Few moments in fly fishing rival the hard thud of a steelhead striking a streamer and the ensuing chaos that ranges from cartwheeling runs to violent shakes of the head.
Streamers require some dedication from anglers because they typically won’t be quite as productive as nymph rigs, but there are certainly times when these flies are the way to go and the action can be unforgettable. In the Great Lakes, anglers spend much of their time chucking egg-laiden nymph rigs into likely holes and riffles hoping to tangle with a beast. There is so much information out there to suggest nymphs are the way to go that some don’t even bring their streamer box along! For those that experienced a banner day hammering these fish on streamers, there will never again be an outing that doesn’t have a few of these flies stowed away for good measure.
One of the keys to catching more fish on streamers is knowing what forage fish exist in the waterways you’re on. Early season steelhead are known to fall victim to streamer imitations that mimic the baitfish in the big lakes. Lake Erie emerald shiners in particular are great options for anglers, since steelhead are used to snacking on them during the months they aren’t in the streams.
In some drainages, huge runs of shad and shiners pour in from the Great Lakes and, as such, steelhead will key in on them. Even though they aren’t necessarily in the streamer category, a well-placed crayfish is another good choice because they pack a ton of protein and are usually present in most Great Lakes tributaries.
Having the right flies is important, but so is the manner in which they are fished. Few things are as exciting as stripping in a big, articulated streamer and seeing it violently attacked by a steelhead, but there are other techniques to use that are sometimes just as, if not more, effective. When the weather turns and streams become colder, dead-drifting a wooly bugger or crayfish imitation can yield some fantastic results.
Steelhead behave much like other fish in that they become more lethargic and less willing to move much for their food. High-sticking a large weighted streamer through deep runs or pools is a good way to get some winter action!
For those that become addicted to the heart-stopping moment when a fish hits a stripped streamer, the pace in which the fly is retrieved becomes critically important. When steelhead are fresh in from the lake, they have incredible amounts of energy and are used to having a ton of water at their disposal. These fish are prime targets to eat a streamerand the retrieve can be quicker as the steelhead will pursue and chase down any food they see in their path. Once winter sets in and water temperatures chill, consider using a slower retrieve to ensure the streamer is on the bottom and crawling over the rocks. Fish will be much more inclined to strike when they don’t have to burn as much energy to get their meal. Adding weight can be of great benefit during this time, and even though some snags are bound to happen, the increase in hookups will be well-worth that minor headache!
Streamers can become more of an addiction than a fly fishing technique, and steelhead are some of the most amazing quarry to target with them. Since they spend much of their life in the big lakes, baitfish are a huge part of their diet and they don’t forget about them when they enter the streams. Knowing what forage fish are present, and then understanding how to fish them is the key to catching more steelhead using streamers!
Winter on the steelhead streams of the Great Lakes can be a spectacular experience with some truly brutal weather conditions.
There’s something romantic about the idea of standing knee-deep in a rushing Lake Erie tributary stream as snow and wind rips across the water. It might not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but for some it’s the best time of the year, with lessened crowds and plenty of hungry steelhead waiting to be caught. Knowing how to catch these fish can be a challenge under the best of conditions, and that is heightened during the frigid winter months when slushy flows and lethargic fish are the norm. That is, unless you can be armed with some tips to make your winter expeditions more effective!
War of Attrition
Patience is the name of the game when targeting steelhead in winter. Those who catch the most fish are the anglers who find their quarry, and stay on them until the battle is won. It can take 100 drifts over a steelhead before one goes by just right and the fish decides to strike. Winter steelheading is a far cry from the constant movement of bass or summer trout fishing, so shifting away from that mindset is key to success. There might be days where you fish one or two holes for several hours each, but getting on fish and sticking with them until they hit is a proven strategy for putting fish in the net during winter.
Focus On The Drift, Not the Flies
Fly selection is always important, but during the chilly winter months the drift is really what matters most. If you have confidence in your flies, work them hard and keep tinkering with the drift. Make sure the flies are down deep enough, but also moving through the fish zone naturally. It may take a half dozen tweaks of depth, weight, and distance between flies until you get what you’re after, but that attention to detail can make all of the difference!
Stay Mentally Sharp
Winter steelheading is defined by the grind of the day. It can take hours of probing different spots or hammering drifts over fish before there’s finally a take. One of the most difficult challenges for the angler is staying sharp and focused on the task when so much of an outing is spent without success. Without fail it’s always the minute you least expect it that an opportunity presents itself, and it’s incredibly easy to fall asleep at the wheel and miss what could be the best (and maybe only) shot at a fish. Treat each cast like it’s going to be the one that results in a fish, and eventually that persistence will pay off!
