September 23rd 2024

Fall is a time of change and presents many opportunities for fishing. We have been fishing multiple river systems across the state. The Grand, Muskegon, Pere Marquette, and Flat River have all been producing fish for us in the last couple of weeks. The best part about the fall transition time is the abundance of opportunities for the angler. Warm water, cool water, and migratory fish are all in the rivers at the same time. In the last two weeks we've fished for smallmouth, egged for trout behind kings, sight fished carp, and swung flies for salmon and steelhead. 

Keep in mind that we've had low clear water on all systems so I've opted to use the lightest line I feel comfortable with and be mindful of how close I get to the fish to avoid spooking them. It looks like there is some rain in the forecast that should help bring some more of the migratory fish in. I would anticipate fishing conditions to improve with each rainfall we get.

Here's how we've been fishing for each species. We have been finding our smallmouth scattered along the clumps of remaining green vegetation. Most of the weed cover has started to die off leaving a lot less cover for the bass. Using bigger bait fish patterns on sink tips has been our approach. A fast strip and pause seems to get the most reaction. In the early morning give a longer pause before continuing your strips. With the cooler temps at night the fish tend to be a bit sluggish and need time to catch up to the streamer, especially if they are coming from a distance. On the slower bite days we've opted for a small crayfish pattern tied on a jig hook to work the deeper areas and be a little more snag resistant around the logs and weeds. 

For trout we've been swinging wet flies on poly leaders and using traditional nymph setups. The water has cooled down a bit and the trout are much more snappy towards the wet flies. Gravel buckets and runs in between weed clumps have been good spots to try. In areas where salmon have active spawning redds, indicator or euro nymphing egg flies behind the salmon in the dark water has been very productive. 

The carp fishing has stayed strong and is getting a little easier now that the weeds are dying off in a lot of the shallow shelves and flats areas. With the clear water in many of the lakes and rivers we have found that using a lighter line and having a stealthy approach can make or break a shot at a feeding fish. Make sure that you are approaching them without casting too much of a shadow and giving them a little extra lead time when casting in front of them. Neutral colored flies in tan and olive with little to no flash seem to be their preference. For fly choice small craw patterns, damsel nymphs, and scud patterns work well. 

It's no secret salmon are in the river systems. The Pere Marquette has fish from Baldwin all the way down to the lake. The White River is about the same. The Muskegon we are seeing fish start to enter the river system and work their way up stream. The Grand and Kalamazoo have had good pushes of coho with kings and steelhead in the mix. For the salmon we've been swinging streamers. With the low water this year we've had to get a little creative. Without the typical faster flows and deep holes that are now shallow, I haven't been able to use a Skagit head and tip. I've been using SA scandi heads, light poly leaders, and long fluorocarbon leaders to present to the fish in the shallow clear water. This presentation is much more delicate and spooks far less fish. My fly of choice has been really anything on the brighter side of the spectrum. Pink, orange, and chartreuse with flash are my favorites. The salmon seem to gravitate towards those colors despite the clear water. For fly movement during the swing just a nice slow swing across the current. The fish seem to be able to line it up better and are less likely to miss the fly. 

As always we have 101 classes available and can help get you set up with anything you need to get out on the water. There are still a few dates for guided trips but they are getting pretty thin for the salmon run. Spey fest is this Saturday the 28th in Newaygo at Henning park. If you're in the area stop by the booth! Good luck out there and tight lines. 

- Captain Matt