Seasons to Fly Fish Michigan Rivers

Spring (March) in Michigan, brings spring rains and theseveral years. It is not uncommon to have days of
spring run of steelhead gets under way (March -15 smallmouth bass on a fly in the 4 - 6 lb range.
early May). This run of steelhead starts a newCarp fishing with a fly rod has been around for many
season of fly fishing in the state of Michigan. Theyears but has grown in popularity over the last 10
steelhead fishing in Michigan can produce double digityears. Carp or "Golden Bones" as they are commonly
numbers of steelhead (some of the best steelheadreferred to by fly fisherman who chase these large
fishing in the world). Brown trout, rainbow trout, andshy bottom feeders, will top the list of fish that will
brook trout all dine on the roe (eggs) from thetest your patience very much like a permit. Carp
spawning steelhead, and hatches start to emergefishing with a fly is very much like fishing redfish in
again; the cycle has turned and another great flythe reeds, or like fishing to small groups of large
fishing season arrives in Michigan. Steelhead are hardbonefish next to mangroves (one mistake and the
fighting fish that provide high levels of fun on a flyfish will leave in a hurry).
rod. Multiple day fishing trips can be spent on manyFall (September - November) in Michigan means
fine rivers, one day fishing for steelhead and thesalmon and fall steelhead fishing on a fly. In early
next chasing brown with a dry fly or streamer, whichSeptember, thousands of chinook salmon migrate up
makes Michigan fly fishing so distinct from so manythe western tributaries of Michigan. Salmon fishermen
other fly fishing destinations.from all around the midwest flock to rivers such as
Summer (late May - August) in Michigan offers morethe Pere Marquette River, Manistee River and Betsie
then just fly fishing trout on a stream. GrandRiver to tangle with big fish on a fly. October brings
Traverse Bay, located in Northern Michigan (Traversesteelhead and one of the best fights in fresh water
City), is ranked in the top 10 of places to fish foravailable. Dime bright rainbows jump and run into the
Smallmouth bass in the USA. Bass tournaments heldbacking. The fall fishing only gets better in November.
on Grand Traverse Bays have broken catch limitRivers like the Grand and Muskegon start to see
weight records for many tournaments in the pastlarge numbers of fall run steelhead.