AMAZING GRACE!......"STEELHEAD ALLEY" DOCTORS......AND TOAD FISH PORN.......HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

( DR. GRACE WITH HER STUNNING SKEENA LOOKING BUCK!)

 As December keeps rolling thru, it has truly been a steelhead super highway, ride!........ahhh!.....December on the Muskegon....gone are the crowds and madness of November, and fresh steelhead like decades ago...like now....keep coming in. Rain and mild temps. have given this steelhead run a second life!...........A full moon that speeds up upstream migration( pineal photo gland, neuro/endocrine melatonin thingy) really helps too!

( TODD HAD THE HOT EARLY MORING ROD!)

                                                                                 
 It has been the week of doctors......steelhead alley doctors to be more specific. Dr. Grace Lee Smith, a pediatric cardiologist from the Akron/PA. area guided with me Sunday and what a catch!. Grace frequents the Lake Erie steelhead tribs and Colorado, Alaska and the bonefish flats . She is an excellent streelheader with extreme concentration and tolerates the cold better then anyone I know. She hit several fish. But the absolutely stunning male she caught sent us to shore to try and get some cover shots of this magnificent Christmas colored beast!....(I'm saving the verticals- only took one horizontal).......go Gracie!!!!

( MATT WAS THE EVENING CLOSER!)

 Then rolls in the "big guns". Dr. Matt Zaccheo, an intensivist care physician and Dr. Todd Luckasevic, a forensic examiner (Bones) from Pittsburgh Pa. Thes guys met in Medical school in Erie, PA. Todd got Matt into steelheading on Elk, and the dozen Mile rivers, Chautauqua Creek , Catt and other Erie tribs. Todd warned Matt that if he gets too addicted to steelhead , he might flunk-out of school since the streams are minutes away from the university. Matt fished salmon wtih me in early October , swinging boss and comet flies and hitting "huge' fresh salmon in the big and deep Muskegon holes( see October blogs!)..........he was addicted to Michigan.

 This was Todd's first Michigan steelhead trip and he is now an addict for life! He couldn't believe how hard and hot our fish are and that they get into backing quick when caught in the deep winter pools and runs.
 These guys are good...really good! Swing nymphing with switch rods we put allot of big , chrome fish in the net with great overcast and rain for their three days of guiding.

( WHAT WAS COOKING AT CHEZ MATEO'S LUNCH TABLE- FIRST DAY GERMAN PORK CHOPS SAUERBRATEN STYLE- SECOND DAY- GOOD AUSTRIAN /POLISH SAUSAGES WITH TWO TYPES OF SAURKRAUT- BAVARIAN WHITE AND RED CABBAGE WITH BACON AND ONIONS- GARLIC DILL KARTOFEL-THIRD DAY- SZECHUAN HOT CHICKEN WITH THAI SPICY PEANUT NOODLES........YUMMY!)

TACTICS/CONDITIONS........the Muskegon is now at 2840, came up a good pace since the 1440 cfs of Monday. We had good rain and the rain/moon combo put the fish on a big bite! We have switched to winter runs and pools and it is paying off when the water hits 40 F...down around 36/37 am. Fish are hammering streamers/leeches/minnow patterns on the swing or sucking egg patterns. Fish long, patient and thouroughly.....nervous fishing doesn't pay at this time of year....slow it down and the fish gods will reward. The nastier the weather....the better. Water quality is very,very clear

Posted in: gray drake lodge , Great Lakes steelhead , michigan fly fishing , Muskegon River steelhead , Polish sausage , steelhead alley , Szechuan , trout and eagle lodge