Trick or Treat? That was the question for us on the Muskegon with the salmon run finished and the steelhead only starting their ascent up the river. Since my longtime client and friend Ben had invited one of his clients, Andy, who owns a home on the Flat River and fishes smallies via bottom bouncing but who had never fished for kings with a fly rod, the fishing choice of the day was clear: find some fresher kings and have at it. And have at it, they did. After Andy laid out three “C&D” casts, I told Ben that he had brought an easy date!  Andy simply transferred his smallie river fishing skills to the Chinooks, and away he went. Multiple hookups resulted in fish after fish chased down river and led into the net. By lunch, both guys had sore arms, with some of the fish coming to indicator fishing with the 11′ switch rods. Post lunch, it was time to fish the dark water for trout and perhaps a steelhead not taking a nap. The first trout decided to take a whack at a trailing Antron Hex a king was zipping across the river and promptly hooked himself! Wow! Did that poor trout have a ride! The poor thing couldn’t figure what the fat was going on! Ben, a committed trout aficionado, was thrilled that he had such a unique double—salmon and trout. All part of a great day—my final day of guiding for 2008, as a matter of fact, since I had earlier promised my now retired wife that the end of October would mark the end of my guiding for the year so I can make some memories with her. So, special thanks go out to to Ben and Andy for making my last day such an enjoyably memorable one. Terrific weather, great company, good numbers of spawning kings, and some trout tossed in for good measure. Best flies: clown eggs, steelhead orange nuke eggs, and the Antron Hex. Best of all, at the end of the day, Andy declared that he would much rather fly fish on the river than fish the big water over downriggers—enjoyable as that sport may be in its own right. Another convert to the long rod! Looking forward to seeing you, then, Andy, in the Spring for steelhead; you have a real touch with with the drift and your presentation of the flies, not to mention your ability to fight fish. Pictured are Andy, Andy and Ben, and yours truly with my bud, Ben.

Tom Kuieck

Now here’s a couple of docs who get it: both take a day off, book a night at a sweet bed and breakfast, and hop into Captain Tommie’s jet boat for a day of fall fly fishing on the Muskegon! Check out the photos: do these guys looked happy or what? Annika and Phil were second-time fly fishers, having first fly fished on the Manistee River with me last fall. Today, of course, the salmon were few and far between in the Muskegon, but we found some surprisingly fresh fish, resulting in some sore arms and lots of smiles. After boating some kings with “C&D,” it was time to move to the next level with some 11′ switch rod and indicator instruction. Annika quickly got into it, and after landing one fish, fought another right to the boat—lip hooked and all—where she had trouble lifting the male high enough in the water column for me to net it. No matter—premature release! Great job, Annika! Phil had his chances with the switch rod, but smart guy that he is, he decided he to let Annika take the spotlight. Hence, she landed her first king on a fly rod via “C&D,” as well as pricked some lips with the switch rod. Clown eggs, steelhead orange nuke eggs, and the Antron Hex were the best flies for us today. Thanks much, Annika and Phil! I truly enjoyed spending the day with you on the river. Hope we can connect for that 2009 Spring steelhead fishing trip about which we talked.

Tom Kuieck

I was on the water today with Don, and we were expecting some bad weather, but it never happened. I had Chet and Terrie, and Don had Bob and Dudley. We had to look hard for salmon and did find some, and the numbers are down. There are some fresh ones still to be had, though. Here you have Terrie and Chet with their fish that they got to the boat. Chet is the guy with the bright, banana yellow pants.

Bob and Dudley joined me for a day of fishing the Muskegon river, this was Dudleys’ first time fishing for salmon and steelhead with a fly rod, he handled the salmon just fine, however the steelhead proved to be the challenge that will have to continue another day.

Don Graham

Today finished out Jack & Janice’s time with us for this season. It has been a great joy to be able to spend time with them. Their love of life and the outdoors is a pleasure to behold. We spent the day trying to get ahold of some chrome for them, however, the closest we could come was a good number of nice rainbows like the one pictured above. Jack was able to land a nice buck early in the morning but after that it was all about Janice, She was the rainbow queen and also managed to hook, fight & land the nice 14# buck. It was hard to tell who was happier Jack or Janice.

Salmon numbers continue to fall along with the water after a brief spike yesterday. We saw a couple Steehead cruising behind the redds but could get nothing to take. The trout provided most of the fun today as they were very aggresive to clown eggs drifted over the shelf into the dark water behind the redds. The few salmon we got to take today were interested in caddis & antron Hex patterns.

There are fish in the system but plan on covering a lot of water and putting in a lot of work.

