Pere Marquette Fishing Report

March 9th, 2010

Dan P with a great spring-time hen, 3/9

As most of you know I don't make it to the PM that often, but I so enjoy the change in scenery. The PM is where it all started for me as a steelhead angler 20 years ago. It is so nice to fish this water from time to time. The double D's (Dan and Dan) had there annual spring steelhead trip today, and it's tradition that we fish the Pere Marquette. With low expectations I thought we did great today. We only landed one, but I will take personal blame on two others for either bad knot tying or really weak 6 pound flouro. I'm sorry Dan C. that was my fault! Yes water levels are low, yes water levels are clear for this time of year. But yes again there are nice fish in the holes. The big spring push is on the way, hope that mother nature gives us a little rain over the next couple days. We did most of our damage today on fry patterns as they are really bouncing around in the shallows.

Tight Lines,

JR

P.S. Check out Tommy's article on fish for Big Trout on the Hodenpyl section of the Manistee

March 6th, 2010

Fishing is tougher than I would like to see it right now but with the solitude and beautiful weather it is sure nice being out there right now. Water temps will be going into the 40's this week with the air temps but I don't suspect fishing is going to change much with the steelhead numbers till we trigger some major blasts from the lower river which should start some time at the end of next week when that melt water hits the beach! Trout fishing is coming around nicely between nymphing and streamer fishing, and if your lucky and smart you will try and avoid any steelhead on the gravel this early, but pay attention to the crowd of gold right behind them!

Only good thing that comes from clear spring water is that you can play the "Fall Egg Game" with winter starved browns that are strategically set up right behind the winter holdovers!! Pick your battles, but don't pic on the spawning steelhead!! There are many more steelhead still in the holes; the only thing biting on the gravel right now is the browns in their wake!! A good word to remember till that water rises next week is MICRO, everything needs to be toned down unless your fishing lower in the river where they are a bit more silly. Fishing pressure is going to grow every weekend from now till the end of April so be nice to your fellow fisherman no matter how busy it is; neither one of you will have a good time if your both flustered from a confrontation... Nobody ever wins when that happens!!

Streamer trips all spring long will be $325 for those of you Hard Core Trout Bums, and I dare some of you to come with me and swing for the fences, I only have a few dates left!! More large browns will be taken in the next couple of months then the last 5 months put together as they come out of their winter sluggishness and engage any and all things that will give them chase. For myself, (and clients for that matter), out of the last 10 fish over 25" long, all but a few have been taken in the early Spring and not late summer, though I hope to change that this August!! Call Cherie at 231-228-7135 if you looking to Elite this spring!!!!!!!!! .......... T

PLEASE COME AND SEE CHUCK, RUSS, EDDY, & I at the MIDWEST FLY FISHING SHOW from the 12th-14th of March. Hawkins Outfitters will have a booth there Chit Chatting and Grabbing Shwagg; stop on by if you aren't fishing Up North!!

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Annual Water Data Reports

USGS 04122500 PERE MARQUETTE RIVER AT SCOTTVILLE, MI

Station location information and 2009 data 
Station location information and 2008 data
Station location information and 2007 data
Station location information and 2006 data

Station operated in cooperation with Michigan Department of Transportation.

Discharge, cubic feet per second
	Most recent instantaneous value: 1,300   03-12-2010  16:00 EST     Create presentation-quality / stand-alone graph parm 00060 DD01
	Daily discharge statistics, in cfs, for Mar 12 based on 70 years of record more Min (1940) 20th percen- tile Median Mean Most Recent Instantaneous Value 80th percen- tile Max (2009) 475 603 810. 965 1,300 1330 2260

Gage height, feet
	Most recent instantaneous value: 3.51   03-12-2010  16:00 EST     Create presentation-quality / stand-alone graph parm 00065 DD03