perfect yesterday in the middle of the PM River near Walhalla. Steelhead numbers were good but you have to sort through a lot of “zombi” males to find fish that have interest in anything (like eating) besides chasing each other around.

The clearer water, probably in combination with greater insect activity has brought a nice change to the spring. Instead of the big bright eggs that have been working all season with the dirty water, half our fish yesterday chose the bug.

The river is thick with drop-back steelhead, don’t forget to fish some holes. Drop-backs are great for streamers but you have to get deep enough. Trout will feed everywhere in the water column, where steelhead are bottom oriented. So don’t let streamer success with trout trick you into thinking that you have much chance at a steelhead.

Fishing charters for salmon, trout and steelhead.Guided fishing trips on the Pere Marquette River, Manistee River and Muskegon River.

Fly fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead on the Pere Marquette River.


Apr 30
2013

Fry Fly

Spring in some of west Michigan’s rivers that have wild salmon, like the Pere Marquette, is a time of an often overlooked hatch. From mid April through May, these rivers can be stuffed with clouds of salmon fry. A look along the shoreline will often reveal dozens of these 1-1 1/2″ baby salmon.

Everything loves to eat these little guys, so I always have some in my steelhead box for drifting with an egg. If that gym sock sized streamer isn’t turning any spring trout, tie on a fry pattern, it will often turn your day around.

My Baby Salmon Fly:
Hook… Daiichi 1530, size 6 or 8
Tail and Body… Flashabou Mirage, 3005 opal
Wing… natural mallard
Head Base… built up black thread
Gill Accent… red thread
Head Finish… your favorite head hardener

michigan steelhead fly fishingFly patterns for salmon, trout and steelhead fly fishing.


Apr 24
2013

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report- April 24th

Cold wet weather with hot fishing.

Our high water levels brought in the expected push of fresh steelhead and the steelhead and browns have been feeding like pigs. We’ve caught oodles of nice browns just behind the spawning steelhead, including the 27″ pictured below.

We’ve been fishing big, bright double egg rigs with the high dirty water. Though things will change now that the PM River is getting almost back to normal.

It sounds like there is another batch of new steelhead heading our way, so there’s still a chance to get into this hot action.

Big brown trout from the Pere Marquette River.


Apr 18
2013

Pere Marquette River Fishing Report- April 18th

Very high and dirty water everywhere but lots of steelhead if you know where to find them. The best advise I could give is to thoroughly cover great water with patterns that are big and bright. Also keep in mind that if your not on the bottom, you’ll have no chance at steelhead.

High water is when people get into troubles with getting dunked, losing gear, flipping boats or even worse. Be careful, it only takes one mistake to get into big trouble and not even steelhead are worth the risk.

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Apr 12
2013

Pere Marquette Fishing Report- April 12th

Steelhead numbers on the PM River have been on the rise for the past week or more and I’m sure the biggest batch of the year is now on their way up. The only problem is that the PM is currently over its banks and looks like chocolate milk.

We’re expecting great fishing as the waters start to decline and clear. If you thought that you’d missed the boat on steelhead this spring, you still have time to get in on, what we think, will be the best fishing of the year.

Tips for dirty water would include: 1) Fishing the water that you know best and focusing on spots with great potential. Don’t spend a day scouting new water and fishing useless sandbars. 2) Make sure your on the bottom, if not, you’ll have no chance of hitting a steelhead. 3) Since the high water all of our fish have been on eggs that glow in the dark.

The last pic is of a massive white pine rolling its way down stream. You can’t see it but the limbs we’re flailing everywhere as the giant tree rolled along.

Fly fishing for salmon, trout and steelhead.Fly fishing for steelhead in the flies only section of the PM River.fly fishing the Pere Marquette River in Baldwin.Guided fishing trips on the Pere Marquette River, Manistee River and Muskegon River.

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