Great Lakes
Muskegon River
Live Conditions
Muskegon River — Muskegon River near Croton, MI
7-Day Flow
→ Stable
24-Hr Pressure
29.16 inHg · → High/stable
Voluntary Catch-and-Release Advisory
Water temperature is at or above 65°F. At these temperatures trout are physiologically stressed and have a higher post-release mortality rate. Consider waiting for cooler conditions — early morning or evening — or choosing a tailwater with regulated temperatures.
Local Weather
Tough conditions — fish deep
Today
🌦️Drizzle
85° / 69°
0.04"
Tomorrow
🌦️Drizzle
92° / 69°
0.01"
Wed
☁️Overcast
93° / 72°
Thu
🌧️Rain showers
88° / 68°
0.62"
Cold front incoming — go deep with nymphs, surface activity likely slow.
Weather by Open-Meteo · No API key · Updated every 30 min
What should I fish today?
⚡ AIAI-powered recommendation using today's live flow, temperature, and hatch data.
2
Time of Day
Using: 1,190 CFS · 71.6°F · ISONYCHIA
What should I pack?
Rod, flies, tippet, and safety gear specific to today's Muskegon River conditions.
🪰 Hatch Calendar
Muskegon River · September · Early Fall
🟡 Approaching — within 5°F of trigger range
Select month
ISONYCHIA (size 12-14) afternoons. BWOs (size 18-20). FALL STEELHEAD entering. Chinook and Coho SALMON entering for spawn.
🟢 Active · 🟡 Approaching · ⚪ Seasonal only
River Map
About Muskegon River
The Muskegon River below Croton Dam is a premier Michigan tailwater — cold, dam-regulated water that holds trophy brown trout and steelhead year-round. The dam creates consistent cool temperatures even through summer, making this a reliable fishery when other rivers warm. Fall salmon and steelhead runs are substantial, with some summer steelhead below Croton Dam as well.
Regulations
Gear Restricted sections below Croton Dam. Check Newaygo County exceptions in current Michigan DNR guide. Steelhead bag limits apply. Michigan Fishing License required. Year-round open on tailwater sections.
Learn More
Guides to help you fish Muskegon River with more confidence.
Michigan Fly Fishing Regulations Guide
Michigan fishing license, the last-Saturday-in-April trout opener, Type 1/Type 2 Gear Restricted designations, the no-kill artificials-only Au Sable…
Trout Species of Michigan
Michigan's native Brook Trout (the state fish, dominant in UP rivers and cold headwaters), the introduced Brown Trout (first stocked in the U.S. in…
The Hex Hatch: Michigan's Greatest Night on the Water
The Hexagenia limbata hatch on the Au Sable Holy Water is the one event that brings the largest brown trout in Michigan rivers to the surface after…