Because of natural reproduction in its tributaries, the Grand River receives a strong run of wild steelhead in addition to good numbers of hatchery fish. The reach below Sixth Street Dam in Grand Rapids is a good one for winter steelhead. Anchor ice can be an issue in cold weather, but the river stays open for several miles below the dam. There is a mile of easily wadeable water with great access via walkways on each side of the river in the city. You can also launch a small boat on the east side of the river just below the dam. Often steelhead hold below the rapids in deeper water in the winter. A boat is helpful to reach the fish and you can launch at a boat ramp at Johnson Park, located about seven miles downstream from the dam.

Upstream dams at Lyons, Portland, Grand Ledge and Lansing have open water and concentrations of steelhead below them. There are two dams in Lansing and the upper one at Moore’s Park has a cooling water discharge that keeps the river ice-free throughout the city all winter. The Rogue River, which merges with the Grand just north of Grand Rapids, is the most heavily planted tributary. Plentiful fall rain will put fish in this river for good winter steelheading. It is also a prime venue for spring fishing, as are Crockery, Prairie and Fish creeks and the Flat River. For more information on the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo and Grand rivers and their tributaries, talk to the fisheries biologists at the DNR in Plainwell at (269) 685-6851.

SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN RIVERS
The Huron and Clinton rivers stand out as top winter steelhead streams in Michigan’s most populous region. Most of the action on the Huron occurs from Flat Rock down to its mouth when cold weather doesn’t have the river iced over. You can wade some below the dam in Flat Rock, but a boat is best for the lower river. A ladder on the dam allows steelhead to continue upstream as far as the dam creating Belleville Lake. Steelhead are scattered in this stretch, but plenty of parkland provides good access. The adage, “less can be more,” holds in the upper Huron, as it is lightly fished and you are likely to have the water to yourself.

The Clinton River is smaller but gets a good run of steelhead. A low-head dam just upstream from Dequindre Road on the eastern edge of Oakland County concentrates the fish, and this is also the smolt stocking location. The river has a surprisingly high gradient for southern Michigan and moves quickly for several miles below the dam. You can wade it all the way to Utica. Similar to the Huron, parklands and road crossings provide good access to the river. Ice is only a problem in February when we have real cold weather. You can get up-to-date information on the run status and stream conditions for both the Huron and Clinton rivers from the DNR biologists at (248) 359-9040.

CENTRAL LAKE MICHIGAN TRIBUTARIES
Back to the west side, the Muskegon River receives a strong run of steelhead and remains ice-free between the Croton Dam and the town of Newaygo. This is a large river, but you can fish it fairly well on foot in February before the spring runoff swells its flow. Even in low water, many anglers opt for a boat because it helps them easily reach all the holding water. Public boat ramps at Croton Dam, Pine Avenue, Thornapple Avenue and Newaygo offer many options for launching and provide access for the wading angler.