Indigo Guide Service

West Michigan Fishing Report for March 23rd, 2010

Click here for a good looking single page pdf version of this west Michigan guide report… perfect for a counter top or bulletin board.

For a more detailed report on the Pere Marquette River visit the Pere Marquette River Fishing Report site.
Pere Marquette River
Temps – mid 40’s          Water Conditions – average level, clear
>>> It looks like the new shipment of steelhead are starting to arrive and just in time.  Trout fishing has been good, they are acting like it is late April or May.  Our four steelhead yesterday all came off from a bunny hex.  The stone hatches have been light. Kevin Morlock
USGS Real-Time Data for the Pere Marquette River at Scottville, Michigan

Big Manistee River
Temps – 42          Water Conditions – average clearing
>>> Water temps are about perfect on the Manistee and the fishing is good.  The water has cleared enough that fly fishing is effective again.
USGS Real-Time Data for the Manistee River near Wellston, Michigan

Muskegon River
Temps – 39          Water Conditions – average
>>> Good steelhead numbers following the recent rain and high water.  Water temps are warming to a point where the steelhead and trout activity is increasing.  Phil Cusey
USGS Real-Time Data for the Muskegon River near Croton, Michigan

One of the four steelhead from yesterday, they all wanted the Bunny Hex.

Bunny Hex… Click here for the Bunny Hex tying directions and recipe.

West Michigan Fishing Report for March 16th, 2010

Click here for a good looking single page pdf version of this west Michigan guide report… perfect for a counter top or bulletin board.

For a more detailed report on the Pere Marquette River visit the Pere Marquette River Fishing Report site.
Pere Marquette River
Temps – mid 40’s          Water Conditions – up & dirty/perfect
>>> The upper half of the Pere Marquette River is perfect after the recent rain and snow melt.  The steelhead are spawning with hopefully new fish on the way from Lake Michigan.  Big stonefly hatch today.  Kevin Morlock
USGS Real-Time Data for the Pere Marquette River at Scottville, Michigan

Big Manistee River
Temps – 40          Water Conditions – high & muddy
>>> Warmer temps and rain have brought mud and high water to the Manistee River.  The fly bite is tough with the dirty water conditions, go big and bright to get noticed.
USGS Real-Time Data for the Manistee River near Wellston, Michigan

Muskegon River
Temps – 36          Water Conditions – above average & stained
>>> Water levels have risen dramatically due to snow melt and rain.  Consequently, steelhead have begun to enter the Muskegon River in large numbers.  Bottom bounce with stones, wiggle hex’s and black leaches for the best results.  The afternoon bite has been best.  Phil Cusey
USGS Real-Time Data for the Muskegon River near Croton, Michigan

Morlock’s Steelhead Ammo — Click here for the recipe and tying directions…

Two of several Pere Marquette steelhead and browns caught and released on this perfect spring day.

West Michigan Fishing Report for March 11th, 2010

Click here for a good looking single page pdf version of this west Michigan guide report… perfect for a counter top or bulletin board.

For a more detailed report on the Pere Marquette River visit the Pere Marquette River Fishing Report site.
Pere Marquette River
Temps – high 30’s          Water Conditions – up & dirty
>>> The PM River has been rising the past few days with warm weather and snowmelt, today it was perfect.  It has been raining steady for the last few hours and it could be up considerably by morning.   The lower river went flat but fishing is good up-stream.  Kevin Morlock
USGS Real-Time Data for the Pere Marquette River at Scottville, Michigan

Big Manistee River
Temps – 37          Water Conditions – coming up
>>> Warmer weather and rain has added a little stain to the Manistee River.  Steelhead are starting to move out of winter water toward the gravel.  It looks like spring.
USGS Real-Time Data for the Manistee River near Wellston, Michigan

Muskegon River
Temps – 37          Water Conditions – slight stain
>>> Recent warmer temps have brought the foreshadowing of spring to western Michigan.  Nymphing for trout is still producing the best results.  Steelhead are still in the deeper water, with the best bite during late afternoon when the water is warmest.  Phil Cusey
USGS Real-Time Data for the Muskegon River near Croton, Michigan

FlyMasters of Indianapolis will be hosting a spring steelhead outing at Barothy Lodge on April 26th-27th.  Ian Anderson will be running the event for FlyMasters.  For the last couple years Ian has hosted a number of outings at Barothy Lodge and Beaver Island with Indigo and they are always a success.  Ian has a great attention to detail and puts together a great outing.

Ian has put together a nice page about this outing on the FlyMastyers site, click here for more…

The electric lamprey barrier (Custer Weir) on the Pere Marquette (PM) is gone for good, click here to find out more about the weirs removal.  As many of you are aware, the weir never did a very good job at keeping enough lampreys out of the river and all but eliminated our Mach steelhead migration.  Steelhead numbers would build below the weir in March but they wouldn’t make "the jump" through the barrier until the water warmed to the low forties, usually in April.

Many guides used to work as much, or more in March as in April, with March being the time of peak steelhead numbers.  Most of the PM steelhead do not spawn and leave the river until April, with fish numbers naturally building from summer, fall, winter and early spring… reaching a peak in March.  This is almost entirely pre-spawn fishing in holes and runs, pre-spawn steelhead are great, they are silver hot rockets.

We are so excited about having our great March fishing back that we are offering a special to show everyone how great March can be.  There is also no other time that our guides would rather be on the water.

Special for any remaining March dates (two options):
– take 2 days and get the second for half price.
– or take 3 days and get the third for free.