Hooking a steelhead during winter and experiencing those first few headshakes with a snowy backdrop is the type of thing that makes this time of year so memorable. It’s hard to top the sheer power of those fish coupled with the natural beauty all around. For as fun and exciting as it can be, it’s also a season of hardship with snow, wind, and Arctic temperatures threatening to derail even the most benign of outings. To catch more steelhead this winter, understand that the drift takes center stage of importance, staying mentally tuned in with each drift is key, and that the war of attrition is sure to be won by the angler who stays persistent and patient!
Steelhead can’t resist a well-placed nymph rig, and that’s why most fly anglers start each trip targeting fish in this manner!
When fly fishing for steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries, it’s easy to become mesmerized by these giant fish in such small water. High-sticking nymph rigs are the perfect way to hook them, but it’s not always a simple task! Steelhead can be very wary, especially as the season goes along and the angling pressure mounts. There are ways to combat this however, and by following these proven tips it’s possible to have more productive trips by being mindful of minor details and creating more natural presentations.
Use Lighter Tippet
One of the most common mistakes anglers make is using tippet that is too heavy when targeting steelhead. It’s easy to understand why, since these fish commonly reach sizes of 30 inches and ten or more pounds. The part that’s overlooked is water conditions, which are typically low and clear except for the few days after a heavy rain. When you can see the fish they can also see you, and more importantly they can see flies, weights, and lines drifting by them. By going down in tippet size, sometimes down to 4X and 5X, anglers can increase their hookups when fish get shy. Using a lighter tippet undoubtedly results in more break-offs, but it’s an adjustment that will assuredly catch more fish over time.
Don’t Get Trapped with Eggs
It’s no secret that steelhead love to eat eggs when they’re in the tributaries, but it’s important to remember that they’ll eat plenty of other things during their time in the streams. Caddis, stoneflies, and dead-drifted streamers complement eggs and produce plenty of fish throughout the year. Don’t abandon egg patterns altogether, but incorporate more natural bugs into the rotation to keep your nymph rig looking realistic in comparison to what the fish are actually eating on a daily basis.
Keep Adding Weight
With the exception of periods of fish movement and low-light, steelhead usually spend their time on the bottom. Seeing them patrol the depths can play tricks on your mind and have you think they’re higher in the water column than they really are, so be mindful of how much weight is on your rig. Unless the flies are bouncing on the bottom, keep adding a split shot or two until this depth is achieved. Don’t be deterred by snags because that just comes with the territory. The closer your flies can get to a holding steelhead the better the chance of a hookup!
Go Small
Angling pressure is without a doubt the number one factor that impacts a day on the Lake Erie tribs. Once the fish enter the drainages they are fished over essentially every single day until they leave in spring. As the season wears on, start dropping in nymph size to show them something new. Even though they’re big, flies in sizes #18 and #20 can still catch fish! More might shake the fly compared to using a larger offering, but you can’t catch them if you can’t hook them, and using smaller patterns will unquestionably produce more hookups.
Steelhead provide some of the most dramatic and exciting action of the entire year throughout the Great Lakes. Most fly anglers choose to target them with nymph rigs, but attention to detail and following these tips will make your time on the water more productive and result in more days to remember!
The how to cast a fly is basic in its simplest form. This is what we are about to cover. There are, for all intents and purposes, two casts that you need to know.
Overhead Cast
Roll Cast
There are many other casts, such as the bow-and-arrow cast for casting in dense and brushy areas, but these two will get you through most of the situations you may encounter fly fishing. To practice these, the best way is to try and do them in an open place with still water, like a pond with not a lot of trees or cover around it. Lay the Line out on the water. Water tension on the fly line makes the rod easier to “load” which leads to less false casting.
The Overhead Cast
The Overhead Cast is explained as the basic cast everyone pictures.
Here's a good buddy of ours demonstrating an overhead cast.
Assuming the rod is in your right hand pull line off of the reel with your left hand. Start with your hands together thumb to thumb. Grip the rod on the handle with your fingers around the grip and your thumb pointed down the “spine” of the rod. Separate your hands, your right going back as if you were going to point at something directly behind you with your thumb, your left will go down towards your hip like you’re strumming a rather large guitar.
As you bring the rod back behind you your line will follow the motion. You are casting the line not the fly. For a novice angler look at your rod tip. You should stop your “backcast” when your arm is at 90 degrees and your rod tip just past that. When you’re in this position watch for your line to straighten all the way out behind you. When this happens you should feel the total weight of the line in the rod.
