The Muskegon River, or the Mo for short, is a mecca for steelhead, salmon, and trout fishing. Pike and smallmouth bass also flourish here. And walleye are everywhere below and above the Croton Dam.
Simply put, fishing the Muskegon River is an angler’s paradise that you should experience at least once. We’ll show you how to get the most out of any chance you get to cast into the Mighty Mo.
Hook into a 4-pound smallmouth and follow that up with a 12-pound pike in the summertime heat. Lake-run brown trout run up the river flanked by king salmon, waiting to crush your lure or fly throughout the fall.
Then steelhead arrive to take advantage of the salmon eggs and fry until spring finds them here to spawn. The river is truly alive year-round.
The Muskegon moves through forests, farmland, marshy areas, and finally, Muskegon Lake. From the lake, a mile-long canal connects the entire water system to Lake Michigan.
The river is easily navigable, allowing you to explore its various stretches and find the perfect fishing spots. Whether you’re a bank angler or fishing from a boat, the Muskegon River offers plenty of opportunities for success.
Let’s dig into what makes the Muskegon River such an incredible fishery. Gear and tactics will vary by species, so be prepared with what you need to catch your target fish.
Fishing the Muskegon River
With such a variety of species available, there’s always something to catch here. From salmon to smallmouth bass, you’re bound to have an incredible experience on the Mo. This fantastic tailwater fishery delivers time and again.
Muskegon River Steelhead Fishing
The Muskegon River is perhaps best known for its epic steelhead fishing. The entire section from Muskegon Lake to the Croton Dam is loaded with these chrome monsters.
Steelhead are well attuned to the fact that salmon and lake-run brown trout run up the river each fall to spawn.
Steelhead follow them a few months later and dine on the feast the others left behind. Eggs, fry, and sculpin are the preferred dinner for a steelhead on the Mo.
The top steelhead fishing is from late February to April. Spring steelhead put a significant dent on king salmon fry, sculpin, scuds, green caddis, gobies, and the late winter stonefly.
The river from the Croton Dam to Muskegon stacks up with steelhead. The river is wide enough throughout the area to allow several anglers access without being right on top of each other.
Try hand-painted trout beads. You can buy them at a local shop to fool even the most finicky steelie.
Fresh spring steelhead join the steelies that held over through the winter to push upriver to spawn. Some just come for the food and head back to the lake when the buffet slows.
Steelies cannot resist the draw of a salmon or trout egg, so be sure to have beads or egg patterns with you.
Steelhead flies that imitate king fry are very effective near the Croton Dam.
The Muskegon River never freezes and allows steelhead fishing all winter long.
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Muskegon River Salmon
The Muskegon River gets a solid run of Chinook salmon. There are fishable numbers of salmon in the river by the end of September and potentially excellent fishing by October.
Kings often sit in deep holes near the spawning gravel above Newaygo.
The annual migration of king salmon starts to enter the river system in early September and is followed shortly by fall steelhead and lake-run browns.
Downstream offers the chance of catching them as they head upstream to the spawning grounds. Casting crankbaits and bobber fishing with fresh eggs are effective when targeting Muskegon River king salmon.
From Croton Dam downstream to the town of Newaygo, the river is full of gravel bars, making it prime spawning grounds for migratory and resident fish.
Downstream of Newaygo to the mouth in Muskegon, it is a classic-looking river with deep holes, bends, and structure that make up some prime fish habitat.
Fall salmon fishing is also a great way to introduce your kids to the sport of freshwater big-game fishing.
Muskegon River Trout Fishing
Resident brown and rainbow trout are all along the river. Spring and fall are the best times to target them.
If you’re into fly fishing, a good 5wt rod with a few dry flies is all you need to have an exceptional day on the river. While other anglers are targeting migratory salmon, you can toss an egg pattern or a caddis and bring in a 24-inch brown.
During the fall salmon and spring steelhead runs, anglers catch some nice brown and rainbow trout that are feeding on the mass of eggs in the river. The eggs are a high-protein food source for resident fish and those giant browns that come upriver from Lake Michigan looking for an easy meal.
May and June are also good months to fish for trout as they take advantage of the many insect hatches and baitfish in the river.
Lake-run browns get even bigger than their resident cousins and populate the river from September through March. Fishing the 20 miles below Croton Dam is prime trout water.
If you’re after the big browns in this section with a fly rod, you’ll want to use streamers like the Clouser minnow, egg patterns, and caddis dry flies.
Bait fishing with an egg sack can also be super productive.
You’ll be fishing for more than resident trout, so be ready for a steelie or big brown to smash the egg sacks. Trout eggs are another excellent option.
Early September through October offers some of the best fall dry fly fishing for trout. The cooler water and air temps produce some excellent caddis hatches, sending the trout into a massive feeding frenzy.
It doesn’t get much better than watching a 20+ inch trout smashing your dry fly topwater and ripping into your backing on a light 5wt fly rod.
