This PM River steelhead report is provided by the fishing guides at Indigo Guide Service.

Go to the West Michigan Fishing Report to see what’s happening on our other area streams… We have snow and steelhead in west Michigan.  Updated January 2nd, 2010.

Water Conditions — Temps in the mid 30’s with average water levels
USGS Real-Time Data for the Pere Marquette River at Scottville, Michigan

Steelhead fishing on west Michigan’s Pere Marquette River is average to good considering the water temps are only a few degrees above average.  While getting into big numbers is a rare event in cold water a good angler should expect to contact a couple nice steelhead in a days fishing.  The river is absolutely gorgeous right now, with banks and tree branches buried under big fluffy pillows of white.  There is nothing like a bright colorful steelhead with snow in the background.

Winter Steelhead Tip
If you have good confidence that a spot is holding fish, either by a sighting or simply that gut feeling, then take your time.  Fish the area with several different approaches, sometimes cold water fish need to be stimulated into waking-up before their ready to eat.  It is not uncommon in the winter for the second person to fish a spot to have the most success.

A caught and released winter steelhead

We added a new page Winter Steelhead Fishing in Michigan to the Indigo site.