Sorry to keep you waiting for a report! Life has been a little hectic around the Kuieck household the last week as i have been out most nights on the river, contractors at the lodge completely re-staining the entire facility, and packing for a weeks vacation with the family to our summer place in Leland, MI. Fishing over the week on the Mo’ was great if you were willing through the “big chickens” off 8wt’s with 300 gr sink tips, we saw and hooked some fabulous trout. However if you wonder, no pics, well, the reason was lots of rain, we weren’t dry fly fishing as the daily does of heavy rain and storms sent the river flows all over the place, and kept my camera high and dry. Currently the river is falling and dry fly fishing has improved with both green and tan caddis, bwo’s too have moved into the spot light and have some of our nicer fish presenting themselves earlier in the day. Smallmouth bass are becoming much more frequent as water temperatures remain cool but favorable for our bronze-back friends.

Today I put some miles on in West Grand Travers Bay,  and due to a favorable off-shore wind, the Northern coast of the Leelanua peninsula. Smallmouth bass numbers remain viable, however the carp seemed very content to stay out nearer to the blue line. Regardless, sneaking along the North coast of Leland is something seldom few ever do–even with out a cast it’s a special opportunity.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

M-22

The last three days spent with Dan and his son Micheal were very memorable, not only was their company most entertaining, but the evening dry fly fishing was great. Isonychia duns by-far-and-away are the preferred floating meal, though drakes, sulphers, caddis, and a few bwo’s are giving the trout options. Timing of the best dry fly fishing has been completely dictated by precipitation and ultimately cloud cover. Days with low skies have given way to great fishing by 6:30pm as was the case two nights ago between rain showers. However last night we had to wait until about 8pm in order to see activity.

Keying in on specific fish has been important, the very nice brown that Micheal holds could not be fooled two days ago, however we went back to find him last night and Micheal was rewarded on his third drift. I can’t say for sure who was more excited–me, Micheal, or his proud father!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Gorgeous, gorgeous afternoon and evening on the Muskegon with bud and fellow RiverQuest guide, Captain Don Graham! Once again, the most senior of RiverQuest’s cadre of senior guides…, proved his preeminence.  Though it was close, Don smoked me once again.  Of course, Don has an advantage fishing his innovative creations from the tying vise—creations that took top billing per usual.  Smaller streamer patterns and caddis dry flies produced best for us, though Isonychias and grey drakes showed themselves in a number of locations.  The drake swarm was particularly heavy.  Pictured are two of Don’s trout, both of which, like the all the fish we took, were in excellent condition: strong, fast, and well-colored.

Don and I reflected once again how blessed we in western Michigan are to enjoy a national quality fly fishing resource as extraordinary as the the Muskegon so close to our homes.  The beauty and bounty of the Muskegon during a late spring evening satisfies and pleases like little else.  For Don and me, the times we share on evenings such as this are truly meaningful and memorable.

Captain Tom Kuieck

With grandson Johnathon in tow, my friend Dan joined me for what proved one of the most perfect afternoon and evenings of weather and grey drake hatches I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing this year.  Temps in the mid-70′s, light to no wind, perfect water flow and clarity and bugs—caddis in grey drakes—in ample supply.  Better yet was my opportunity to share in the special relationship Dan and Johnathon enjoy.  Dan mentors Johnathon in the ways of the outdoors in the best way—side-by-side. Whether camping, sailing, shooting, or fishing, grandfather and grandson live it together.  So, it was a special treat to be able to share fly fishing and the Muskegon with them.

Caddis continue to provide afternoon and early evening action, and the grey drake hatch an hour before dark was very heavy with trout taking note.  Larger trout continued in their recent “I’ll rise once and then take a nap” mode, but their younger compatriots looked up much to our delight.

Pictured are the guys taking a dinner break and drakes dancing in the moonlight.  Thanks, Dan and Johnathon for a most memorable day on the water.

Tom Kuieck

Rewind the calendar, early May weather is here! What a difference a few day makes here in Michigan, early week temperatures soaring into the mid and upper 90′s followed by what the body senses as a big chill, temperatures in the upper 50′s and low 60′s. The hatches have gone on a bit of a hiatus with only a short burst in the mid-evening hours bringing  the trout to the surface.  Isonychia have started and should gain in numbers as the weather improves. Daytime fishing has been pretty exciting, morning spinner falls are a good possibility with these cool nights we are now experiencing. Some epic streamer takes are also possible with the right flies, determination, and a bit of luck.

