Some of the fish that travelers to Michigan hope to catch are smallmouth bass, steelhead, and salmon. While many streams in the area offer one or more of these fish, the Kalamazoo River is one of the few that has all of them in abundance.
You could consider the Kalamazoo River a diamond in the rough. It isn’t one of the most popular streams in the state, but once you visit it, you’ll wonder why that is the case. There’s nothing better than exploring this reborn river with the potential for hooking up with some trophy fish.
Get Directions to the Fishing Access Points shown above with the DIY Fly Fishing Map
Since the Kalamazoo River is quite long, you’ll find various access points for doing some angling. The Fort Custer Recreation Area offers a ramp and paddle craft access to the river. It’s located at 5163 Custer Drive in Augusta and provides a parking lot, public restrooms, and rustic camping options.
Another option is in the city of Allegan at the dam. There’s a short trail with a small parking area about two miles from Jaycee Park. Access for boats is available, as well as parking space, but the shorelines are tough to move around on so watercraft are recommended.
Merrill Park is a small city park that includes a boat ramp, parking for several cars, and restrooms. It’s also located near other access points so anglers can choose the one that best fits their needs. Keep in mind that this access site can be a bit challenging when the river is moving quickly.
The Trowbridge Dam Site is accessible from a dirt road that runs about a quarter of a mile down to a boat ramp. There is a parking lot available so anglers can stop close to the Kalamazoo River and get in some serious fishing.
April is the best time to start fishing for smallmouth bass as they start to get ready to spawn. As water temperatures warm up so does the smallmouth bite. Fishing can be great during this month, but it all depends on the mood of the fish. Weighted lines and slow streamer tactics tend to be the best option.
Moving into May, the weather becomes more consistent and you can experience consecutive days of great fishing. Finally, at the end of the month, the fish start spawning and fish activity peaks.
Things start to slow down quite a bit in June since the fish are done spawning and are less interested in fly offerings. The best time to fish will be in the morning or late afternoon. The fish are hungry at those times, but tactics may vary based on how the fish are feeling.
Fishing can be done during other seasons, such as fall for salmon and steelhead.
Chinook and coho salmon start to run in early September followed by autumn steelhead. Salmon and steelhead can be caught indi-nymphing below Allegan Dam or on a swung fly.
Winter fishing is also possible, but make sure to bundle up before heading out to the Kalamazoo River. If the water is overly cold, it will make the fish slow down and patience may be needed to bring in trout and other fish.
Be sure to check the stream conditions before heading out to fish the Kalamazoo River. There are USGS stream gauges that provide a good indication of current conditions.
The graph below shows the stream flow (discharge) for the past 7-days. If flows are considerably above or below historical norms (yellow triangles on the chart) then fishing conditions maybe not be ideal.
