Steelhead Guide

The west coast of Michigan is blessed with some of the best rivers for steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes. Steelhead are a legitimate target species at some point during all four seasons of the year. River Trek Guide Service has the experience and knowledge to put our customers on this highly prized fish.

Generally, in West Michigan rivers, steelhead start showing up in numbers around mid-October. Fall steelhead are aggressive and full of energy. Multiple high jumps and reel screaming runs are the norm when a fall chromer is hooked. This is one of my favorite times to be on the river. By November and through December, steelhead fishing is going full force in West Michigan and good days on the water are typical. The winter months of January and February can also be good months to be on the river as well. Angler pressure is usually lighter, and the scenery is some of the best of the year. Steelhead usually settle into the deep slow dark holes making them easy to find. Any warm-up that we get during the winter months causes run-off and has the potential to bring in fresh fish from the lake. Depending on the river and weather, the spring run usually gets going in mid to late February and lasts through the month of April or later. The spring months are a popular and one of the busiest time periods to be on the river. Peak times during the spring on the Grand River are typically March through the beginning of April. On the Muskegon River, peak is usually sometime in April.

River Trek Guide Service mainly fishes the Grand and Muskegon Rivers for steelhead but will sometimes fish the Pere Marquette River. Bobber fishing with beads or eggs and back-bouncing eggs are the tactics we employ most. We have spinning gear, baitcasting gear and centerpin gear available for use. Our steelhead trips are done from a roomy 18 foot jet boat that can accommodate up to three guests plus the guide. Give me a call at (616) 813-5989 or email steel-header@live.com for more information on our guided steelhead charters.