Be sure to follow Nate Wellman on the Bassmaster Elite Series tour. Nate is proudly representing our guide service on his 2014 Phoenix boat! We wish him well as he begins his season in Bainbridge, Ga. as he kicks of the season on March 13. Good Luck Nate!!
Spring is almost here!
This spring will be one for the record books. Book your trip now, we are filling up fast!
Now is the time to think about your spring steelhead getaway! We have all been packed in the house all winter, day after day, snow storm after snow storm. Let's face it, it is time to hit the river and get your blood pumping.... steelhead fishing! We have dates available starting today. This spring will be one for the record books and you won't want to miss out on the Muskegon River Steelhead action!
Please visit our Fishing Report to see what we have been up to, check fishing conditions and get the low down on where the fish are. You can also book your trip and see our entire pricing info at the Guide Packages page.
Wondering where to stay?
We recommend the Newaygo Cottage. This cozy cottage is directly on the Muskegon River. We have the ability to pick you up right out the back door of the cottage. We try to make your trip as easy as possible. After all, it is your time off! No meeting place, no driving directions to the boat launch. Walk out the door and get in the boat.
We also recommend the River Valley House, this cottage is also directly on the Muskegon River. We will pick you up directly on the river, no waiting, meeting, or driving. Walk out the door and into the best fishing experience in Michigan!
We have had the best fall steelhead run in many years, book your trip today.
We offer a great experience and strive to make your trip the best! It's not always about numbers to us, we enjoy the thrill and the experience in the outdoors. Thanks for your business.
-wmiguides
Muskegon River Emergence Chart (Hatch Chart)
Arranged in order by date of Emergence
| Common Name | Latin Name | Group | Emergence Dates* | Emergence Times |
| Tiny Black Stonefly #16-20 | Allocapnia granulata, Nemouridae | Stonefly | 1/1-4/30 | noon-4pm |
| Early Black Stonefly #10-14 | Taeniopteryx nivalis | Stonefly | 2/21-4/30 | noon-4pm |
| Early Brown Stonefly #12, 14 | Brachyptera fasciata | Stonefly | 3/15-5/10 | 1pm-7pm |
| Slate Wing Mahogony #16-18 (Little Red Quill) | Paraleptophlebia adoptiva | Mayfly | 4/15-7/8 | 10am-4pm |
| Peak: 5/1-14 | ||||
| Blue-winged Olive #16-20 | Baetis vagans | Mayfly | 4/15-8/24 | noon-3pm |
| Peak: 5/1-7 and 6/7-21 | ||||
| Dark Hendrickson #12, 14 (Hendrickson, Red Quill) | Ephemerella subvaria | Mayfly | 4/20-5/20 | 10am-4pm |
| Peak: 5/1-14 | ||||
| Little Black Caddis #16-18 | Chimarra aterrima | Caddisfly | 4/20-7/31 | noon-10pm |
| Peak: 5/1-14 | ||||
| Grannom Caddis #14-16 | Brachycentrus americanus | Caddisfly | 4/20-7/31 | 2pm-dark |
| Borcher's Drake #12, 14 | Leptophlebia cupida | Mayfly | 4/20-8/15 | 10am-4pm |
| Green Caddis #10-18 (Green Rock Worm) | Rhyacophilidae fenestra | Caddisfly | 5/1-6/30 | 2pm-dark |
| Medium Bown Stonefly #8-14 | Perlodidae lsogenus | Stonefly | 5/1-7/31 | afternoons |
| Light Hendrickson #14, 16 | Ephemerella rotunda | Mayfly | 5/3-6/20 | noon-5pm |
| Giant Stonefly #2-8 (Salmonfly) | Pteronarcys dorsata | Stonefly | 5/15-6/30 | any time |
| Great Speckled Olive Mayfly #10-14 | Siphloplecton basale | Mayfly | 5/15-7/15 | noon-5pm |
| Peak: 5/14-31 | ||||
| True Hendrickson #14, 16 | Ephemerella invaria | Mayfly | 5/15-7/20 | noon-5pm |
| Peak: 5/21-6/7 | ||||
| Sulphur Dun Mayfly #16, 18 | Ephemerella dorothea | Mayfly | 5/15-7/8 | noon-5pm |
| Peak: 6/7-30 | ||||
| Blue-winged Olive #14, 16 | Baetis spp. | Mayfly | 5/15-7/12 | 8pm-10pm |
| Tiny Blue-winged Olive #20, 22 | Baetis cingulatus | Mayfly | 5/15-8/30 | 10am-9pm |
| Green Oak Worm #8-12 | Lepidoptera sp. | Terrestrial | 5/15-7/10 | day |
| Peak: 6/7-21 | ||||
| Little Yellow or Green Stonefly #14-18 | Allloperla sp. | Stonefly | 5/15-10/30 | afternoons |
| White Miller Caddis #14, 16 | Nectopsyche | Caddis | 5/15-10/30 | afternoons |
| March Brown #10, 12 | Stenonema vicarium | Mayfly | 5/17-7/20 | noon-4pm |
| Early Gray Drake #12, 14 | Siphlonurus rapidus | Mayfly | 5/20-6/15 | dark |
| Peak 6/1-7 | ||||
| Cinammon Caddis #14-20 | Hydropsyche sp. | Caddisfly | 5/20-9/30 | 4pm-dark |
| Sand Drake Mayfly #12, 14 | Stenonema fuscum | Mayfly | 5/20-7/20 | 8pm-midnight |
| Peak: 6/1-14 | ||||
| Quill Gordon #12, 14 | Epeorus pleuralis | Mayfly | 5/24-7/12 | 1pm-4pm |