Northern Pike Fishing
The Muskegon River provides the perfect habitat for these predatory fish. Deep pools, submerged logs, and abundant vegetation offer the pike plenty of hiding places. Pike are found throughout the river system.
Spring and early summer bring the pike into the shallows, where they readily engage in feeding frenzies.
May through September are all prime months for northern pike fishing on the Muskegon River.
Chucking lures, trolling with flashy spoons, or presenting live bait will all do a fine job catching big fish.
Fish just upstream of Muskegon Lake and hit the many lily pads and weed beds. You’re sure to find pike hiding in there.
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Smallmouth Bass Fishing
The Muskegon River smallmouth bass fishing is fantastic from June through September. Large populations of smallies reside in the Muskegon, and fishing for them is extremely popular.
Target smallies with light tackle spinning gear and cover a lot of water to get the most fish.
Typical smallmouth lures like crankbaits, finesse rigs, and topwater baits should all prove successful here.
Fly fishing for smallmouth requires that you use larger bugs. Poppers, streamers, and crayfish imitations will bring out the most elusive smallie.
Try putting in at the public access at Anderson Flat, just downriver from Newaygo. Drift downstream and cast to the structure along the bank.
The lower river is a mix of residential areas and highly scenic undeveloped stretches. Its edges and banks are loaded with stumps and branches.
The fish are in the brush on the edges. They face upstream, waiting to ambush bait or a crayfish. Presenting a fly well is tricky unless you are in a boat.
You may also catch the occasional largemouth and rock bass along the way.
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Walleye Fishing
The Muskegon River is one of the most productive walleye waters in Michigan.
Some of the best walleye fishing on the Muskegon system is on the Hardy Dam and Croton Dam Ponds in Newaygo County.
Also excellent is the river section just downstream from Croton Pond near Pine Street, Carmichael Flats, and the High Rollway.
There are some excellent gravel runs and pools in this area. Farther downstream, the region near Bridgeton and Maple Island is ideal for walleye, as is the Duck Lake Pond.
Where the river empties into Muskegon Lake near the city of Muskegon is another good bet.
The fishing is excellent along the south shore by the ferry docks near town. Big fish up to 6 pounds are commonplace here. Some 8- to 10-pounders also show up every spring.
Planning Your Trip
The city of Muskegon sits next to Muskegon Lake on the lower river, while the town of Newaygo is ideally located for fishing the river’s productive middle sections.
Where is the best fishing on the Muskegon River? That’s a tough question and depends on your interests and the season. But overall, the best fishing for the most popular gamefish is in the tailwater section of the Muskegon River below Croton Dam.
This reach of the river down to about Newaygo is where migratory salmon and steelhead often stack up, and other fish including trout swoop in to eat their eggs. Walleye, bass and pike are all in this section as well.
Both Newaygo and Muskegon offer everything you’ll need, whether that’s a place to stay the night or a shop to pick up gear.
Newaygo is under an hour’s drive north of Grand Rapids along the M-37, making it perfect for a day trip or easy to reach for long-distance travelers going through the second-largest city in Michigan.
The city of Muskegon at the river’s mouth is about 45 minutes west of Newaygo or a similar drive heading out I-96 from Grand Rapids.
Best Time to Fish the Muskegon River
This is a tough one, because every season offers opportunities and, honestly, it’s hard to beat spending time floating or wading on the river in the summertime.
The fall would have to be a top choice for the best time of year for truly epic fishing on the Muskegon River. This is when you can battle a 30-pound king salmon, have a fall steelhead burn your fly reel to its backing, or witness a massive trout bust your dry fly.
Spring is another excellent time to fish the Muskegon River, with steelhead going full blast from late winter into the spring, and then trout, pike, smallmouth bass and walleye really coming on strong in May and June.
Boat and Shore Access
Newaygo has several river access points to float the river. Croton Dam is a few miles upriver from there and also has some excellent river access.
Wading the sides of the river is popular for salmon and steelhead, though smallmouth fishing is better from a boat. The areas where bass hold aren’t as easy to reach from shore.
Take a boat from Croton Dam to Newaygo to experience the river at its best. The stretch feels remote even though it’s dotted with neighborhoods.
Ed Henning County Park is another excellent spot to put the boat in. It has decent shore access and a boat launch. It’s located just outside of Newaygo.
Lodging and Camping
The area has several campgrounds and RV parks, many with direct access to the river. Croton Township Campground is another camping option. It’s on Croton Pond, well positioned if you plan on fishing the tailwater section of river below the dam, the upper river, or the reservoir itself.
It gets busy here in the spring during the steelhead run, so plan ahead for reservations at hotels or campgrounds.
Newaygo and Muskegon have all the dining, hotels, and tackle shops you might need.
If you’re here for a short trip, consider using a guide. They’ll get you onto the fish.