SWISS PRECISION!

Juerg Schmid, Switzerland "Wunderkind" fly fisher , who spends his time between his home in Cleveland and his retreat house in Big Sky,Montana, fishing the Gallitan and Madison, put on a command performance on The Mighty Muskegon with steelhead.He had a "hot stick" and hit some hot, leaping chrome hens that smashed his bugger leeches.Tomorrow will be his lovely wife Pat's turn to show up Juerg.

River dropped big time today-3,460 cfs.Water temp 54 F. Saw some American March browns on the water and plenty of stone fly egg-laying females.Two excellent sized trout were working them hard along the wooded structure.

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GOD I LOVE THIS 6,000 CFS!

Here is Dr.Ian with "Billy Big Mouth Steel buck". After a memorable day of catching, Ian's drift exploded and his drag went berserk!."big fish" ,I thought, or "foul hooked" fish , I thought. So after a ten minute battle in the high, mud stained waters I asked Ian to get the fish up to the surface so I can verify a mouth hook- or we'll break it off it is fouled.Much to my amazement, the big buck had the large clown egg buried in the inside of the jaw.BUT- he had a broken jaw mandibular bone and his big mouth kept him hard in the current......tough to turnover heads up.

Male steelhead that have been hooked many times, and -or-had sparring battles with other kype jawed males, usually break their jaw bones. He swam away feisty and vigorous and we wish him well in the healing process.

About high muddy water-I LOVE IT!. Will be depressed when water hits a low 3,000 cfs.

When you blind fish, the fish can't see you-you can't see them and no lining/snagging goes on .The fish want the fly-you want them -it is a win-win scenario for fish and angler!

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SPLENDID MAY DAY!

Spring was bursting everywhere this morning! The fresh smell of budding hardwoods,grouse drumming,turkeys calling each other and a swollen high river full of steelhead is what May brings to Muskegon country- it's spectacular!

We crowned another "steelhead queen " today.Pat Davison, wife of Dr.Ian Davison, British transplant and Dean at Central Michigan University, Caught her first steelhead and several more on her maiden voyage for steelhead fishing.She caught fish on Montana's Big Horn -But- never a Michigan steelhead.She was the show as the highly experienced Ian watched in amazement.

After a late lunch, Ian put on a masterful performance of graduate course steelheading.

The river could not be in better condition.High , stained and off color-perfect!- for the big bite!.Large flies(road kill) was the ticket.It would be an excellent time for the two-handers to come out with their dredgers/Skagit heads and Cornish hens- that's what the steels can see and want. The stained waters are excellent for the big grab(when you can't see fish the mutual love between angler and steel is so much better). Besides, it keeps team Igloo-aka. meat gravel rippers- from spotting fish.Thus many lives are saved for returning spawners.

Cheers!

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