Sullivan's Fishing Guide Service

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Your Guide Service for Salmon & Steelhead

- Muskegon River -                      - White River -

- Pere Marquette River -             - Big Manistee River -

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Seasons and Species We Target:

- Fall Salmon (Mid-August to Mid-October): Salmon Fishing on all rivers of West Michigan from the Muskegon River to the Big Manistee River. King Salmon are one of the hardest fighting fish in freshwater ranging on average from 10 lbs to 20 lbs, with plenty over 20 lbs. We fish for salmon in the holes and runs of the river using lures and drifting bobbers. In the lakes and harbors we use eggs for bait, jigging spoons, and trolling with light tackle.

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- Fall & Winter Steelhead (Mid-October to Early March): Steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River and the White River. We chase Steelhead all fall and winter, weather & river conditions permitting. Steelhead are an amazing sport fish. From their speed and power, to jumping several times, to their beauty, steelhead are a popular target species for good reason! We use a variety of tactics for fall and winter steelhead including bobber fishing, backbouncing, and plug fishing. As the weather gets colder the steelhead fishing doesn't stop. Ask Captain Tom about a Winter Plug Fishing Trip on the Muskegon River. It's a great way to get outside in the colder months to get some fresh air and take in the scenery. Bundle up and relax with a hot beverage while sitting in front of a heater while we back troll the river looking for steelhead to bite! 

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- Spring Steelhead (Early March to Mid May): The spring spawning run of Steelhead on the Muskegon River. We primarily bobber fish and backbounce for spring steelhead, targeting fish that are off gravel staging to spawn or "dropping back" to Lake Michigan after spawning. 

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- Summer Fishing (Mid-May to Mid-September): Smallmouth Bass and Trophy Catfish on the Muskegon River. Chasing hard-fighting smallmouth bass on light tackle is a great way to get out on the river in the summer months. We fish morning half-day trips for smallmouth bass and use a variety of tactics from live bait to soft plastics and topwater lures. We target catfish in the lower stretches of the Muskegon River during the summer months too. We fish for catfish on anchor with a variety of baits on the bottom waiting for what lies beneath to bite. Channel catfish are the most common, ranging from 3 lbs to 10+ lbs on average, and giving a great fight. The trophy we're always hunting for is the giant flathead catfish which can weigh over 20 lbs and will fight as hard as any other fish you can catch in freshwater!

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More About Our Rivers:

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- Muskegon River: Located only 40 miles from Downtown Grand Rapids the "Mighty Muskegon River" makes for a great day trip to chase fish. It's a large river with a variety of habitat and flows winding 50+ miles from Croton Dam to Muskegon Lake. Depending on the season and where the fish are, we fish the entire river system from the dam to the lake. With its close proximity to Grand Rapids, the Muskegon River is truly a gem helping you feel like you're worlds away from the city with the beautiful water and scenery.

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- White River: Located just 60 miles from Downtown Grand Rapids the White River is a great option for fishing a smaller river that can hold some very quality salmon and steelhead. We focus on the lower stretches of the White River where we can still fish from the comfort of our jet boat, and where the migratory fish are fresh in their run upstream.

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- The Pere Marquette River: The Pere Marquette River is about 100 miles from Downtown Grand Rapids and is known as one of the most beautiful rivers in the state. We fish a wide variety of water on the Pere Marquette River, and even venture out into Pere Marquette Lake. Depending on conditions, we begin fishing for king salmon on the Pere Marquette River and in Pere Marquette Lake in mid to late August.

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- The Manistee River: If you're looking for a true fishing get-away to Northern Michigan the Manistee River is trip you need to experience. Surrounded by National Forest, the Manistee River is full of scenery and beautiful water. We fish the lowest stretches of the Manistee River targeting early season salmon in August and September, and then early season steelhead in October and Early-November. Note: We only fish the Manistee River for two-day trips. Reach out HERE to contact for more information.

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