Rainbows that have wintered in the lower river begin their spawning activity as early as early March some years, and the run is bolstered by waves of spring-run fish in April. During most years, fresh-run fish are available though May, long after most of the crowd has disappeared. The Muskegon gets an annual plant of about 65,000 Michigan winter steelhead that is supplemented by improving numbers of naturally spawned fish.

Some of the best fishing on the Muskegon comes during the spring run-off, usually in late March. Fish are actively spawning then and in the darkened currents are less spooky. Anglers adept at running plugs can enjoy great sport then. Good access is available at Croton Dam, Pine Street, High Rollaways, Thornapple Road and Henning Park.

Once the water drops and clears, most anglers sight-fish for spawning steelhead. Typically, anglers run from bedding area to bedding area, lining fish just about as fast as they can get on the gravel, but the fish become super-skittish. A better tactic is to fish the deeper runs and pools for fish that are dropping back and for fresh-run fish on their way up. Another alternative to beat the crowd is to head downstream from Newaygo, where the fishing pressure is much less intense and there's plenty of good water. Try below the public access just south of Newaygo, Felch Avenue, Old Woman's Bend and Bridgeton.

For bait, tackle and fishing reports, contact Parsley's Sport Shop at (231) 652-6986. For information on lodging and accommodations in the area, call the Muskegon County Convention & Visitors Bureau at (231) 722-3751, or go online at www.muskegon.org.

PERE MARQUETTE RIVER
I spent my formative years of steelheading on the Pere Marquette River, where my first steelhead came to net one glorious April morning more than 25 years ago. Years later, we would cut classes at college on prime weekday mornings and head up to the P.M. and lament the fact that there were already four other cars at the Clay Banks access. Now there are 30 cars there from 10 different states every day of the week. So much for the good ol' days!

While the spring steelhead fishing on the P.M. doesn't compare to what we enjoyed years ago, it's still pretty darn good. In fact, there may be more fish in the river than ever.

"We've been seeing between 6,000 and 7,000 fish at the weir in the spring," said fisheries biologist Mark Tonello. "If you take into account the number of fish that run up the P.M. in the fall, it probably has a slightly bigger run than the Little Manistee."

The only problem is that the run is being divided up between more and more anglers. The run of steelhead up the P.M. is amazing, considering that the main stream of the P.M. receives no plants. The Big South Branch of the P.M. gets 10,100 steelhead each spring, and a number stray into the P.M. from other stockings.

The jewel of the P.M. is the Flies-Only Section that extends from M-37 south of Baldwin to Gleason's Landing. This seven-mile section features extensive gravel stretches that attract pods of spawning fish. Deep bends and runs stack up with fish waiting to take their turn on the gravel. Anglers use polarized glasses to spot the redds and spawning activity, and then drift egg flies, nymphs and streamers past the rainbows, hoping to induce a strike. The area is popular with fly-fishers, and the lines of drift-boats floating down often rival a Thanksgiving Day parade. No-kill regulations instituted a few seasons ago have done little to lessen fishing pressure.