Fishing Reports

I realize that the truth sadly gets you nowhere today. And I apologize that I don’t give “fishing reports” and updates constantly for those trolling the web and looking for them. I could lie and bullshit, like so many of the guide fishing reports I see, which is actually the easy thing to do that fishing guides and operations use to “drum-up and troll for customers”- social media is full of it.! But I strongly suggest a person looking for honest,, current/ real-time/ non- bullshit updates, to please feel free to call me or your guide anytime on the number on this website-text or leave a message if I’m on the water.. It is much easier to tell the truth and have a rapport, or establishing a new one, when when you hear a warm, kind soul on the line- my two cents. I will nevertheless by popular demand give a monthly update/ daily updates when can/ and overview what to expect- and new posts if something earth shattering happens. But the easiest thing for me to post often are my social media pages on Instagram and Facebook- there I post often- show fly patterns etc. Send me a friend request or follow- cheers!

Report – July 4th

We saw weeks this spring with perfect temperatures ( 70-50 )- it has been absolutely wonderful! But as expected a brutal heat wave came since 6/27- to now 7/4- but now is subsiding. The trout and steelhead fry have loved the cool water temps and it bodes well for colder water in reservoirs. After all the century record flooding, the river has had this spring, a beautiful tea/tannic stain to it has developed to it – it is at prime river levels at cfs. The stain is from the peat bogs – usually the water is almost too clear. This is from the zebra mussels in the reservoir filtering the water . The epic flooding killed off zillions of mussels / also the very cold winter. With that combo the water should naturally have that tannic stain like it had before the exotic invaders infiltrated the waters back in 1999.The stain is very good for trout to feel more secure and feed better on the surface- and chase a streamer longer and closer to the boat- I greatly welcome the stain.

Brown Trout Update

2026 spring has again seen a good crop of holdover browns and some beasts approaching the 26-27 inch range. A consistent crop of 12-15 inch fish are everywhere but they can be stuffy in attitudes when bugs are on the waiter.

The big news is the GRAY DRAKES ARE BACK!!!

After 4 years of them practically disapperaing from a 4 year brutal drought that dried up river beds bera shore where they migrate to, this very wet spring was the catalysyt to ignite them. Hewr i9s a better expalnation.

Noah’s Drakes

What’s Happening Now–7/4

As rivers are heating up all over the state ( even the Holy Waters of the Au Sable and lower P.M.) we got Consumers Energy ( on June 27th) , who manage the hydro dams to turn on the mandatory bubbler at Croton ( bubbles up oxygenated cold water from the bottom of the reservoir) and that cooled down the water substantially into the mid-60’s), whereas other blue-ribbon trout streams were hitting low- to mid 70’s form the heat wave that had air temps in the 92-98 F range. It is mandated by FERC in DC to run until September 1 to keep water temps as low as possible.

What to Expect 7/4

Carry a thermometer-early mornings are best-Trico hatches in the morning along with Pseudo tiny BWO’s, Caddis ( greens and cinnamon) white aphids galore!!, Cahills and Isonychias in evening, along with still numerous Isonychias. Steelhead fry streamers, large D&D’s- ( drunk and disorderlies) ( copper/tan)

Small Spring Creeks

Newaygo, Lake and Kent counties have tiny ice cold fusion spring creeks. they are running at an awesome level since the floods this spring. Hex on a few of them, but Summer BWO’s and lots of beetles/ hoppers soon!

Summer Steelhead

Hit a beauty summer run the other day!

A few batches of them showed up on the Joe- and another Michigan small river to my west- more to come!

Peace/love/Cheers- and just go fish’in!- part of the joy is just showing up first, and going from there. Be thankful to just be on the water!

Events etc.

Our Fishable Feast Book is selling super well!- thank you to all that bought a copy and are enjoying it. Check the Events calendar on my website for book signings etc.

For more info email me at: 231-25-2846 – email at meicz@icloud.com / or msupin2583@msupinski – or websites below

www.graydrake.com

wwwhallowedwaters.com

Summer School- Learn to Fly Fish On Two River Genres

I have many clients that fish for the amazing steelhead and salmon fishery that we have in our Great Lakes rivers. But when it comes to ‘true fly fishing” many are completely clueless!( along with two-hander spey, often deep weighted nymphing ‘chuck-and-duck” is used especially in the high spring waters) This summer I am doing teaching/introductory guide trips for learning to properly cast and present dries/nymphs /wets/streamers to trout in two environments. Most don’t realize how enjoyable it is and it can be done on any travel destination in the world when you go on vacations with the family.