The last three days with the Hitchcock’s and Davis group have provided Jay, Don and I with some very enjoyable hours on the river with great people and many laughs! Thanks to both groups–we look forward to your return!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Nice little change of pace for the last two days as my dad and I had a chance to fish the flats Grand Traverse Bay for carp. Carp numbers on the flats are nearly as high as they get, however a big percentage of them are in full spawn mode. Look for player fish away from the spawning pods.  Despite the massive cold front that came through last evening the action continued to be pretty good today, although after talking to a couple fly fisherman from Ohio, the areas that held fish for them the day prior were void today with the shift in water temperatures. While this trip was mostly business (look for a feature article in Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine) it was certainly great to have the rod in my hands for a few days. For those of you looking for something different in the world of fly fishing, the next few weeks on the bay should be spectacular! Give us a call,  we would be
glad to share it with you!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

6/4 It was a great day to be on the water. Jim and Greg found out first hand. We started the float at about 2:00pm and found fish taking caddis on the surface right away. Cinnamon caddis comprised the majority of the hatching action and the Allen Brothers Cutwing Caddis #16 in tan was the fly of choice. I had planned on fishing some nymphs and possibly streamers but the action was good enough we never had to put down the dry rods. What a terrible problem to have! We saw lots of wildlife on the river and the weather was very pleasant. A fine day spent with two fine gentlemen.

Jay Allen, Guide

Improvement! Finally, a few of the Mo’s nicer trout are starting to take advantage of the over-the-top spinner falls. Last nights “dance” was equally as impressive as the night prior. The Scorza’s, as luck would have it, timed their arrival to coincide with some of the seasons first late evening takes. The heat will be with us again today–hopefully the Scorza’s luck will continue. Btw, if you stay out late enough you might be suprised to see what comes off the the water….

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Bug, bugs, and more bugs, we’re definitely in the midst of some great hatches. Gray drake, sulphers, caddis and a few iso’s have been very consistent the last several evenings. Last nights gray drake hatch was particularly special as the spinner fall was near epic proportions. At one point I had so many drakes falling down my shirt, I actually buttoned my collar so as to not carry as many home with me.  Fishing however has been very challenging,  afternoon and early evening action with sulpher emergers and caddis has been providing consistent dry fly fishing for trout in the 8-13″ class with a few larger fish mixed in, but the big boys remain absent as they are in a continued food coma. More and more fish are starting to look up for food….it wont be long and the big boys will be too.  Spending the last few days with Jerry and Frank, and Steve and Mike has been a real pleasure–See you in the fall!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Delightful afternoon and evening fly fishing with Captain Don on the Mighty MO.  Fortunately, the Mighty part of MO has abated; we now are finally back to mean and median river flows.  Soft hackles, smaller streamers, and crayfish patterns caught the fancy of smaller trout through the afternoon, with the larger fish responding #16 Caddis pupa (Thank you, Jay!) fished as a dropper off caddis dries. Viagra caddis, and, of course, sucker egg patterns also produced.  Best fish of the night came on a first cast rise to a grey drake but after bringing the fish near the boat twice, the third time spelled freedom as the hook pulled out when I lifted the fish for Don to net.  Although Don laughed off my estimate of 25″ (and, of course, it wasn’t 25), he conceded that judging by the size of the head, it was a very good fish, probably in the 15-20″ inch range.

Pictured is Don with a beautifully marked brown, a sucker spawn-packed bow that I’m holding, and what surely must appear a most puzzling shot of what seems to be nothing! The brown exemplifies the quality of our fishery (not to mention Captain Don’s stellar artistry with the long rod!), and the rainbow reflects how fishing can slow late in the sucker spawn “hatch.”  Why some of these fish are even remotely interested in more food defies understanding.  Extract your fly and out pours spawn; they are absolutely jam-packed with eggs.  That said, the sky shot to the keenest of eyes and sharpest of computer monitors, reveals the heavy grey drake hatch we witnessed.  Some fish rose, but the rises were intermittent with our moving on when a fish would cease regularly rising.  Dry fly fishing will continue to improve as the suckers finish their chores and the food of choice increasingly becomes the rich insect population of the Muskegon.

Captain Tom Kuieck