Chrome anyone? With October slipping away and November creeping up on us, yes, it’s whitetails time, but on the river, it’s all about silver steelhead, now present in the Muskegon in good numbers. Kevin, up from his home in Kentucky, and his dad, Ray, joined me today to pursue Fall steelhead. Both had taken Spring steelhead with me and now wanted to sample some Fall bullets. Although the morning bite was nonexistent, by late morning, things heated up. The river has settled down and is clearing with just the right amount of stain for excellent fly fishing for steelhead. The hot fly today was once again the Steelhead Bugger; only a nice rainbow trout snapped up an egg fly. Kevin is the experienced fly fisherman, having fly fished throughout the States and Andros Island for bone fish, while Ray is a newcomer to fly fishing. As is sometimes the case, the steelhead were no respecters of the impressive resume; Ray had the hot hand, and had his guide been just a bit more adroit, the 12-13 pounder Ray had to the net would have been gracing this page. Had to love Ray’s attitude, though, calmly expressed after the steelhead bolted downstream for its last stand—its freedom stand: “No big deal. We were going to let it go anyway!” Right on, Ray!
Both guys were pretty much blown away by the speed, power, and skying antics of the Fall steelhead. “Not as fast as bonefish,” Kevin said, “but more powerful and acrobatic.” Indeed, every fish took the guys way into their backing, and were we not able to chase with the boat, none would have been brought to hand. Truly, all steelhead, Spring or Fall, are incredible fish, but the Fall guys are hot, hot, hot!
Pictured, then, are Kevin and Ray with fish taken today. Tomorrow is another day for Kevin and Ray; let’s see who prevails—father or son.
Captain Tom Kuieck
