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John with a very nice Muskegon River Salmon

John and Jerri, this is Jerri's first Salmon ever. She caught this nice

on a Glowing Rapalla

Sherri with a Huge Muskegon River Salmon. She got this on only her 4th cast on her first ever Salmon Fishing trip.

The Salmon Fishing is really heating up on the Muskegon River.

Muskegon River: ATailwater Fishery!

Muskegon River- The mighty Muskegon River is a famous tributary to Lake Michigan. Located in Michigan and flowing into the east side of the lake it is well known for its tremendous runs of steelhead and salmon. It is also recently famous for its population of resident brown and rainbow trout along with its prolific hatches due to the re-licensing of Croton Dam.

There are as many "steelhead and salmon likely" runs, riffles, and pools as there are quiet dry fly pools. Steelhead can be found in the river anytime from October through late May. In the fall they are in the river to feed and can be extremely aggressive eating almost anything that passes them. Egg patterns and woolly buggers are the most popular in the fall and early winter along with spey and wet flies. Late winter and early spring is time for fishing lighter leaders with smaller egg patterns and nymphs. The fish at this time are a little less aggressive and will not chase flies like they will in the fall. Late spring is a great time for steelhead fishing also. The fish are fairly aggressive although they can be very selective. Fishing very small nymphs with light leaders is often necessary at this time. Heavy runs of steelhead can enter in the spring in preparation to spawn on the river's many gravel runs. Salmon enter the river in late September and can be in the river till mid November.

Muskegon Hatches- Hatches on the Muskegon include a variety of mayflies, stoneflies, and caddis. During the spring and summer surface floating insects get inhaled by the river's population of resident trout. It has even been said by some anglers that late spring steelhead will rise to some of the river's hatches. Some of the Muskegons mayflies include Gray Drakes, Blue-winged Olives, Isonycias, and sulphurs. Caddis include a variety of species and sizes. Little blacks are the predominant species of stoneflies.

The Muskegon River is a beautiful and mighty river. The opportunities the river provides, with tremendous runs of steelhead and salmon along with its quality population of resident trout and diversity of hatches, are nearly unmatched. Only its neighbors, the Pere Marquette and the Manistee, have equal diversity.


Muskegon River Winter Steelhead.

One of the best times to come fish the Muskegon River's salmon run in October. Our run on the mighty Mo is short but sweet! Riffles with 200 plus salmon are normal, with hook-ups exceeding forty or more. Average Chinook is 15 pounds but fish over 30 pounds have been brought to hand!


Winter Float Fishing with center pin reels.

Species in the Muskegon River are mostly Steelhead, Chinook salmon, Rainbow and Brown Trout but also includes Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, and Lake Run Brown trout. Sometimes Lake Trout and Sturgeon ascend the Muskegon as well.

Due to the great quality and diversity of fly fishing in Michigan, Riverside Outfitters is pleased to offer exciting and memorable guided trips on other outstanding Michigan rivers.

In addition to guided fishing on the Muskegon River and given the quality and variety of Michigan fly fishing. The St. Mary's River, St. Joseph River, and the Big Manistee River also offer the best in Michigan Fly Fishing.

Manistee River Steelhead in November and December are great for Fall & Winter. The Manistee receives a late run of Coho Salmon, Chinook Salmon, and Michigan strain Fall Steelhead. In June and July, it's home to Manistee River Summer Run Steelhead. August and September is Manistee River Chinook Salmon Season.

Muskegon River

The Muskegon River is a river in the western portion of the lower peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The river has its headwaters in Houghton Lake in Roscommon County, flowing out of the North Bay into neighboring Missaukee County. From there it flows mostly southwest to Muskegon, Michigan, where it empties into Muskegon Lake. Muskegon Lake is connected to Lake Michigan via a mile-long channel. The river has several major branches, such as the Hersey River, Cedar Creek and Little Muskegon River.

The three dams of the Muskegon River (Rogers, Hardy and Croton) they can generate about 45,500 kilowatts with about 30,000 of that from Hardy, thats enough electricity to serve a community of nearly 23,000.

Like many of its neighboring streams, the Muskegon was one of the favored logging rivers during the boom years of the 1880s-1890s, and a keen eye can still pick out remnants of stray logs left over from the spring logging runs which embedded on the river bottom. There is abundant wildlife, including otters, waterfowl, deer and eagles and, although development has been creeping in, the upper reaches are still fairly remote and natural with much of the surrounding land composed of state-owned tracts. In recent years, the river has gained a certain measure of fame as a recreational fishery, boasting large migratory steelhead, brown trout and planted Pacific salmon.

The upper reaches of the river, especially a section of about 85 miles, from M-55 west of Houghton Lake, downstream to the town of Evart, is an ideal stretch for family and beginner canoeing. The biggest drawback is often found in the number of tree falls that dot this section of the river and sometimes require portages or, at least, tricky maneuvering. This can depend on how well the local livery owners have cleared passage. The riverbed is generally shallow and the pace of the stream is lazy. Although no longer maintained by the state, a series of three "Canoe Camps" are strategically placed downstream from M-55 about midway to Leota and still make for ideal wilderness campsites for overnight trips. Though unmarked, these campgrounds are recognizable to the experienced canoeist on steep, sandy bluffs overlooking the river on the lefthand side as one canoes downstream. Usually in the summer months there will be trail-riders camping at these spots, having traveled in by road.

An interesting day trip or longer can be had for those hearty individuals who put in upstream from the Reedsburg Dam near Houghton Lake. Known locally as the "Deadstream" section, this remote and rugged area houses plenty of wildlife and one can easily lose themselves for hours or days in this area. Be careful of the submerged logs.

Map of the Muskegon River