Dave

Today was my last day fishing with Jack and Janice of Oklahoma; Dave will fish a final day with them tomorrow. Having spent the last ten days of so with us we have surely come to know each other well. Both Jack and Janice are real troopers considering they have had to endure some less than choice weather in the recent days. While fishing has not been exactly easy both fisherman have had the patience to “wait for it” and let it happen on its own. Pictured is a great salmon shot of both Jack and Janice bundled for bear in true Oklahoma fashion!

The recent rains in the area are sure to make the coming days on the water very promising in the quest for fall steelhead. Both the Manistee and Muskegon rivers are poised for new fish. Swinging flies is at its best now as water temperatures are in the low 50′s and the standard egg fly drift is also producing. If you are looking to target steelhead on the swing for the most aggressive takes of the year-now is the time!

Tight lines,

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Finally some much needed rain in the Muskegon River watershed yesterday. The down hill weather roller coaster is knocking on our door- snow showers and high winds are poised to make there way into West Michigan late tomorrow through Tuesday morning. Steelhead fishing should dramatically improve with the new water; it will be interesting to see if we ever get a decent push of salmon. I do expect to see spawning salmon through the end of November this year- this will make the targeted steelhead all the more interested in egg patterns. Swinging flies will be most productive as the water stays in  forties and fifties.

Sorry, for the lack of pictures lately; Jack Davis and his friend Janice of Oklehoma have been with us for the past week and through half of next. We have been fishing the lower MO’ and the upper Man’. Fishing on the Man’ has been very good with fresh kings and plentiful chrome- I need a new camera!!!

Tight lines,

Capt. Steven Kuieck

This was Garys’ first time fly fishing for salmon with the fly rod. Gary did a fantastic job casting C & D and floating line for salmon. Thats Gary with his first salmon. Jim also hooked and landed salmon with floating line, I think Jim is hooked on fishing with floating line for salmon. Jim is pictured with a river brown.

Don Graham

Another gorgeous day on the Manistee—today with Pat and Terry. Salmon were readily available, with some looking pretty far gone, but others surprisingly strong and ready to cooperate. Toss in some chrome steelhead, and one had the makings for a most enjoyable day. Pat connected with two steelhead on Steelhead Orange egg patterns and landed the pretty 10 lb. hen he holds in the picture below and which I am releasing. Pat did a masterful job on this fish, which in typical fall steehead fashion, leaped, burned line at a blistering pace, rolled up on the flies, and in general tore Pat up. But he hung in there, managed the fight well, and brought her to hand. Great job, Pat! Some salmon also took the Steelhead Orange egg with others taking old reliable, the Antron Hex. The day was marked by some early guide traffic but later little boat activity was evident on the river. The number of bank fishermen was virtually nil, compared to the hordes at the height of the run. So, all in all, a picture-perfect day. Thanks, Pat and Terry, for a terrific time. Hope we can do it again.

Tom Kuieck

Great time on the Manistee with Oklahomans, Jack and Janice. As Steve noted below, today was our coldest day of the fall, with the temp in Big Rapids at 19 and on the Manistee surely in the low 20′s, if not lower. Hence, the puffed-up fashion look modeled Jack and Janice. Pillsbury Dough-girl all the way! Gotta love it! But….here’s the good news: nobody was cold! Way to go, Jack, in talking the lady into such a compelling look!

Very good numbers of salmon continue to stalk the Manistee. Some tired fish are about, but most are in good to very good shape. Sprinkled in with the salmon are some steelhead that one guide, whom I respect, and with whom I spoke at the end of the day, said were no longer interested in his Spey flies and streamers as they were a couple of weeks ago. Now only egg patterns will do the trick, he said. We didn’t fish the runs and glides behind the salmon so we didn’t take any steelhead. But the salmon were very cooperative. Antron Hexs, chartreuse nuke eggs, and a purple, sparkle egg sucking leech (the pretender males really got after this fly, apparently out of misplaced aggression!) were our best patterns. Both Jack and Janice brought fish to net with Janice causing Jack to put his rod down repeatedly due to her frequent hookups. She, in particular, majored in lip latches with Jack waiting until his last fish of the day (shown with Janice) to prick a mouth. All in all, a wonderful day with two special people. Jack and Janice fly fish across America and are just totally fired up about fly fishing and the out-of-doors in general. What a pleasure to host you, Jack and Janice. I do hope you can find your way back to Michigan for some more of our fly fishing action! The picture of Janice with yours truly is Janice’s first boated Chinook (she earlier fought a very fresh, very large lip-hooked male for what we estimated approached a half an hour, only to lose it at the boat). No matter; premature release!  Next time!

Tom Kuieck