Muskegon River
Michigan · Muskegon
- County: Muskegon
- Shoreline outline: not yet matched (basemap OSM)
The pin is approximate, near the middle of the water. The shoreline on the map comes from OpenStreetMap.
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Overview
Below Croton Dam, the Muskegon River runs through Newaygo and Muskegon counties to Muskegon Lake. Michigan DNR rates fishing for Chinook salmon as very good in September and October, and steelhead fishing as excellent throughout this section from late October through June. Lake Michigan brown trout are caught in about the lower 10 miles, downstream of Felch Street, in October and November. Smallmouth bass fishing is good throughout, with some walleye fishing from spring through mid-summer and moderate northern pike fishing near Muskegon Lake and the marsh. Large numbers of rainbow and brown trout are stocked between Newaygo and Croton Dam, and fishing for them is good all year. At Croton Dam, Charles Besemer Muskegon River Park has a steep paved boat launch, shore fishing on both sides of the road, a barrier-free path and fishing platform below the dam, and North Country Trail access to about three-quarters of a mile of public shoreline.
Regulations
Trout and salmon rules vary by river section. See the current Michigan Fishing Regulations and inland trout and salmon maps: https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/fishing/fishing-regulations
Stocking history
| Species | Qty | Size | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown Trout | 7740 | 17.11 | 05-19-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 6489 | 20.2 | 05-18-2026 |
| Brown Trout | 14517 | 17.11 | 05-18-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 8708 | 16.64 | 05-07-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 41395 | 17.15, 17.13 | 05-06-2026 |
| Brown Trout | 9400 | 17.08 | 05-06-2026 |
| Brown Trout | 28200 | 17.08, 16.1 | 05-05-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 31000 | 15.9, 17.47 | 05-05-2026 |
| Brown Trout | 18800 | 17.45, 16.97 | 05-04-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 21986 | 18.8 | 05-01-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 36119 | 19.1 | 04-14-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 10300 | 19.62 | 04-08-2026 |
| Brown Trout | 1120 | 19.27 | 04-08-2026 |
| Coho Salmon | 42497 | 13.9 | 04-06-2026 |
| Rainbow Trout | 59970 | 12.89 | 10-29-2025 |
| Walleye | 32010 | 2.97 | 06-04-2025 |
| Rainbow Trout | 4589 | 18.25 | 05-28-2025 |
| Brown Trout | 5247 | 18.24 | 05-22-2025 |
| Rainbow Trout | 6672 | 18.03 | 05-22-2025 |
| Brown Trout | 19799 | 18.34 | 05-16-2025 |
| Rainbow Trout | 27399 | 17.86 | 05-12-2025 |
| Rainbow Trout | 31100 | 17.99, 18.34 | 05-09-2025 |
| Rainbow Trout | 15599 | 18.43 | 05-08-2025 |
| Brown Trout | 9899 | 17.83 | 05-07-2025 |
| Brown Trout | 9299 | 17.92 | 05-06-2025 |
Michigan Department of Natural Resources