I've all but resigned myself to the fact that I will not be making a trip to the BW this year and I will certainly miss my annual trip.  :'(

That being said I had the opportunity to get my 8 year old daughter in the canoe this past weekend.  We put in at Newaygo on the Muskegon River (That's in Michigan, just in case you have no idea where I'm talking about).  If you're anywhere near the Muskegon River and are looking for a nice paddle, I've got to reccomend it.  The stretch of river from the Croton Dam all the way to Lake Michigan is a fantastic paddle and While I haven't paddled it yet, I hear the up river portions are equally as nice.

My daughter and I stopped at a little campground for the night and had an absolutely fantastic time.

While I'm disappointed about not making my annual pilgramage North, I wouldn't trade this past weekend get away for anything.

If anyone would like more information about the Muskegon River, give me a shout and  don't forget to look out for the National Canoe Racing Championship to be held in Newaygo in 2011.

The White River just north of there is great too, but you probably already knew that.  ;)

Yes...the White is a great river!!!  A bit smaller and a bit more technical, but a great paddle.  Lots of places to go and explore.

If you happen to be a Geocacher, there are sveral caches located on the West end.  

Did a couple of days on the white. Nice river. Didn't catch many fish though. How is the fishing on the Muskegon? Looks big?

The Muskegon has some good fishing oportunities.  Salmon and steelhead run it.  Most people don't realize that Muskegon Lake is considered the best walleye fishery on the West side of the state.  So walleye are cuaght up the river as well.  There are also pike, bass and trout.

As for the White, it has never been planted with salmon, however, some have started to run it.  It is a pretty good trout fishery though

I did a short car camping trip to the Muskegon River area, July of this year. Not exactly trout season, but it was my only chance to go anywhere, so I took it. I stayed at Newaygo State Park, an excellent little park on Hardy Pond Dam. Rustic facilities, but a nice little beach and boat launch.  Easy access to the Muskegon River and the numerous little Brook trout streams in the area.

The Muskegon is big/fast and in spots a really deep river, especially close to Lake MI.

I waded sections just below Croton Dam. I saw lot's of kayakers/tubers floating the river. Even in low water, July in the 90's, they didn't have to paddle much ;)

I was surprised how strong the current was, even in the wider stretches, 200 yds or better. The bottom is mostly gravel and I foolishly attempted to walk across the gravel ridges, hoping to fish the holes where I could see fish holding. At one point I stepped from just over  knee deep water, into a little more than waist deep water.

The power of the current was incredible, even at that time of the year.
I could literally feel my self being lifted and it took all my effort to get back to safer water. I was wearing wading shoes with steel studs, if not for them, I would of been in for a wild ride.

In the spring, or any high water time, I would be very cautious wading or canoeing in that area. I could see it being an excellent steel head/salmon fishery. I'm sure weekends during the runs, the banks would lined with anglers.

I could see a fishing kayak being a useful tool there. Being able to anchor above the holes and letting your spoon/body bait/spawn sack ease thru them without fighting the current wading would be a lot less tiring and probably a lot safer.

I saw numerous areas along banks where canoeist's had made camp. The shoreline is all state access, but much of the area is private land , so getting to the better stretches takes some effort.



I bought this book for the trip. A excellent resource for any outdoor activity in southern MI
Southern Michigan All-Outdoors Atlas & Field Guide
Available from Sportsman's Connection
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For anyone interesting the National Canoe Racing and Kayak Racing Championships will be held there next summer.  The course is in Newaygo and should be a lot of fun.  Not sure of the dates but I can get them and post them later.

Fishing on the Muskegon River is awesome.  It's one of my favorite steelhead rivers, and it is great for trout.  There's lots of wadeable water, both up near Croton Dam and down in Newaygo.  Wet-wade in the summer time and the trout fishing is great.  Spring and later in the fall- catch trout and steelhead.  Also has smallies, walleye, and pike.  Great place to take kids trout fishing as well.  Beautiful river to paddle too.  Picturesque highbanks with lots of conifers.

Further upstream near Big Rapids, it isn't quite as good fishing, but still good.  Much less busy though.  

Mark

Welcome aboard Mark!!  Another Michigander can't be all bad.  If you plan on doing any paddling over Muskegon way...give me shout.  

I'd like to try traveling the upper section this summer, or the AuSable.