When the temperatures are right we can do a morning ( temps are coldest then since they run the bubbler through the night) on the Muskegon tailwater for big water caddis/Trico/midge hatches and always rising trout. Presenting a dry fly is the pinnacle of fly fishing. Or… spend a day learning the subtle intricacies of the short game of a nearby small spring creek, with stunningly beautiful wild trout. Better yet!- do a two day event exploring each : big river casting on tailwaters- and small stream trout. It is a great way to introduce family members/sons/daughters etc. into fly fishing. Orvis fly rods and tackle included with lunch. Total novices or experts welcome! ( btw… If you are at the top of your game, I can elevate it as high as you want to go- both from casting and presentation)

Email me through the www.graydrake.com website or call / text 231-250-2846 for more details

Muskegon River Tailwater

As I write this report we are into a short hot spell with temperatures approaching 91F. Newaygo is right on the edge of the hot/cooler boundary, since temps are in the upper 90’s just a dozen miles south. As the Blue Ribbon Pere Marquette River just north is already signaling the “70F dont fish warning” our very cold spring is saving the water temperatures on the Muskegon due to the reservoirs retaining colder water. I have contacted Dana and Mark ( our DNR biologists) to ask Consumers Power Dam operators to turn on the cool water bottom bubbler earlier than the July 1 mandated date by FERC. Consumers have been wonderful in complying with all we have asked them to do to make the Muskegon cooler and more oxygenated in the summer.. Here is yesterday’s temperature graph and it shows’ how quickly the water temperatures go down when they use the bubbler- now praying how long they will last through the summer is the key.

As evident by the healthy 22 inch brown above, we had a very good spring with excellent holdover browns and rainbows throughout the entire river system in the 14-20 + range. Despite the hot summer and no water of last summer, the beauty of the Muskegon is all the numerous springs and deep pools that help shield the larger trout. The trout targeted salmon fry patterns and were nymphed /wet fly fished behind sucker beds, along with the wonderful hatches we have.

HATCHES

Despite another drought filled spring ( we are into our fourth year of droughts) our hatches were right on schedule with the first being the Early Black Stonefly. Then came our extremely prolific Hydropsyche Caddis that had good mating swarms all spring and still continuing. One relatively new hatch is a #16 Epeorus Blue Winged Olive pictured here.

Our Epem. inveria hatch- sulphers- continues to grow in strength each year and are now the mayfly hatch of choice for the trout. Unfortunately our gray drake hatch is almost gone due to the droughts- a hatch that was in blizzard epic proportions. There were a few sightings of small mating flights in the lower river- and” one “ pretty heavy flight in the upper river. So eventually they will repopulate the river but will need time. After the sulphers and continuing right now are the White Cahill hatch that the trout relish. Mostly rusty spinners and emergers are targeted by the bigger trout. This hatch will continue all summer into fall with Heptagenia hebe.

.One hatch that is a sleeper is the Isonychia hatch though their numbers are nowhere near what they were 20 years ago.- used to have blizzard spinner flights. Fishing Trout Crack patterns give up some very large brown trout.

Starting now are Tricos and 1st brood of Green Caddis and Zebra Caddis- also Golden Stoneflies ( primarily Little Green Cheum. Caddis will continue to pick up as the summer continues and will peak in Sept/October.

Small Spring Creek Update

In the summer months when the main river can get too warm from heat waves I spend a good amount of time on the small spring creeks all around the Muskegon River that stay ice cold all summer. If you are interested in learning the art of small creek trout fishing this is a great time when wild brown and brook trout are eager to take terrestrials off the surface like ants, beetles, hoppers and crickets that are loaded in the brush and meadows. Also the Trico and tiny BWO hatches can be prolific.

It is a great time to venture in the shaded , cool woods with light rods and experience the most gorgeous wild trout you will ever see!

Summer Steelhead

Summer steelhead have rolled into Indiana creeks and the St Joe River. They are an amazing species of steelhead that are as wild and crazy a steelhead you will ever find! We also get a run of summer steelhead on the Muskegon River comprised of stray fish from Indiana and Big Manistee planted fish. Especially when the Muskegon is running colder than other rivers on a hot summer. They tend to run straight up to the dam and in the upper mile like they were bred to do. Swinging west coast style purple/black/blue Thugmeister Intruders on light Scandi two hander lines is such an electrifying way to fish these fish that strike so hard on the swing that they take the rod out of your hands!

See you on the river! ( Don’t forget to catch my Hallowed Waters Podcasts on Spotify and Apple, or wherever you catch your podcasts- doing a cool “Trout Stalker” series now. Also, stay tuned for a colossal new book coming out this winter co-authored with Kirk Deeter-it will be a truly ‘must have’ for you and everyone one you know-promise!

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hallowed-waters/id1606667042

Cheers!

Matthew Supinski

Made my point on my last post. Still have Early Black Stoneflies Hatching-Streamer bite time of year. Chinook parr have hatched. Should have fresh chrome still coming- get out and go fishing!

Water level-2700CFS- water temp- 41F

Steelhead hitting gravel. Fresh chrome fish in pools crushing early black stones and freshly emerged Chinook salmon sac-fry.

Browns eating early black stonefly nymphs’ and gorging on ova-positing female egg layers on the surface- check out my “Cold Stoned” article

Cold Stoned-Early Blacks Demystified

A nice fat gorged brown taken on the CDC early black stone

Water finally!!! came up to normal snow run-off levels thanks to rain- currently 3780 CFS-water temp: came down thank God!-39F

Getting a push of fresh steelhead and walleye. The trout fishing has been stellar all winter with now the Early Black Stone Flies are hatching and the trout are crushing the nymphs and fluttering egg laying adults. Some steelhead have begun to dig-extremely early.

Here is my latest blog on them:

Cold Stoned-Early Blacks Demystified

March is time of year yiou have a crack at a really large pre-spawn steelhead -here is Gene Kelly’s iconic St Pat’s day steelhead that pushed the 20 pound mark a few years ago!

Hope to see you on the water!- contact me at www.graydrake.com

Cheers!

Matthew Supinski