Patti Beasley, fly fishing club president of Reel Women & Reel Men, Indianapolis Indiana, along with Duane Riddle joined me today for a very wet, but awesome day of streamer fishing on the Muskegon River.

Dark skies, big  rain, and muddy run-off always seems to bring the river trout out of hiding. Nearly every big ugly we through received looks today. 8 wts and 300gr Rio DC lines are choice as the river is going to get big! As with the water follows the fly sizes. We fished patterns up to 7″ long today with success; 4-5 inch flies brought the most to the boat, but you know the saying- “Go Big or Go Home!” Pictured are a couple from today.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Captain Don Graham and I spent a delightful day stripping streamers and literally boating more trout than we could count. Most were plants of this year, to be sure, but many ran 8-10″ in size. Toss in some carry-over trout from last year, and you have the makings of some excellent fly fishing. With the water up from lower levels and colored just a bit, along with the low light conditions the clouds overhead caused, the trout were eager and cooperative all day. Smolt-imitating flies and Trick or Treats were our best patterns. Kudos to Greg Gilbert of Manistee River fame, whose silver smolt pattern really turned the fish on for me. Thanks, Greg! Don’s custom ties continue to shine, as well. Pictured are three of the 14″ plus fish we took. The fish are superbly conditioned and with the increased flow, put a major bend in the six and eight weight rods we fished today. Both 200 and 300 grain sinktips produced. All in all, great trout fishing is happening right now on the Muskegon, and with warmer weather and hatches, dry fishing should be tremendous. Can’t wait!

Captain Tom Kuieck

Dr. Tom Lambert and his father Tom joined me today. The rain from yesterday has brought the river up a few inches but the overall, the river is still a bit low and very clear. Streamer fishing was slow this morning but this afternoon the trout were much happier! A few new steelhead made their way upstream in the increased flow but things are basically done.

Another big dose of rain is forecast-ed for tomorrow, hopefully this will color the water a touch. Bugs activity was lessened today with the cool temperatures, however, once the sun poked out of the clouds briefly, caddis and a couple sulfers could be seen bouncing around. Pictured above is very nice late season steelhead that took a small nymph, and a nice brown trout below that ate a Trick or Treat.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Trout fishing is now the full-time game on the Muskegon River. While a few new and old steelhead remain, the river is prime for trout. Hatches are rolling but have taken a little pause in the cool rain today. Bwo’s, cinn caddis, and a few sulfers are day-to-day normal through the sections around the lodge. Streamer fishing is very good; chinook smolts are more prevalent than in years past.

With an inch of rain fall today, and some much needed color, streamer fishing over the coming days will be excellent! Bunker TA’s, Trick or Treats, Articulated Zoo Cougars, and Ditch pigs will give the fly anglers a shot at that really special trout in the bigger water. Pictured below is a very nice rainbow that ate a Trick or Treat Monday in the bright sunshine.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

For their final time this spring, the Dan Bowen group joined Captains Dave, Don, and myself for a late season steelhead trip. With the previous trips this spring playing out fairly tough, today’s trip by comparison was a home run. With the numbers of fish remaining in the system being quite low, we enjoyed a banner day!Pictured is Dan, O.D., Pete, Sully, Todd, and Bernie.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Captain Don and I came prepared today for whatever the MO would give us:  C&D rods and indicator/fat line rods for steelhead; sinktips and weight forward floating lines for trout.  Turns out, most of the extra tackle stayed in the case:  we fished steelhead all day because—well, they were there!  Don immediately jumped into his groove, totally smoking yours truly as he held a clinic—repeatedly hooking steelhead while I specialized in vacuum cleaners!

Nonetheless, whether watching a couple of love-struck woodchucks, respecting a heron overhead lugging a branch for his/her nest, or shaking our heads in wonder at Don’s first steelhead as it went airborne, time after time—we had a terrific day.   God has truly blessed Don and me by affording us the privilege of guiding on the Muskegon with its majestic woodlands, crystalline flows, and trout bounty.  Don’s best flies?  No surprise:  egg patterns and caddis.  In short, a memorable time for two buds floating the river for a kick-back, relax day.  And, here’s the great news!  The fun has only begun!  As the steelhead wrap up their 2010 run, the trout are rising to center stage, as are our hatches. Today, despite cold weather and gusts of wind, we witnessed some pretty respectable numbers of caddis coming off the water.  Light liners:  your day is upon us.  Grab the streamer sticks and four weights!  Trout season is here!

Captain Tom Kuieck

Diversified fishing techniques continue to be key on the Muskegon. Morning steelhead fishing gives way to afternoon trout fishing with quality streamer fishing in between. The water has started to drop on the Mo’ and this will definitely control the life of the steelhead fishing. Trout fishing with streamers is very good, smaller bait-fish patterns are getting the most attentions as they mimic the chinook fry, but the big uglies are getting looks from those special fish. Pictured is Wade Walcott with his first quality trout on a fly rod and Joe with a morning steelhead.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Dr. Shen, David Goedde, and Ray Davis wrapped up their trip yesterday with a tougher trout bite than the prior day astream. The trout seemed full, likely from the large amounts of food swept into the river from the rising waters. Oddly, the smallies were very active in the relatively cool waters. Typically we don’t get much smallie activity until the water warms to near 60 degrees. Pictured is Dr. Shen with a very nice river smallie that ate a very large streamer!

The last rain fall did send some new chrome into the system. The next week or so should fish well!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Finally some much needed rain hit the watershed overnight. Excellent streamer conditions are now present on the Mo’ as flows have increased, and with it came stained water. This increase in flow will also shoot whats left of our steelhead run up stream. While the big boys continue to elude the net, Dr. Shen, David Goedde, and Ray Davis all finished the day with respectable trout. With prime conditions present on the river, alittle cooperation from the breeze will only improve fishing. The guy’s brought their “A” game today….we’ll see what day two will have in store?

Capt. Steven Kuieck