Fly Fishing Road Trips
Good People      Good Water       Good Fish

Michigan was part of Mop up the States Near My Home in the Chicago campaign. Why I never fished in Michigan until 2017, I have no idea. It is funny how there are trout almost everywhere in Michigan, but states like North Dakota have almost none.

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It is Memorial Day Weekend, and Lauren is with her family in the South. So, I pack up the dog "Brooke Trout" and head up to Croton Dam's tailwaters, the Muskegon River. 

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We crossed the dam and drove to the parking, where there was fish access. Google Maps in satellite view is incredible. I guessed at the site from what I learned from the maps. I drove right up, launched Brooke, threw a couple of casts, and had my first Michigan Rainbow. Yes, minor, like most of my first fish in a state. I had no idea there would be trout. Again, I just guessed from the research I did. I ended up catching 43 trout in about two hours. Sunset was nearing, and I had no place to stay or had mastered SUV camping yet.

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We drove around looking for a campsite, but it was Memorial Day Weekend; we finally stumbled on a town park, White Cloud County Park. The park was off the White River, another trout stream we would target.

The camping was not in a forest, but friendly nonetheless. Unfortunately, I forgot my tent poles, and the young lady running the place ran out and fetched hers. I live in Chicago, and the people are friendly, but this was over the top. The whole time she watched over us. We ate dehydrated food and had a half bottle of wine; then Brooke called it a night, so I joined her. Ok, maybe the dog didn't eat the food or drink the wine.

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The White River is a small stream with healthier, larger trout than I caught in the Muskegon River. It was a blast as I pulled about a half-dozen 10-12 inch healthy trout. The day was ending, and my next stop would be Indiana to a friend's farm to catch my Hoosier Trout.