Welcome to RiverQuest Charters/Muskegon River Lodge

 

It's February, and, oh, are we feeling the fly fishing juices flowing stronger every day!  Our fly fishing year ebbs and flows, of course, and as we write this introduction, we guides are encountering those markers that signal intensified interest in our fishery from our customers and from ourselves. We move from winter trout fishing (wonderful as it is), from fly fishing show season, and from tackle and boat preparation to more days on the river and the heralded arrival of fresh run steelhead.  We're excited, and we're heartened by the support so many of you are extending to us.  Break out the long rods; 2013 fly fishing the MO is here.

 

An early spring is on the the way accordintg to our favorite spring forecaster Punxsutawney Phil. However, given the snows of late, we might question his assessment!  Time will tell, but surely spring will come eventually.

February.  Signs that spring is right around the corner are increasingly evident in the runs and pools of the Muskegon River. Steelhead begin to migrate up river as the sun climbs higher. Steelhead fishing is still very much a winter affair just now; however, the spring run is beginning. It's just that most anglers don't realize it. The truth is, now is the time to experience winter steelhead fishing. The fish are here in ever increasing numbers. We love February steelheading because few others do it, despite chrome coursing the river. Just a reminder: weather is king so watch the forecasts.  If the temps rise above twenty degrees, and sunny skies are forecast with low winds, call us.  With as little as 24 hours notice, we'll be ready for you and your float trip.  A warming winter day on the MO with the riverbanks blanketed in white and rainbow bands in the net is unforgettable.

Then, too, February trout fishing continues to cruise along in overdrive. A steady buffet of scuds and midge nymphs drift through pooled trout hour after hour, day after day. Match the hatch with flies our guides suggest, and you'll likely hook up. Your trout buds won't believe you until you lay the pics on them.  Winter nymphing is a flat-out gas.  We love it, and we bet, so will you.  Even better, if you wish, before days end, you can grab the eight weight and chase some chrome.  Both the trout and steelhead are feeding, needing only the right fly, well presented to bring you a tight line and special memory.

Join us this month; the fly fishing will surprise you! For information on scheduling a trip for winter trout, steelhead, or perhaps both, please call 616.293.0501 or email. Don't forget, too, you can always enjoy us online, 24/7.

 

 

February 2013

Winter on most rivers is associated with midges. Often referred to as "snow flies," they earn their reputation as such because during those cold winter months they continue to mature and hatch. Because of their lifestyle, they remain an important food source on many rivers including our beloved Muskegon River.
Midges on the Muskegon are abundant and very important to the diet

Seining the Mo'

of the trout during the winter months. During a recent seine sampling on the MO, it was amazing to see the volume of midge that reside in the river available to trout in the winter months. Next to scuds, they were most plentiful. Fishing midge pupa and larval pattern along the slower riffle seams can be deadly with the right pattern and presentation. Make sure not to overlook shallow (8"-12" depth) riffle edges as large trout key in on them during good midge activity.

This kind of selectivity to midges was driven home once again on a recent outing when I was working some classic winter trout water. I had been doing quite well fishing taeniopteryx stonefly nymphs when the strikes just shut down. Just about the time fishing slowed, I noticed some small olive midges emerging in the same run. Thinking that the fish may have quit hitting the stonefly nymph because they had switched their focus onto the emerging midge pupa, I decided to

Midge sample, Muskegon River

replace my scud with one. A few casts later, fishing a midge/stonefly combo, a good bend was put in the rod. Working the fish over to the boat I netted it, anxious to see which fly it had taken. Sure enough, the tiny olive midge pupa was tucked nicely into the corner of the robust rainbow's mouth.

On the Muskegon River, it has not been my experience that trout feed often on the adults, but always keep in mind that trout do feed on midge pupa and larva often.

Jay Allen, RiverQuest guide  

 

Howdy folks! My name is Camille Egdorf, and I was born and raised within an environment that was solely dedicated to the pursuit of adventure in the outdoors. My parents, Dave and Kim Egdorf, have made their living showing individuals from all corners of the globe what our planet has to give. In 1982, they started Western Alaska SportFishing Inc., which is located on the Nushagak River in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Every summer for the past 30 years, my family has migrated North to Alaska to guide fishermen for rainbow trout, dolly varden, and arctic grayling from early June to late September. I was six months old when I spent my first summer in the remote bush of Alaska (apparently I spent a lot of it sitting in a cardboard box next to a warm wood stove or catching minnows). Once I turned 18, I stepped into my boat for my first guide day. I've now been guiding for my parents for five years. 

 

From a very young age, I've always been fascinated with the lure of fishing. I would spend countless hours fixated on catching stickleback minnows with a five gallon bucket or staring down an ice hole for eons waiting for a panfish. At the age of seven, I picked up a fly rod for the first time and knew that it was something I would do for the rest of my life. Currently, I live in Bozeman, Montana where I attend college and take advantage of the collegiate rivers in the surrounding area. Being a woman in a male dominated sport has never been something I thought much about, I just get out there and do what my heart yearns for. I've never been intimidated or afraid to speak my mind about gear or get out there and fish with a bunch of fish bum dudes. I just enjoy sharing my passion with others, and I only hope that more women take up a fly rod and break down that intimidation barrier to get out there with the guys. There needs to be more ladies and the color pink in this sport! 

 

In the coming years, I plan to continue to be active in the industry and travel the world with a fly rod in hand. I will begin hosting trips this coming fall and have aspirations of achieving a master caster certification in hopes of introducing more women to fly fishing. I'm very excited to be contributing to this newsletter and hope that you all will enjoy reading my blurbs month after month. 

 

Tight Lines and Best Fishes,

 

Camille