Red Moose Lodge / Cast Away Guide Service

About Us

The Red Moose Lodge provides a unique setting on the banks of the Pere Marquette River, a river nationally known for it’s scenic beauty and year round fishing opportunities. It’s spacious rooms provide the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the many activities that Baldwin Michigan has to offer.

Situated at the headwaters of the fly’s only section of the Pere Marquette River, it affords convenience and comfort unique to the area and is a wonderful place to begin your relaxation. Walk from your room and step into the river to sample Salmon, Steelhead or the year-round trout fishing. Canoeing, golfing, hiking, biking, skiing, snowmobiling or watching the sunset over Lake Michigan, all can be enjoyed within a short drive from the lodge.

What we do

Peak Spring Season Steelhead fishing starts March 1st and runs through early May. Peak Trout season for Browns and Rainbows runs from Mid April through late June. Smallmouth Bass and Pike are productive mid May through mid August. Peak Salmon season starts mid August through mid October.

Cast Away Guide Service has been fishing the Pere Marquette and surrounding West Michigan rivers for over 30 years. Based in Baldwin Michigan, out of the Red Moose Lodge, we provide a fun and educational fly fishing experience for those seeking steelhead, salmon and brown trout. We are excited to bring you a quality fish guiding experience on our beautiful Michigan rivers. https://castawayguideservice.com/

I have been a professional fishing guide for over 19 years. There are few things I like better than escorting family and friends down the river to catch the fish of a lifetime. The rewards I experience from river guiding are two fold. First, and most importantly, is assisting a fly-fisherman and educating them about all facets of fly-fishing. Second, and most importantly, is to supply them the best opportunity at a trophy fish while providing a great and safe experience on the river. My love for the Pere Marquette River started in 1991 when I started frequenting the area. As a result, I now have the privilege to own and operate the Red Moose Lodge and Cast Away Guide Service.

My businesses started in 2003 with the support of my wife Debi and son Adam and haven’t had one regret. I have been coming to the Baldwin area since 1985 and have a vast knowledge of the snowmobile and motorcycle trails, hunting, and fishing for anything that swims. Included with my knowledge of the Pere Marquette River from M-37 to Lake Michigan, I also have experience and guide on the Manistee, Muskegon and White rivers as well.

I’m a Orvis Endorsed Fly-fishing Guide, have all State and Federal license’s to guide those rivers, am fully insured, and I am also certified in First Aid/ CPR. I have been tying flies and fly fishing the PM, and many other rivers, for over 28 years. I invite you to book a trip and spend some time on the water with me. It will be a great day on the river!

Where we do it

The Pere Marquette River is best known for it’s migratory fishing. It is amongst the finest fishing rivers for Spring Steelhead, Summertime Trout, and Fall Salmon. It runs approximately 44 miles from the headwaters near Chase downstream to M-37. The section of the river from M37 to Gleason’s Landing is designated as a flies only fishery and is all catch and release. This 8 mile stretch features some of the finest water on the Pere Marquette. The river below Gleason’s Landing is less traveled and therefore, has great fishing with little pressure. The Pere Marquette is also the longest un-dammed river in the state of Michigan and is a 100% free flowing spring creek. In 1978, 66 miles of the river was designated as a National Scenic River.

The Pere Marquette River is a world class blue ribbon stream renowned for it’s Trout fishing and is the birthplace of the first wild German Brown Trout released in the United States.

The Pere Marquette offers some of the largest King Salmon in the region and is one of our favorite rivers for early King Salmon in the lower part of the river from Mid August through mid September. The better Salmon fishing opportunities then move upstream to the middle and upper sections from Mid September to late October near the spawning areas.

The species of fish located in the Pere Marquette River vary by section of river. The flies only water is loaded with resident trout ranging from 8″ to 12″. The mid section, from Gleason’s to Walhalla has a mix of bigger Trout, Steelhead, and Salmon. The lower section, Walhalla to Scottville is home to Pike and early King Salmon.

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