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
Iso time is here
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
Brown from drake hatch earlier in June
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.
Gray Drake/taken 6/5/26
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
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