| Pale Evening Dun #16, 18 | Ephemerella dorothea | Mayfly | 6/1-7/15 | 8pm-midnight |
| Brown Drake Mayfly #8-12 | Ephemera simulans | Mayfly | 6/1-7/4 | 8pm-midnight |
| Peak: 6/1-14 | ||||
| Great Orange Sedge #8, 10 | Phryganlidae ptilostomis | Caddisfly | 6/1-7/31 | evenings |
| Beetles | Coleoptera | Terrestrial | 6/1-9/30 | day, evening |
| Midges #20-28 | Diptera | . | 6/1-10/30 | . |
| Light Cahill #12, 14 | Stenonema sp. | Mayfly | 6/5-8/14 | 2pm-10pm |
| Giant Michigan Mayfly #4-8 (Hex, Michigan Caddis) | Hexagenia limbata | Mayfly | 6/10-7/10 | 10pm-4am |
| Peak: 6/21-7/7 | ||||
| Late Gray Drake #10, 12 | Sephlonurus alternatus | Mayfly | 6/10-7/26 | dark |
| Peak: 7/1-14 | ||||
| Mahogany Dun Mayfly #10, 12 | Isonychia sadleri | Mayfly | 6/15-7/30 | 4pm-10pm |
| Peak: 6/21-7/14 | ||||
| Golden Drake Mayfly #10, 12 | Ephemera varia | Mayfly | 6/15-8/7 | . |
| Leadwing Coachman #10, 12 | Isonychia bicolor | Mayfly | 6/15-9/15 | 4pm-10pm |
| Ants #12-24 (Black and Cinammon) | Hymenoptera: Formicidae | Terrestrial | 6/15-9/30 | day, evening |
| Big Golden Stonefly #6, 8 | Paragentina media | Stonefly | 6/21-8/7 | . |
| Slate Winged Olive Mayfly #14, 18 | Ephemerella lata | Mayfly | 6/21-8/14 | . |
| Dark Slate Wing Olive Mayfly #18, 20 | Ephemerella simplex | Mayfly | 6/21-9/30 | . |
| Tiny Blue Winged Olive Mayfly #22, 24 | Pseudocloen anoka | Mayfly | 6/21-9/30 | . |
| Crickets | Orthoptera sp. | Terrestrial | 7/1-10/15 | any time |
| Grasshoppers #6-12 | Orthoptera sp. | Terrestrial | 7/15-9/30 | day |
| Tiny White-winged Black #22-26 (Trico) | Tricorythodes stygiatus | Mayfly | 7/20-10/20 | 6am-10am |
| Small Slate Mahogany Dun Mayfly #16, 18 | Paraleptophlebia debilis | Mayfly | 7/20-10/30 | . |
| Black Dancer Caddisfly #18, 20 | Mystocides sepulchralis | Caddisfly | 8/1-9/30 | . |
| Little Medium Olive Mayfly #22-24 | Baetis pygmalus | Mayfly | 8/7-9/30 | . |
| White Fly Mayfly #12, 14 | Ephoron album | Mayfly | 8/14-9/30 | . |
| Blue-winged Olive #14, 16 | Baetis tricaudatus | Mayfly | 8/15-11/1 | 11am-4pm |
| Slate Wing Brown Mayfly #14, 16 | Baetis heimalis | Mayfly | 9/1-11/1 | . |
***Chrome Coming 2013***
Spring is here and so are the Steelhead! Here are a few pictures from the past few days April 1-7.
Awesome hen!
Mr. Wellman with a beautiful 9 pound hen.
Pam with one of many fresh chrome steelhead!!
Pam with another great 8 pound male.
As we head into winter we would like to remind you all that we are offering full day guided ice fishing trips!
Book your ice fishing trip and save on a spring steelhead trip!!
If you book your ice fishing trip for any day between January 13, 2013 and February 13, 2013, get $50 off any spring steelhead trip.( You must book both trips by February 13, 2013)
Hello,
Welcome to the West Michigan Guide Service Homepage. Here are a few current events and what's going on in our neck of the woods.
**NEW** Check out the River info page to see the River flow and height of all West Michigan's Rivers.
*****!!! To all of our Veterans. In honor of Veteran's Day book a trip for the months of November and December and receive $100 OFF!!! Call Jason Rose for more information!!!*****
Jason Rose
231-250-2375
We would like to congratulate our guide Nate Wellman for qualifying for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic! Nate finished the 2012 season 17th in points, clinching the 2013 Bassmaster Classic berth. Feel free to follow the link below to his Bassmaster Elite Series Angler Profile on bassmaster.com. See our video tab for more videos of Nate Wellman from the past few years.
http://www.bassmaster.com/anglers/nate-wellman
West Michigan Guide Service is a family run outfit. We have spent countless days on the water with family and friends and loved every second of it. We enjoy teaching our skills to others to enjoy for years to come. From fly fishing with the kids to Bass fishing with the Pro’s, we have done it all. We primarily fly fish on West Michigan’s pristine rivers, but our skills are not limited to fly fishing. We are not too proud to pick up a spinning rod and throw a few spinners for trout.
We have toured the world in search of a new adventure. Nate is a proven successful veteran with a bait caster and Jason cannot stay off the hard water in the winter! Although we specialize in river fishing our skills are far from limited to the river. Whatever the conditions call for we can adapt to make sure we stay in hot pursuit of the big ones. So book your next trip with West Michigan Guide Service, West Michigan’s elite guide service.
