January 1st 2026

Winter came and went, and then it came again! We’ve seen some big air temperature swings in the last few weeks which has opened up some really strong windows of fishing. With water levels up, the streamer fishing has had its moments. Black circus peanuts with some contrasting heads continue to shine if you’re looking for a big pull from our migratory fish which seem to be hanging around even the upper reaches of our rivers in good numbers. The trout seem to take a liking to similar flies although a little less flash goes a long way when looking for a brown. Slow down that presentation, keep a steep angle, and strip it short. Some days can be pretty slow but we’ve seen multiple bite windows open up; whether it be the sun coming out and pushing some of those fish into softer inside bends - or rain and low pressure flipping the switch. 

I haven’t personally swung flies at Steelhead since late November but that bite still seems to be rolling. Some bigger rivers like the Grand and the Muskegon are fishing well depending on the day in question. I’ve heard of a few banner days on the Grand in the last couple of weeks but with the water as high as it is right now, wading isn’t much of an option. It seems there are a good number of fish pushing up. As far as flies go, the usual suspects are doing just fine - leeches, sculpins, and gobies. 

Nymping and Indicator Fishing has been consistent, with a couple of days here and there being well above average! With the rivers swelling and pumping out some color, larger egg fly patterns and flashy eggs are finding fish. UV leeches in that black/copper range have done well also. Jigging and twitching these leeches through winter pocket water is a great way to find some players. 

Overall, the rivers are pretty quiet right now. There are even some new deadfalls and portages on some typically well traveled sections of water. It may not be a bad idea to keep a saw in the boat if you plan on floating soon, especially with the winds acting the way they did this week. 

We’ve got new logo gear! Sweatshirts, T-shirts, and hats all hit the shelves in the last few weeks. Hats are stocked up in all kinds of different styles so swing in and check ‘em out. By the looks of the upcoming forecast, we should all spend more time tying flies for a few days. Great timing, because we’ve got a full class schedule kicking off on January 10th with Jeff Hubbard from 10AM-Noon Saturday January 10th. Winter classes are held at our Grand Rapids location. Full schedule and RSVP can be found here. 

We hope everyone had a great Holiday and look forward to seeing you in the shop, at a class, in some new gear, or on the water in 2026!