[jaws]

I'm looking to try steelhead fishing on the pere marquette (MI) this fall. Any advice on where to start, what gear to use, flys, etc.

Thanks
Jaws

[Frank Whiton]

Hi Jaws,

No one has responded so I will try to help. I haven't fished Michigan for many years so keep that in mind. The Pere Marquette is a very popular river especially the fly only section when Steelhead and Salmon are in the river. It has a good population of Brown Trout and the upper reaches are not heavily fished.

You best bet is to contact one of the fly shops in Baldwin. You can get your flies at Pere Marquette River Lodge or BaldwinTackle. That would be my first step.

A lot of the river has a sand or gravel bottom and wading is good. The lower sections below Baldwin is wide and deep. There is some wading but you have to be very careful. If you are tough you can try the spring Steelhead fishing below Gleason's Landing. There will still be snow on the banks.

As far as tackle you should consider a 9' to 10' 7wt or 8wt rod. A reel with a good drag and some backing. I think your first purchase should be this book: Trout Streams of Michigan, second addition, by Bob Linsenman and Steve Nevala. This book is oriented to Trout but it has maps, parking and access information for the major fly fishing waters in Michigan. It is well worth the money. It is available from Amazon.

Frank

[2PawsRiver]

Check out FishBaldwin.com.

It is a site ran by Baldwin Bait and Tackle and has alot of PM specific information. You may also want to contact them about a guided trip. They're prices are not rediculous.

You could also have the additional fun of hooking into a King Salmon while fishing for Steel, they can be a hoot.

The Big Manistee also has a good steelhead run and many times I will see people fishing for Steel behind spawning Kings.

For a look at that area check out our website and go to the fishing page and look for the Salmon Fishing on the Manistee videos.

Good Luck