| Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby: |
|---|
| Muskegon River Lodge |
| Hawkins Outfitters |
Water flow: Normal
Visibility: 36 inches
Water temperature at mid-day: 75 Degrees F
Water condition: Stained
Best time of day to fish: Afternoon/Evening
Best stretch: Three Rivers to Lake Michigan
Best access point: Mottville, Niles, Buchanan, Berrien Springs
Fly fishing hatches in order of importance:
Fish species: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike
Fishing season: Early Summer
Nearest airport: South Bend, Indiana SBN
Recommended fly fishing leader: 9 Foot Leader
Best fly fishing rod: 9' 8 Weight Fly Rod
Best floating fly line: Big Bug Warm Water WF Fly Line
Best sinking fly line: Depth Charge Full Sink Fly Line
The St. Joseph is probably the heaviest stocked steelhead river in the world! With a five hydro dam fish ladder system, it carries steelhead, coho salmon and browns for 48 miles to South Bend, Indiana.
Close to 400,000 summer skamania steelhead, which run the river from June through September and 200,000 winter Michigan strain steelhead are stocked. Not to mention 400,000 coho silver salmon- it is a salmonid ...
Strip or swing streamers near any current breaks or log jams where predators will be holding waiting for prey to swim by. Fish surface flies over structure or near undercut banks, don't be scared to dead drift poppers, Smallies love easy meals!
The Summer pattern is here, if you love to see fish eat surface flies with reckless abandon, the time is now!
