{"id":466,"date":"2015-02-13T04:59:11","date_gmt":"2015-02-13T04:59:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/feenstraoutdoors.com\/wordpress\/?page_id=466"},"modified":"2026-09-01T03:07:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T03:07:17","slug":"report","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/feenstraoutdoors.com\/wordpress\/report\/","title":{"rendered":"REPORT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Muskegon River Fishing Report:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

August 31, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Meredith caught this nice smallmouth on an extremely wet day. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Muskegon River Fishing Report:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Muskegon River is at low summertime levels, and is generally clear. \u00a0 \u00a0The water temps warm, and bass fishing is the ticket right now. \u00a0 Smallmouth are available throughout the river system. \u00a0 \u00a0 Streamers in gray, peach, yellow, and white are all good. \u00a0 If the streamer bite isn’t happening, crayfish and hellgrammite patterns are a good fallback. \u00a0 Topwater\/popper fishing can be a lot of fun and tends to be good during the low light periods of the hot days. \u00a0 \u00a0 Patterns in a variety of colors work and it is a good to bring an assortment of flies. \u00a0 The fish tend to have a preferred color that varies. \u00a0 Natural patterns imitating frogs, mice, and hoppers can all be effective as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking back at 2025, and forward to 2026!\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

2025 was a good year on balance. \u00a0 \u00a0The fishing conditions were often tough, with low water leading to spooky fish and challenging navigation for much of the year. \u00a0 Despite these issues, the fish were always around, and great opportunities were always present.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Of course, no one can predict how the fishing will be in 2026. \u00a0 \u00a0These are some notes about our fish going into the new year:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Steelhead:<\/h4>\n

\"Muskegon<\/p>\n

Our steelhead fishing this fall was better than I would expect with such low water conditions. \u00a0 \u00a0The water was very low all the way into the new year, and soon after we have had heavy melt leading to higher water conditions. \u00a0 This should add up to a solid spring fishing season for steelhead. \u00a0 \u00a0Though some large fish have been available, the typical steelhead are the 5-8 pound fish that are bread and butter fish for this region. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Trout: \u00a0<\/h4>\n
\"Muskegon

Trout fishing on the big, beautiful Muskegon River is fun!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Whenever the water was cool, trout fishing was solid this past year. \u00a0 Our brown trout population is thriving and there are some very big fish available. \u00a0 We also have a nice population of rainbow trout, especially in the areas that have faster or broken water. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Some of our hatches were good in 2025, such as caddis, sulphurs, and Isonychias<\/em>. \u00a0 \u00a0However, the gray drake hatch, which the Muskegon is known for, was not strong this past year. \u00a0 \u00a0Hatches are unpredictable, and hopefully the gray drakes rebound in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Smallmouth Bass and Pike:\u00a0<\/h4>\n
\"Muskegon

Whether eating a popper, a streamer, or a fly imitating a crayfish, smallmouth are an exciting fish to catch!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

As summer approaches, smallmouth bass and pike are available throughout the system. \u00a0 Smallmouth are some of our most reliable, fun fish. \u00a0 They are abundant in the Muskegon River and throughout West Michigan. \u00a0 \u00a0 Smallmouth provide explosive strikes on the surface. \u00a0 They also take streamers without hesitation. \u00a0 In the Muskegon, look for the most prime fishing for smallmouth to be in June, July, and August. \u00a0May and September can often provide great action for these fish as well. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Species such as northern pike are at their best in the spring and fall, and provide an alternative opportunity if you want something different than the typical fishing at that time of the year.<\/p>\n

To book a trip, or to get more information, please email us at info@feenstraguideservice.com.<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0 You can also text or call Kevin at 231.652.3528. \u00a0Usually email and text are the best way to arrange a float.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Muskegon

For books, flies, and swag relating to our guide services, please visit swingabigfly.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Please visit our retail site, http:\/\/swingabigfly.com<\/a>. \u00a0This site offers autographed copies of Kevin’s two books, Matching Baitish and Matching Warmwater Baitfish<\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0In addition, you can purchase locally deadly flies<\/a>, Feenstra Guide Service Swag, and Gift Certificates<\/a>. \u00a0 \u00a0Gifts certificates for guide trips are sure to be a hit with your family members, friends, and coworkers! \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To see a previous program I did with Anchored Outdoors: visit https:\/\/anchoredoutdoors.com\/live-with-kevin-feenstra-matching-baitfish-patterns-and-techniques\/.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank You!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Thanks for visiting the Muskegon River Fishing Report!    Interested in seeing more photography?  Check out Kevin’s  instagram feed<\/a>.    <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For bookings, please contact us at info@feenstraguideservice.com.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Great Place To Fish<\/h3>\n\n\t\n\t