Here’s Jeff with several nice Muskegon river steelhead from a few hour winter trip today.
Although we had to work a little harder than normal, the steelhead fishing was good. Water levels continue to be perfect holding around 2500 cfs with a very nice light stain. Water temps continue to dip down into the low to mid 30’s.
Winter fishing for steelhead is upon us. When steelhead go into winter mode, they gang up in deeper slower moving pools trying to expel as little energy as possible entering an hibernative state. Focus on current breaks between fast and slower moving water. Cover and structure around these current breaks is key.
Presentations need to be slowed down and fish the run methodically. Concentrate on attacking the run from near side casts, to medium, to far. Cover every inch of the run, and pay attention to the current breaks. Steelhead this time of the year love to rest on the slower moving edge of faster moving water.
post by: Jon Fortuna