Fishing today on the Muskegon River with long time friend Ted Anderson. It was great to spend the day with Ted recalling some of our fishing trips in the past, and having a good laugh and today was no exception. The same bass missed Teds popper five times or was it that Ted missed the bass five times, anyway we had a good laugh.
Check out one of Ted’s fish in mid air off the back of the boat.
Thanks Ted for a very good day reminiscing and hooking fish.
Don Graham
As I round out my 2008 Atlantic salmon we could not have ended on a higher note; the bite was hot, the seas were big and there were no other fisherman. I really have nothing to say other than I had 25 new pics on the camera- some were duplicates but you get the point! Here are some shots from today including a few that I had a opportunity to catch.
Tight lines,
Captain Steven Kuieck
Fishing the Muskegon River with Jim Chamberlain today for small mouth bass, by the photos, you can tell Jim was having a great time!
Don
Atlantic salmon fishing remains very good here on the St. Mary’s River. Fishing pressure is the lowest that I have ever seen in the years that I have been offering these trips; gas prices? Bill and Ida Sidor joined me today and again tomorrow for their annual trip here to the “Soo”. Small nymphs remain key to success. Whitefish are also plentiful for those looking to save themselves $14.95 a plate. Pictured is Bill and Ida with a sampling from today. Also pictured is an average whitefish for those of you who wondered exactly what a whitefish looked like.
Tight lines,
Captain Steven Kuieck
Atlantic salmon fishing is at its best hear in the “Soo”; the hex hatch is in full swing finally. Fish are starting to be selective on nymph choices as they are becoming stuffed on the big bugs. I was scheduled to fish with an area reporter today but seas were not for the easily sickened fisherman. I was able to connect on fish once the wind laid down and the water became pleasurable. I will be on the water the next 4 days so look for some great pictures soon!
On Monday Roger and I went to the Manistee river fishing for summer run steelhead, and today we were on the Muskegon river fishing for bass. The morning started out slow, but by midday the fishing picked with more strikes and some nice bass.
Don
Dr. Vincent Shen and his long time fishing partner John Crow of Virginia joined me for the past two days for some fantastic smallmouth bass fishing on the Muskegon River.
If you put in for a made-to-order day(s) of smallie fishing I’m sure it would be: good sized fish and only eat’n on the surface! Well- ask and you shall receive….good sized smallies on poppers and chuggers and finish it off with a 30lb snapper….pretty good huh! The sample of pictures pretty much speak for themselves-nice fish! The snapper on the other hand leaves abit of explanation; Vince had just made a great cast to pause to sip his Diet Coke only to see a very large snapper lifting from the bottom of the river for air. The snapper surfaced near the end of his line only to head back down to the bottom for dinner with the line and popper tangled in his very long claws and smelly shell. What to do- for what ever reason we seemed challenged by this and fought this beast to the boat. Well………that’s the Hollywood version; actually after a couple of attempts to reach the bottom of the river the snapper headed towards our floating island and I grabbed it by the tail. In hind sight I am not sure that I would have had Vince land the snapper or let alone grab what turned out to be the largest turtle I hope to handle again; the good thing though is it is likely to place me in contention for the company W.T.F. award.
Back to the “Soo” for a week beginning Tuesday.
Tight lines,
Captain Steven Kuieck
It’s been quite a summer for “Gramps Tom,” and today was no exception. Steve returned from the Soo for a couple of days so we grabbed his two oldest boys, Masen and Zachery, and off to the Muskegon we went for a three generation smallie trip. Over three to four hours, we boated five bass and lost two of the proverbial “big ones”—all taken on top water green and white poppers. The bass were having absolutely nothing to do with underwater patterns—the very converse of most days on the river. In short, a blast with the fish and, best of all, with the boys.
July is vacation time for me, but not from fishing. What do guides do when not guiding? They fish, and I’m no exception. We’ve met with some success, too, whether with carp on Grand Traverse Bay, with smallies on the Bay and North Lake Leelanau, where we have a family cottage, and, of course, with perch from Lake Lee. We at River Quest are a 100 per cent catch and release guide service—with two notable exceptions: Lake Superior whitefish and perch. Both go into the cooler and onto the plate. Yum!
Pictured along with a couple of bass from today—one a smallmouth and another a largemouth—is a family July perch catch from Lake Lee.; Steve with a typical GT Bay smallie; and yours truly with a Bay “golden bone.” All in all, it’s been a wonderful summer vacationing with the family and tossing flies (and drowning minnows to bang those perch) for fun. Truly, we are blessed here in western Michigan with such varied and plentiful fishing opportunities. And, of course, for grandpas like me, to spend time on the water fly fishing with sons and grandsons, is simply is a gift, one for which I am most grateful.
Hope your summer is bringing you all refreshment and renewal with family and friends. Won’t be long and the kings will be sniffing around the river mouths. Can’t wait!
Tom
To say that fishing in the “Soo” has been good the last couple of days would be an understatement. Hexaginia have started but with a cool summer the numbers aren’t huge. This means the fish are not gorged and are regularly targeting small nymphs. Fishing is very sporadic; 2-3 fish in a short time and then nothing for quite awhile then “bang” 2-3 more…keep casting! Judge Bill Harsha and fishing partner and long time buddy John joined me today for a sunny and beautiful day on the water. Pictured is Bill and John and a few from yesterday. I even was able to connect at the end of the day yesterday!
Tight lines,
Captain Steven Kuieck
Just a quick update before I head back to the “Soo”. I am looking forward to another great week of Atlantic salmon fishing on the St. Mary’s River. Hexaginia have started which will cause some of the fish to be very selective as they will have full bellies. The white fish bite will be at its best as they concentrate on the plentiful spent wings and shucks in the water.
I have a short term booking/cancellation to fill: July 17-18 and 28-29 are now available!
For you Traverse City vacationers- Carp are on the flats in good numbers on both East and West Bays and in fair numbers off the Leelanau penninsula. Call or email for details @ 616-293-0501 or fishon@riverquestcharters.com .
Tight lines,
Captain Steven Kuieck
