Great day on the water with Scott Deemter and his son Tyson. High skies and stained water makes for a perfect combination. The upper stretches of the Mo’ are clearing while sections below Thornapple are carrying a heavy stain. This stain is amplified below boat house due to another bank slide this morning on the bend immediately below the riffles around 10 am today. Clown eggs, stone flies and STS steelhead buggers all produced today. Strange, this mornings bite was on stone flies, while this afternoon during the peak of the stone fly activity the bite was concentrated on egg patterns….? Should be an interesting bite as we head towards a major weather change! Pictured is Scott and his son Tyson.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

What a gorgeous day on the water! Even though the skies were bright the dirty water kept the fish playing. I had a scouting day today, and thoroughly enjoyed my time on the water. Small stone flies got all the bites for me today. I’ll bring the camera tomorrow!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Brad and his son Dan, on spring break from Michigan State, joined me for a day of fishing. The water was up a little with light rain, which made the steelhead eager to take our offerings. The action was steady all day with small stone flies and egg flies.

Thanks Brad for sending the photos of Dan, hopefully I’ll remember my camera next time.

Capt. Don Graham

What a difference a day makes! With the forecast of rain the gate keepers at Croton decided to give us a little water today. This combined with overcast skies made for much happier fish. Small is still the way to go until we get a bit more color to the water, which should happen rapidly, as by the time I left the water today it already was getting a nice tea color to it. With more rain in the forecast things should pick up in a hurry! I would have liked to be able to show a few more pics of todays happy fishes but I had some camera issues, sorry.

Capt. Dave DeVries

Dan Holtrop joined me today on the Muskegon. Fishing was was very enjoyable as temperatures made the mid-fifties; it did not hurt that the steelhead were very cooperative as well. That being said, today was the first day in many that I didn’t spend the whole day pondering my next plan. Light lines and soft water were key today. The down side of the light line is that you have a pretty good dent in the fly box at the end of the day. Much to my surprise the best bite for us today was from noon to 3pm, under the brightest skies. Look for the coming rain and melt to kick things into high gear. Pictured above is Dan with one of today’s fish and me lower as I joined in the fun!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Belle & I Spent the day scoping out some water that we have not had the opportunity to fish yet this year. Additionally, I tried out a few techniques that we normally wouldn’t use this time of year. It was a successful endeavor but it ended up being a bit expensive as far as tackle goes. They do say there is a price to success! With the low ulta clear water we are currently experiencing and the bluebird bright skies driving the fish to any cover they can find I spent the day floating STS Buggers & Flash-a-Buggers over and through heavy cover near the dark water areas that are known to hold fish this time of year. 3X tippet and lots of structure along with any miscalculation in running depth and you can kiss your fly goodbye. It was fun spending the day just playing around and still having a few fish come to hand.

There are fish in the system, but sometimes you just have to think outside the box to get them to play.

Capt. Dave DeVries

The great times with Captain Don and the Might Mo continue.  What a day to be on the water! Sure, the bite is tough; sure, the water is nearly invisible; but the sun, the light air, the 50 degree temp!  Can’t beat it!

Stone flies were the tidbits of choice today.  Top dog was the 9 lb. buck I am holding.  Check the cheek on him, as captured by Don’s camera prowess.  Beautiful!  Thanks, Don!  You’re the best!

Captain Tom Kuieck

The sunshine saga continues…..

I really am not complaining, since I really do enjoy being out in the sun, but with the ultra clear water on the Mo’  right now it is making the bite soft. Small is the key- forget the egg patterns and go small and natural, and make every cast count. Pictured is Jason Nurmi with a nice hen from Sunday afternoon under high skies.

Capt. Steven Kuieck

3X maybe 4X? Good grief, if the river gets any clearer the water will look like air! If you are looking for a challenge, look no further than the conditions at present! Steelhead numbers are improving though ultra clear waters have them extremely wary. Small nymphs- caddis, stones, and bait fish flies are top producers. I have tried to mix a few egg patterns into the game but even the most pale, seems bright under the current water conditions. Location is also key lately; steelhead are throughout the system but sneaky, soft water lies, seem to be the only producers for me lately. Pictured is Bill Sidor with one of the most massive walleye I have had in my boat in years; this pig tipped the boga to 13.5 lbs!

Capt. Steven Kuieck

Great day today!  Heck, they’re all great but today was special.  Bright sun, low, gin-clear water—but cooperative steelhead.  And especially happy I was because today I hosted my youngest son Ryan for his first steelhead trip of the year.  Ryan works full-time in the metals fabrication industry and has little time to fish, but he has Fridays off so to the Muskegon we went.  Ryan led off with two quick steelhead, one of which is the eight pound buck he is holding.  Wasn’t too long, and Dad joined in with a couple, one of which was the six pound male I am holding.  Toss in a couple of lost fish, and there you have it—a wonderful day on the water for father and son.

Best flies today were pale peach eggs and caddis pupa.  Long leaders and light tippets are a must with the clear water.  We were just plain fortunate today:  the bite was strong for about two hours.  Otherwise, it was tough, as evidenced by the lack of success we witnessed and reported to us from other fishermen.  But thankfully, fishable steelhead are in the river.  The two other fish we brought to hand were chrome skippers—the early scouts for the grown-ups soon to arrive.  All in all, a great day for Ryan and me.

Captain Tom Kuieck