Gateway to Michigan's finest fly-fishing
We have several upcoming speaking events with our staff and would love to see you at these events!
January 11, 2025: Joni Murray will be giving a presentation at the Red Cedar Fly Fishers.
January 18, 2025: We will have a booth at the Heartland Fly Fishing Festival
Can Moon Phases Influence your Angling Opportunity?
Understand how to fish the Full Moon
Moon Phases are known to influence both fish and wildlife populations. The major effects experienced during the new and full moon phases primarily occur through changes to ambient light and gravitational forces. A full moon will
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCNWWgQyD68 Season 2 Episode 1 of The Trout Journal Future episodes will follow. Dark Waters Fly Shop is located in Iron River, MI in the Upper Peninsula. Feel free to to check out our website, darkwatersflyshop.com or our instagram account. We’d love to get you on the water. -Seth
—SlluurpAH–
“Set the Hook!“-exerts the guide.
“Ewp~ #$^@%!! Damn, I missed again!” casually disclaimers client.
“That’s the third trout you’ve missed today.” arm chair QB fishing buddy retorts from stern of the drift boat.
“Lemme check that fly, I know it’s your favorite ‘Lucky’ Adams, –BUT it is missing
The hot ticket right now has been the nymph game which is par for the course but the occasion to grab a big one on the strip or swing is still an option. nymphing with stones, caddis, or a well-presented egg pattern has been the choice of fly patterns for
Staying Warm during Winter Fishing
Steelhead are cold-water critters. Steelhead anglers need to learn how to Stay Warm during the Winter while chasing them. Steelhead can be caught all winter long in water temperatures as low as 33 degrees. Steelhead will feed all winter long, fight extremely hard when hooked
As December winds down, so does the year. Thanks to all of you who got into the boat this past year and spent some time fishing for the so many different species we luckily have in our watersheds – it was a privilege to guide you and spend some time
May and June offer Mid-west anglers a chance to fish stoneflies on the surface. This well floating dry fly can be skittered on the surface to imitate the naturals with all the movement of the rubber legs and from some twitching in the presentation for some rather aggressive rises.
St. Joseph River: Continues to produce a few walleye and steelhead. Most were fishing near the Berrien Springs Dam. Look for the steelhead bite with the warm-up.
Grand River near Grand Rapids: Continues to produce a few good runs of steelhead. Fish have been caught on jigs with wax worms, spawn and beads. Most are fishing near the 6th Street Dam and below. Walleye were caught off the wall and at Fulton Street. No big numbers, but steelhead still can be found in the Rogue River.
Muskegon River: Had decent steelhead fishing.
Manistee River: Look for steelhead in the deeper holes during the cold snap. Brown trout fishing was slow below Tippy Dam. With the next thaw, steelhead fishing should really pick up.
Pere Marquette River: Was also producing steelhead for those using spawn, beads and wax worms.
St. Joseph River: The salmon run is winding down, and more steelhead are moving up into the river. Fish have been caught near the dam at Berrien Springs.
Dowagiac River: Continues to produce salmon and steelhead below the Pucker Street Dam.
Paw Paw River: Is producing the occasional salmon and a few more steelhead.
Black River: Those casting spoons continue to catch the occasional salmon. A couple lake trout were caught on lures, and steelhead were taken when still-fishing with spawn.
Kalamazoo River: As the salmon run winds down, a good number of steelhead are moving up into the river. Try floating spawn, flies and beads up near the Allegan Dam.
Grand River at Grand Rapids: The flow was still above average for this time of year, and the water was a bit stained. The salmon are pretty much done, so more steelhead are starting to move in. Anglers are catching a fair to good number of large steelhead on spawn and beads. The hot color was chartreuse.
Muskegon River: Continues to produce a few salmon, and the number of steelhead starting to show up is increasing. Bass fishing has also been good.
White River: Salmon are still being caught; however, the action is starting to slow. There has been very little activity at the Hesperia Dam.
Cheboygan River: Had three gates open at the dam, so water levels were high and fast. Fishing slowed, but anglers are still getting a few salmon on crank baits or when drifting skein in the early morning and at dusk. They are also getting steelhead when drifting flies and spawn bags. A 41-inch musky was caught on a crank bait near the dam, and smallmouth bass were hitting soft baits and crank baits.
Thunder Bay River: Continues to produce Chinook, a couple brown trout and the odd steelhead when casting spoons, spinners and crank baits or when floating and drifting skein and spawn bags. Most of the Chinook were very dark, but a few younger fish were still in good shape. The occasional Atlantic salmon was caught on spinners and streamer flies, but most did not want to bite.
Au Sable River: A couple salmon were caught by those drifting spawn, flies and beads. Atlantic salmon were slow to bite, but a couple were taken on streamer flies and spawn bags. Smallmouth bass were caught when casting crank baits and jigs or when using minnows.
Au Gres River: A couple steelhead were caught in the East Branch when drifting spawn at the Singing Bridge.
Bear River: There are still a few fish up at the dam, and those targeting them caught Chinook, coho and lake trout on spawn, artificial eggs, yarn and flies.
Manistee River: Salmon fishing is winding down and the remaining fish are in pretty rough shape. Anglers on the lower river have begun to catch chrome steelhead. Good catch reports were coming from pier and surf anglers on the right day.
Pere Marquette River: Salmon fishing is winding down here as well.