An example of a Single Haul Cast, using your left arm to pull the line out during a back cast and then bringing the same line to the rod during a forward cast. This shoots the line forward and builds momentum.
Casting Farther
When you want the line to go farther in front you have to repeat this process multiple times without the line touching the water again, pulling more line off the reel and feeding it up with your left hand gradually. This is False Casting. The left hand will pull the line down as you perform a back cast and feed line forward as you cast forward.
When you are satisfied that there is enough line out to equal the distance you want your fly to go, only then do you break your arm over all the way pointing your thumb at the intended landing zone all while loosening your grip on the line with the left hand. Where your right thumb points is where the fly should go.
Arm Position
The casting process is slower than you would expect. The amount of your arm that should move is often explained as this: Pretend there is a book gripped under your arm pit. Now perform a backcast and forward cast and do not drop the book.
An overhead cast can be broken into two types of casting, those techniques are The Single Haul and The Double Haul casts. The left hand is the difference-maker in these two casts.
Single Haul Cast
For a Single Haul Cast, an angler would essentially spread their arms while holding the line in their left hand and back casting to the two o'clock position with their right hand. As they then “turn over “ or move the rod into the casting position the left hand will move towards the right hand and let go of the line at the same time. This cast is essential and the “basic” fly cast. You need to know this one.
Double Haul Cast
The Double Haul Cast is essentially the single haul technique but a tug or Haul. So, after separating your hands on the back cast, immediately bring them back together at the peak of the back cast. Now, in the forward motion you will separate your hands and spread them out like you’re lying about the size of fish you caught, then bring them together. At that point when you feel the line tug forward simply let go. Every pull on the line by the left hand is a Haul. This is why this is a Double Haul cast. Every haul adds line speed, so this cast is especially useful when casting for distance or to better cast into the wind.
Roll Cast
The Roll Cast is arguably the most useful and underrated cast in fly fishing- master this cast. With the line in front of you on the water, lift your rod tip up towards the sky. As you do this motion the fly line will begin to make a bow or loop heading behind you. When the fly line crosses behind the vertical rod and makes a D with the straight part of the D being your rod and the line making up the curved part impart the same forward stroke you would during the overhead cast. The line will follow the loop and lay out in a straight presentation. It is a very simple cast but can be used in a lot of situations.
When To Use Each Cast
So, that was the “How,” so now is the “Why”. You would use an Overhead cast for any sort of casting presentation that is at a distance greater than say twenty feet. This is the basic fly fishing cast. When you first pictured yourself fly fishing this is the cast you picture yourself doing. We used this to target cover, breaks, or eddies. This cast is often used to present big flies like Streamers and very small flies like tiny Dry Flies because in either case putting yourself at a greater distance from the fish is beneficial. When in doubt you can most likely use an overhand Single Haul cast to drop the fly where you want it.
The Roll Cast is to fly fishing as the trim hammer is to a tool belt. Precise, accurate, and repeatable. The Roll Cast is used to present Nymphs or Emergers quite a bit. It can be used very effectively at sub-twenty foot distances. Small streams can be picked apart with roll casts from one position. This form of casting is also great for repeating drifts. Remember that often when a trout is in a “Feeding Lie” if that fish moves, generally another will move into that same spot. So if you catch fish number one, number two might be a rinse and repeat away. Roll Casts are also very helpful when there are a lot of overhanging branches and the like around you. This cast happens almost entirely in front of the angler.
Take your rod to some still water and give these a try. Once you feel like you get it right as much as you do it wrong, go find the streams in your area.
Fly fishing for Steelhead is a different sorta thing that draws a different sorta person and takes different sorts of gear and tactics. Generally, when an angler is in the river searching for these chrome-cast monsters it is in the months where most folks are figuring what size auger to use for drilling holes to catch fish, not what size flies.
Steelhead are Rainbow Trout that have migrated out of the rivers into big water (Oceans or Great Lakes) and then come back to the river to breed, perform the spawning migration. This happens on the west coast from Northern California all the way north to Alaska and in the East in most states that have tributaries to the Great Lakes. This trip, or 'run', to propagate the species takes place from about the time we humans change our clocks to “Fall Back” an hour in early November all the way through the Spring of the following year up until about Mid April.
This is truly a cold water migration, and unlike salmon, Steelhead are alive from the beginning through the entire process and then head back out to the big water. Anadromous, is the term that is given to fish that use this method of a lifecycle. This means an angler can target these fish on their way upstream to spawn and as the go back down stream or “Drop Back” and head to the large H2O.
