Kalamazoo Reports go here

[Steve]

Here

[msiebers]

Ok so this is another one of those "You Shoulda Been Here Last Week" stories. At least thats what the lone fisherman at the Allegan Dam told me this morning. The cold weather arrived this week (finaly) and shut down the Walleye and Steehead fishing that was doing pretty good up till last week. The larger female walleyes have yet to show up by the dam but fishing was not bad for those "just leagal" fish. Steelhead are scattered through out the lower river up to the Allegan Dam but shelf ice, now forming, will slow down fishing further downstream.

At the Hamilton Dam on the Rabbit River, the parking lot was totaly empty and snow was not even plowed. Unless you have a 4X4 with good rubber, I wouldnt try going down to this parking lot anyway. There is plenty of parking at the top of the hill if you dont mind a short walk. Steelhead will be in the river here if the weather ever lets up enough to give them a try.

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Mike

[Steve]

Thanks for the report Mike, keep up the good work!

Anybody been out on the Kalamazoo lately?

[msiebers]

Walleye and Steelhead fisherman are starting to filter back in to the Kalamazoo River by Allegan dam. Since the temp. is starting to climb up as well as the barometer,after last weeks cold front, the fishing should start to get better.
This morning when I got to the dam parking lot, 2 other guys were already on the "wall" buy the dam and 3 boats had gone downstream. Be careful putting in at this ramp. The "washout hole" is the first thing you will hit when launching your boat. Trailer dammage will result if your not payimg attention.
I tried casting spinners for awhile and on the 2nd cast, I thought I hooked into one of the big Walleyes that are near the dam around this time of year. Turned out to be about a 4lb. sucker however, that took a liking to one my own custom built spinners..LOL!
Put up a decent fight anyway.

The guy's fishing minnow's off the wall had no takers and left by noon.
One personal note. I'd like to thank the 2 guy's that showed up with a boat and offered to take me along, since I helped them push their boat off the trailer at the ramp and warned them about the logg's. Its generous sportsman like these that make the sport of fishing better for all.

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Mike

Thanks for the report. Can you wade by the dam or is the water too high?

[msiebers]

Yes you can wade near the dam. Not right next to it, of course, but down a little ways. If you park in the lot, on the left side where it starts, and go through the trees there. You can start wading at the bottom of the hill there and almost wade it all the way down the boat ramp. Theres also some wadeable water way down around the bend from the ramp. If your the type that doesnt mind a good hike. This might be a better place than right by the dam for steelies any way.

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Mike

[msiebers]

Fishing is starting to pickup a little at Allegan Dam. The guys fishing on the wall and in boats right at the dam were getting some small walleyes using minnows. Shouldnt be long now till the big "Spawners" show up.

Downstream near the M-89 bridge, Steelhead fisherman were bringing in a few nice fish. Spawn seemed to be the bait of choice today with Hot-n-Tot plugs coming in at second.
The launch ramps are very icy and I would bring along some sand for traction if you decide to put a boat in. The lots are all plowed out so getting stuck there isnt a concern just getting that boat pulled out of the water is the only problem.

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Mike

Thanks for the report. Its sounding better and better.

[msiebers]

I didnt get down to the river this past weekend. I mad a few calls, however and it turns out the action on the K-Z00 is about the same as last week. Good time to take care of the Valentines day stuff...Eh!!

[jduck]

Anything happening on the St. Joe?

[msiebers]

Spent most of saturday on the k-zoo. The river is up (not really high, just back to normal) but the rain has turned it into a muddy soup. There are plenty of fish in the river. I saw quite a few roll and jump but had a real hard time getting them to bite. :confused: There wasnt really anybody else on the lower river (near new richmond) until after noon. I took along some minnows, as well as the usual arsenal of plug's and spawn in hopes we would get one of the walleyes, now heading up to spawn, to bite. I never even had a hit. :(

[Lance]

Are there any places that I can bank fish the river near Plainwell/Otsego maybe even Allegan? My 10yr old is really after me to get him out but my boat is at my folks house on Houghton Lake. Also, haven't ever done any river fishing, anything significantly different than on a lake. I wouldn't think you'd have to rig any different than you would for drifting on a windy day.
Thanks
Lance

[msiebers]

Lance, the Allegan Dam is the upstream limit for trout & salmon on the Kalamazoo river. However good bank fishing occurs down below the dam. Just park in the lot on the east side of the river off of Allegan Dam road comming from M-40. You can fish the bank from here all the way down around to the second bend (about a mile of river). Just rigg up like you would for pier fishing with a pyramid sinker on a dropper attached to a 3-way swivel. Use about 6 or 8lb. test for leader with a #6 wide bend or egg hook on the end with spawn for bait. If you would rather drift your bait, exchange the pyramid sinker for a few small split shot and bring along a bobber or two for slow stretches and your in buisness.
Another good place is where the M-89 bridge crosses the river on the way to Fenville. Parking is limited here however. If walleyes are what you are after just switch the bait to minnows on the same rig and there you go. Too many diferent variations on this to mention here now but feel fre to e-mail me with any other questions. ;)
Mike

[msiebers]

I talked to a few guys fishing near the M-89 bridge over the weekend. They were getting a few Steelhead on spawn. The river hasnt gone back down too much yet but the color is much better than last weekend. :)
Only 11 days left to catch walleye's out of the Kalamazoo. I havent heard of any real nice ones being caught this year. It will probably be the same as last year with the big females showing up at the end of march... After the season closes. :p

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Mike

[msiebers]

Fished the kalamazoo downstream form M-89 today. The River is way down and running clear again. We never did get any of that rain this past week.
I never got a bite, however some of the guys coming back down from further upstream had a few nice fish.
Over by the dam at hamilton, it looks like the circus came to town.
The fish are in and so are the mobs of weekend fishermen. Action started to slow down today as the sun came out for a bit, but picked up again later in the afternoon.

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Mike