Ice Cream…ice Cream…It’s the Ice Cream Man!

Jim Flanagan the professional ice cream man; well not really, but he does work for one of the major ice cream companies, joined me for a day he is sure to remember. With the river to ourselves until late morning, it made for an absolutely awesome time! Jim, who is not new to the world of steelhead brought his “A” game and posed some very nice chrome in front of the camera. Strangely, the morning bite has been all on stone flies while the afternoon bite seems to switch to eggs even though the stone fly activity is at its peak. Fishing of late has been exclusively in the dark water but with the forecasted temps pushing the 70′s, things are going to go shallow in a hurry. Water flows are falling and that should keep a good number of fish off the gravel except under the cover of darkness. To see all of photos from today visit our Facebook “fan” page.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

The tale of two different nights played out today on the river. After yesterdays extremely cold overnight temperatures, last nights low of 30 degrees seem balmy this morning as we started our day. The steelhead were quick to show the stable water temperature had left them very happy. Nuke eggs with nymph droppers played like symphony through the entire day. While my crew: Dr. Ken Peters, his nephew Andrew, and Andrew’s buddy Brian where quick to show their long time steelhead fishing skills, the fish were just plain happy! Pictured is the crew with a sampling of today’s chrome. I will post Brian’s picture once I receive it.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Wow, big “props” to Jim Holland and Dave Bailey today for hanging in there! Today was just one of those days, when you have to question which side of the bed you got up on! Some days, there really is serious fishing involved in bringing a steelhead to the net. I surely can’t blame it totally on the cold front last night, but the fish just weren’t happy players today. Probing the runs that surely held steelhead this morning only to return in the afternoon to find success was rewarding but frustrating. With the extremely cold night, it took the sun a while to get the fish going. The old saying ” the early bird catches the worm” doesn’t apply in the steelhead world when the water temperature takes a dramatic dip!Pictured are the guys with a couple well earned fish.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

It was great to have Harry and Jim in the boat today, they are very easy to fish with and they really enjoy the outdoors, which made it fun for everyone. Thanks Harry and Jim for a great day on the river.

Capt. Don Graham

My friend Jim and I spent the afternoon on the Muskegon.

Capt. Don Graham

For those of you who are just now recovering from January/February/Michigan Cabin Fever, I suggest a day on the Muskegon like the one Captain Don Graham and I were privileged to enjoy today. Captain Don’s and my personal fly fishing time is rapidly coming to a close with a full slate of float trip bookings on the docket in the weeks ahead, so we were eager to soak up all the love the day would bring. Crisp, if not downright cold at launch, our day quickly turned terrific. As the sun cleared the treetops, it warmed chilled fingers and before we knew it, off came the layers of clothing and on went the sunglasses. Calm winds and light boat traffic made for an idyllic day on the MO with the river dropping and beginning to clear. Little did it matter that the bite was less than stellar, but hook steelhead we did. To be sure, we were a bit landing-challenged, but with the water temperature up to 39 degrees, the steelhead were bringing high energy to their resistance to our best efforts to bring them to hand. Stone flies, egg patterns, and Antron Hexes were the ticket today. As if to affirm our efforts, one of the best fishers on the river flew overhead, much to our delight. Just wish those of you who love the outdoors, rivers, steelhead, and fly fishing could have joined us. But, then, give us a call, and we’ll work you into our Spring steelhead season for a day we would hope would be as good or better than this one.

Captain Tom Kuieck

What a great way to cap off a two day trip! Jeff and Julie got to see all that makes the chase of steelhead a passion for those of us addicts! After yesterday’s seemingly endless drifts to yield some hard earned fish, today’s afternoon bite, under the warming sun, was nothing less than spectacular. The smiles on Jeff and Julies faces say it all! I will post yesterdays pics as soon as I receive them. I hope to see you guy’s again soon!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

As Steve mentioned yesterday, we had the pleasure of hosting Dave, Mike, Jeff & Julie over the past two days. Dave and Mike were in my boat and suffered through the wonderful first day of spring yesterday with only a nice walleye to show for it. Today turned out much better! We thought we had it dialed in early this morning when Dave hooked up a nice fish on the fat line, but due to their guide giving too much credit to a boat anchored below us, we were unable to bring it to hand. The guys worked hard the rest of the morning to no avail. After being joined for lunch by Capt. Steve, Julie & Jeff we set off with renewed resolve and a change in tactics to try and get it done in the afternoon. We settled on a spot often overlooked, especially by weekenders, tied on the clown eggs and stone flys, as by that time the warm afternoon sun was bringing off a nice hatch, and voila fish on! The action in the quiter section was much better allowing Mike (In the blaze orange) to land his first ever steelhead and a nice brown. Dave would not be left out and brought to hand a couple nice chromers that look like they could have been twins. Thanks to both Dave and Mike for hanging in there and working hard to make this weekend outing a success.

Capt. Dave DeVries

First day of spring….well nice trick anyway! Capt. Dave and myself are hosting a great group of relatively novice steelheaders today and again tomorrow; I was concerned with their commitment with the major change weather from the past week or so. That being said, everyone including Julie stayed the course and and got it done, and finally posing for the chrome camera shoot. Fishing today was very challenging as the river was filled with boats, and the steelhead seemed hung over from the major weather change. Small nymphs fished thoroughly through the “off prime” lies found fish the at the bait guys didn’t harass.  With improving weather slated for tomorrow I look for things to improve. Jeff and Julie were in my boat today; I will post their photos Sunday evening when they are able to email me the pics.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Great day on the water with Scott Deemter and his son Tyson. High skies and stained water makes for a perfect combination. The upper stretches of the Mo’ are clearing while sections below Thornapple are carrying a heavy stain. This stain is amplified below boat house due to another bank slide this morning on the bend immediately below the riffles around 10 am today. Clown eggs, stone flies and STS steelhead buggers all produced today. Strange, this mornings bite was on stone flies, while this afternoon during the peak of the stone fly activity the bite was concentrated on egg patterns….? Should be an interesting bite as we head towards a major weather change! Pictured is Scott and his son Tyson.

Capt. Steven Kuieck