So, with that being said Steelhead are a hardy fish and in my estimation one of the best battles one can engage with on a fly in freshwater. The gear you need to really make headway in these moments of engagement is very specific. We will briefly cover the two handed rods that some folks use but will mostly concentrate on the standard one handed fly setups that can be used with a base knowledge of fly fishing fundamentals.
Fly Rods For Steelhead
The rundown of rods that can be used for these fish concentrates on three types in all actuality. The standard Single Handed Fly Rod, the Switch Rod and the Spey Rod are all in play here.
A Switch Rod is exactly what the name states, a rod you can cast with one or two hands. They are about a third as heavy as an actual Spey rod and can be used with Skagit or Scandi Lines. For the purposes of this conversation of winter Steelhead we would load our Switch Rod with Skagit line. This line has a “heavy” tip section or “Shooting” tip and is meant to Cast big streamers or “Meat Flies”. This line turns over fast and will require a sinking or floating tip. Switch rods are a good middle ground but as my dear friend Craig (Licensed Guide and Captain) states “They excel at absolutely nothing.”
A Spey Rod on the other hand excels at one very particular thing, getting a large fly out far and down in the strike zone. This is a two-hand only proposition. They help you cast a long distance and punch through the wind. Spey casting, when done properly, is beautiful. These rods are long, topping out around 14 feet and the line is twice as heavy as Single-Handed fly line. They are purpose-built and great for the task they are intended.
This brings us to the bread and butter of fly fishing, The Single handed fly rod. The reason we will concentrate on this setup is a barrier to entry issue. Switch and Spey rods are pound for pound more expensive than a Single Hand setup that is capable of handling this game and both require a different skill set than one may have gotten from just a bit of time with a standard trout or panfish rod in their hands.
An angler would be well suited to set himself or herself up with a 10 foot 8 weight rod and quality floating line. Unlike the set ups for smaller trout and panfish the reel does more than just hold the line, it helps you fight these fish that will normally tip the scales at double digits and can jump like they are trying to win a slam dunk contest. I would suggest a stout Large Arbor reel with a solid disc drag system. The one “extra” you may want to look for is a spare spool that you can load with a sinking line, but that is not a necessity. This total setup will put you in the game for these winter run fish.
Setting Up Your Fly Rig For Steelhead
After you get that together, you will need some 9 foot 3x leaders and tippet that matches up. Get fluorocarbon, Steelies are notoriously line shy. You will need some egg-shaped strike indicators, a split shot, a landing glove and a semi-dedicated fly box. Oh and warm clothes, Steelhead are a very northern latitude fish.
Flies For Steelhead
Now the fun part, what are we throwing at these things? How are we setting them up? Lets dig in! If you’re setting up a fly box just for Steelhead these are the “Must Haves” for general purpose chrome getting. This particular section could be an article all by itself, and has been written as such before, so I am going to give you some basic categories with a few standouts in each.
Eggs
The number one most imitated morsel of food in fly form is an egg, it can be a salmon egg, trout egg, or sucker egg. Some amazing patterns for this category are The Nuke Egg, The Blood Dot, Sparkle Egg, The Estaz Fly, Sucker Spawn and purists forgive me the Death Roe soft plastic egg. The later is terribly effective when drifted just above a bare hook below enough shot to get it to the fish. Yet, is occasionally frowned upon in some fly fishing circles. I actually used to work with the owner of Death Roe, and I will tell you I wouldn’t frown upon anything Mike has put out because that dude is a true outdoorsman. My personal favorite is the Estaz fly, but most folks have pinned their choice down to a Blood Dot or Nuke Egg.
Egg patterns can be fished as a dropper in some places(where legal) and are often fished under an indicator and shot. They should be fished similarly to an unweighted nymph. This is where that 10 foot rod beats out the 9 foot, especially when drifting and mending. The name of the game is less drag on the fly when possible.
Nymphs
Speaking of drifting and dragging the next category is very common to your fly box already, Nymphs. I have heard the rumor that 90 percent of all trout species taken every year are caught on a Nymph, I can buy that rumor because there have been years I wouldn’t have caught anything if it wasn’t for these little legged imitators. If you have the idea of how to Nymph fish for trout, Steelhead are the same just with a bigger bang.
Look through your fly box, the larger Nymph sizes in there will work for Chromers. BeadHead anything works well. So you can throw a Stone Fly, Hares Ear, Copper John, or Pheasant Tail. This is also the way I would fish the Wooly Bugger that is called Egg Sucking Leech. I don’t strip or swing that fly often, because of the nature of what it is meant to represent. Sizes you should be looking at should range from 6’s through 10’s and have multiple multiples of each in each size if possible. You will snag them, break them off and let’s face it there will be wind and trees at play here too.
