Muskegon River

The classic tailwater head — cold Croton releases running over clean gravel bars, fast runs, and deep pools. This reach holds the best spawning gravel on the river and is the sight-fishing heart of the steelhead run, wide but with the most walk-in access. Croton Dam access, Kimble County Park, Pine Avenue, and Thornapple Road launches string the first six-plus miles below the dam.

Best for: Spring steelhead on the gravel with beads, small black stones, and egg patterns; fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and fall steelhead; resident brown trout and rainbow trout on the June hatches. Nymph, swing, and sight-fish.

Below Thornapple the banks go largely private and the river becomes big, structure-rich float water — the monster-trout reach. Wood along the banks, gravel bottoms, and outside turns hold the river's best resident fish. Wade access is limited to the launches and the gravel bars at Newaygo, so this is drift-boat and jet-sled water.

Best for: Resident brown trout and rainbow trout — the June hatches (Gray Drake at dusk, Sulphur, caddis, Isonychia), streamers for big browns, and nymphing between hatches. Also prime through the fall and spring steelhead runs.

Below Newaygo the river widens further, warms in summer, and the trout fishery gives way to migratory runs and warmwater. A sand, cobble, and boulder mix, this is a staging and travel reach for fall salmon and steelhead more than a summer trout stretch — the honest truth is the trout water is upstream.

Best for: Fall Chinook salmon, coho salmon, and steelhead staging and running; summer smallmouth bass when the upper trout water warms.