It is Leviathan Brown "Truttasaurus" season on the Muckegon- Take heed!

(Geno Kelly from Boston with this insane donkey on the Mo)

Time of year for these "Truttasaurus" magnificant beasties...It's still no -kill on trutta until end of April here in Michigan,April 1 in NY, so no dirty stringer thoughts me scallywag laddies...aye?- #threesecondruleforsnapshotsandbackinH2O....or...#keepemwet...., if you don't need a hero shot

Double D's and Lynch Drunk and D's are the ticket!...don't forget salmon fry have hatched!!!!

                                ( streamer maddness- Truttasaurus master Paul Zagorski's obsession)
                                                                     

                                  ( Virgil from MN with a stunner)

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Posted in: chinook salmon sac fry , gray drake lodge , Matthew Supinski new books , muskegon browns , muskegon fly fishing , Nexus , streamer fishing , Trophy brown trout

All is back to normal on the Muskegon and Lake Michigan Tributaries- Perfect flows & temps

(Early March Red-bander and chrome bonanza is here!)

PERFECT!... is the one word to describe the current state of affairs on the Muskegon and other Lake Michigan steelhead and brown trout tributaries .They are prime to set the stage for a nice long spring run like we have been accustomed to for decades.
The recent nights that dropped the air temps into the upper teens and 20's, along with almost two inches of rain that other places in the Appalachians would kill for, has put our river at "prime ' stage for a nice long March thru May period.
River flows at 5400 cfs this morning is optimal for bringing a ton of fresh steelhead into the river system, cloaked by the stain waters and not killed and over-harvested in the lower system which is usually the case in lower water levels. 
It will also move resident and lake-run browns around and hungry for the grab. 

( my client Jeb from VA last week- we landed three browns in 4 days between 22- 24  inches- one 26 incher, last week- and many more in the 15-16 inches- can't wait for the stoneflies and mayflies to hatch!)...for those itching for mischief,  brown trout season doesnt open for harvest until the last week in April- 8 weeks from now FYI

The bump in flows will trigger the lateral lines and send migration into over-drive.
Soon the baby salmon sac fry will hatch with the warming temps- We should see an excellent crop this year based on the large size of Chinooks last fall ( best in size in 6 years IMHO). So the larger the fish, the more efficient nest builder and larger number of successfully laid eggs in deeper water water redds that have a higher hatch to fry success ratio. All good mouth candy for browns and steelies alike.
 Finally, river temps are back down to 35F this morning with two spill gates pouring ice cold waters to slow the spawning down. Gates are also pouring in tons of ice stunned baitfish from the reservoirs.
As good, as it gets!, despite the roller coaster- hot/cold weather we have had.
NOTE: We still have some good dates available this spring and would love to have you!
Happy and safe Fat Tuesday! 

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Posted in: gray drake lodge , michigan fly fishing , michigan steelhead , muskegon browns , muskegon river fly fishing , Muskegon River steelhead , Trophy brown trout

May Update- Muskegon May steelhead run coming...leviathan brown trout caught

                  ( Client John from Connecticut with a May 1st/2016 gorgeous pastel Muskegon steelhead)

The Muskegon always gets a final massive push of steelhead- it has been going on for twenty years since I have been guiding on it. Though the run has appeared to diminish greatly lately, this lull sometimes happens around opening day of trout season like it did this year.

BUT!!!!...it ain't over yet! Spawning run steelhead are still being caught off the pier heads and by trolling anglers signaling a fresh run is staggering and coming.

My scientific reasons for such a claim is as follows:

*River temps are still 48F-2,800 CFS- very low water temps for this time of year

*We had one of the coldest Aprils on record- the first three weeks were very, very cold- with a few "rare' warm days in the middle

*Lake Michigan water temps off Muskegon harbor/ shoreline are 44F as of today- Icy!!!!!

*May run steelhead imprint through pineal gland to increasing daylight levels- thus fish that run in May carry genetic signal to their offspring

* Icy cold water still in Muskegon river Hardy and Croton impoundments

TROPHY BROWN TROUT

Dan Moser's massive brown that was caught last week is now confirmed through digital imprinting as the same one we caught by my client Dr. Murphy on April 30/2014....here are the fish again- they were both caught within a hundred yards of each other two years apart- could be our"smoking gun brown" we need to convince the DNR for more trophy brown regs and discussion which as of today Jay Wesley -Lake Michigan Watershed Director has agreed to- more to come and we will need your support! 

(2016 )

( Same brown 2014)

HATCHES

A few American March Browns and late stone flies around- a week or two from caddis and gray drakes. Lots of chinook fry so streamers are best bet.

Hope to see you at  the Gray Drake!..cheers..na zdrowie, 

Matt

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Posted in: gray drake lodge , Muskegon hatches , muskegon river fly fishing , Muskegon River steelhead , Muskegon trout , Trophy brown trout

THE MUSKEGON IS PRODUCING BROWNS LIKE THIS!...BUT THE DNR DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT-SAD!

In case some of you have missed this epic leviathan trutta Dan Moser caught this week on the mighty MO , I can now say with digital/pixel imprint comparison/gill plate comparisons and discussion with Dan,, it is 100% the same fish that my client Dr. John Murphy caught with me back in 2014- within a hundred yards from the exact spot!- further proof that catch -and release works for highly selective , aggressive and educated carnivore browns.

This could be the final "smoking gun proof" we need to convince the DNR and others how the Muskegon could be the next great trophy brown trout fishery in the country ( White/Delaware style). We are forming an alliance of serious and passionate trophy brown trout lovers that will pursue in a 'aggressive/active" ...not "passively/dormant" style , like many organizations seem to operate in due to bureaucracy, lack of energy and laissez faire modus operandi otherwise known as "whatever?" As the country is fed up with Washington establishment and showing so at the polls, a grassroots approach has to start with a few passionate people that has had enough BS from the state officials who has offered the consistent response of "NO"..or " CAN'T BE DONE!". 
I have been preaching and pleading with the DNR for over 15 years now to make a progressive move to embrace trophy brown regulations, stock the right strains, make minor adjustments to the regulations that are simple and no brainers with no success and vision on their part- sad, very sad!, despite having conservation organizations(a local one and national one) beating the same drum with no success. 
The Muskegon is a massive fertile system with more aquatic invertebrate/vertebrate/fish eggs for food, tremendous spring groundwater influences and water temperatures on the warmer/marginal side needed and ideal to grow large browns and sustain a massive food chain.
If the DNR can only face up to the ' EXISTING FACTS ', that this fish and other fish like it form the proof in the pudding, these fish are real!!!. ( our one biologist refuses to look at picture proof of their existence- that is not science but calculated corruption) and manage the river for such fish, it would be truly epic!..( more to come-stay tuned for a facebook page coming!- everyone who cares for a fishery to develop would be greatly welcomed!. 
This is a "call to arms' for brown trout bums to embrace and progressively insist for better management on a fishery that already exists! ). Better brown trout management means better streamer, dry fly and nymphing/spinner /hardware opportunities to exist and a great economic boost to the area which is badly needed..( look at the White River and tourism in winter ). We have more CO officers than ever before to enforce regulations. We have a fishery school that would love to track data...all we need is a sincere move to accept FACT, PROGRESS AND WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO FOR THE RIVER AND FOR ALL QUALITY BROWN TROUT ANGLERS,! (sorry for the long post...cheers!

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Posted in: gray drake lodge , muskegon river fly fishing , muskegon river hatches , Muskegon trout , Trophy brown trout , wild rose browns