Steelhead is what Pere Marquette River make famous among fly anglers, but Pere Marquette River hosts exceptional flyfishing year round.

Things start to pick up in early March when the steelhead start to spawn. The two months that follow are the most exciting of the year. The steelhead in the Pere Marquette average about 10 lbs. Other local rivers have good runs as well, with the run in the Muskegon lasting until mid to late May, giving us a little extension of the steelhead season.

While trout can be caught year round in the rivers, it usually isn't until steelhead have moved out and insect activity increases that anglers really start to target the trout. The Pere Marquette has resident browns averaging 12-16" with some rainbows as well. During the Hex Hatch, we start to see the PM's big browns, with many over 20" caught each summer. Check out our hatch calendar for Pere Marquette and surrounding waters.

Summer (Skamania) steelhead are found in the Pere Marquette but require great persistence to locate and catch.

Starting in mid-August, salmon start to enter the rivers for their fall spawning. Numbers pick up around the start of September and for the next two months these brutes are burning drags and breaking rods all over the river. Steelhead follow them into the river in October. The fall steelhead feast on salmon eggs and then stay in the river all winter and can provide some very exciting fishing on cold winter days.

Late September, steelhead begin to move to the river system and by the end of October entire river is occupied by those eager to his fall steeheads. They aggressively smack streamers. They are by far the most aggressive fighters in the river. By middle of November fall steelhead peaks its run.

Winter is the time you can experience true steelheading. They stay in the river until the following spring to spawn. You can own the tranquility of the river by yourself. Gliding on the quiet river and experience the sudden burst of the water by steelhead is a joy. Steelhead fishing is available throughout winter months. Guess what majority of our guides do during the winter months. They fish for steelhead. We have reduced rate for winter guide trip.

The Fish Schedule
	Steelhead - Steelhead begin running in the river in late September. The fall run peaks between late October and mid-November. Steelhead remain in the river all winter until, in mid March, they begin their spawning activity. The peak of the ring run is in late March and early April. The fishing usually remains good into early May.
	Salmon - Salmon begin their spawning run in mid August. The peak is around the end of September, but, the fishing stays good through the end of October.
	Trout - Brown and rainbow trout are found in the Pere Marquette, Manistee, Muskegon, and other rivers year round. Great hatches on the Muskegon and Pere Marquette Rivers in the summer months attract anglers from all over to try to catch larger brown trout. Don't miss the Hex Hatch, when the largest mayflies in the world bring massive brown trout to the surface for some dynamite nighttime fishing.

Hatches

• Hatch Calendar for Pere Marquette and Surrounding Waters