Streamers
Finally the most fun category of fly for winter steel are the Streamers. You will be swinging these a lot of the time but also occasionally stripping them too. Remember a lot of Steelhead Streamers are tied for Spey and Switch rods, you can throw them on a single hand but they are big and tough to turn over. I would look at anything in the Zonker category, WHite Death being a great one. Also standard Wooly Buggers, Sculpins , Green Butt Skunk and the Intruder.
IF you didn’t buy that most fish are caught on a Nymph, try this any fish can be caught on a Clousers Minnow and these cold water bruisers are no exception. This category is also what might bring the extra spool and sink tip line into play.
Tactics For Steelhead
Well, you have an idea about timing, a new setup and enough flies to drag you under if you fell in, we should consider some tactics. Remember, these are still trout. Shelter, Breeding and Food are to Fish as Live, Laugh, Love are to suburbanites in SUV’s…universal. You can target Steelhead in any place you would target a stocked trout, Eddy, Riffle, Pool, you get the picture. They tend to be line shy so I like a little bit of movement to the water, in the spring I will target some frog water but generally I like something at about the pace of a walk. I like to fish towards the head and tails of pools. Any offshoot can hold good fish, I would tend to start shallow and fish to deep. Remember to always cast close, there are a lot of fish not caught because they are simply at someone’s feet. If you understand the basics of targeting fish in lies you just need to scale that to the water you will end up on for Steelhead.
Steelhead is an all day affair, an angler who shows up before first light is fishing the coldest part of the day but often some of the best action, same with the end of daylight too. My days fishing steelhead often look something like, streamers for two hours, nymphs and eggs mid day, streamers for an hour or so before dark. Like most things in the world the big meals are at either the beginning or end of the day with some light snacking in the middle.
Well, now that you’ve read all of this, picked out your gear, flies and blend of coffee all you have to do is hit a river. You can book guides all over the areas aforementioned, make sure they encourage fly fishing, or you can bang the bank yourself. Please be safe either way, korkers, a staff and a self inflating vest are always a good idea for water that is normally this cold, icey and deep. Remember to dress for the weather, but also remember the in climate conditions are part of the draw. Bring lots of calorically dense food and warm liquids and stop by some local shops for the best local info. Now is the time to make this trip a reality, we are at the beginning of the run now and it’s on for about 6 months, get in on it!
It doesn’t matter how many boxes filled with neatly organized flies we carry with us on the stream. Split shot, strike indicators, spare leaders, and spools of tippet are great accouterments, but none of it translates into finding trout during the harsh of winter.
A perfectly weighted rig with beautifully tied flies means nothing if there aren’t trout present. The truth is, the most important component to any productive fishing excursion is the fish itself. At no time is that more of a challenge than during the frigid winter months.
Part of the hardship of finding winter trout is locating any open water at all. Starting around December, the one component to be mindful of most is the low temperature near the streams and rivers we hope to fish. Rain, snow, wind, angling pressure, and the million other factors that can impact a day on the water pale in comparison to what a few nights of lows in the teens can do.
This is something that can be utilized for trout and steelhead, since both species can feel the wrath of frigid arctic conditions.
Once it seems like the temperatures have cooperated enough to justify a fishing trip, the next key is finding the fish once we hit the water. Typically, deeper pools will be good bets as they will be hugging the bottom trying to conserve as many calories as possible. The trouble with this is that the deepest pools can be some of the first to freeze over, or at least get the thin shelf of ice that is still enough to make our casting futile.
Typically, deeper pools will be good bets as they will be hugging the bottom trying to conserve as many calories as possible.
Since this is where the fish like to hang out, the best course of action is to drift our flies right at the head of the pool where the faster run or riffle empties into the depths. Look for the color changes that indicate the most dramatic of depth changes, and hammer them hard. Those steep underwater drop-offs will be a congregating point for trout and steelhead who are looking to hang out near the bottom but still have plenty of food drifting right in front of them from the faster water upstream.
An overlooked key to finding lethargic winter fish is angler persistence.
Trout care about few things, but near the top of the list is consuming and conserving calories. Winter trout and steelhead won’t be nearly as aggressive in their pursuit of flies so it’s imperative that our offerings float right by their nose. This can be accomplished, in part, by persistence in casting. Spots that might warrant half a dozen casts during the spring and summer might now need several dozen before we can be certain our chances have been exhausted. The reason for this is that it might take that many casts before our flies drift close enough to the fish to justify their feeding. It takes a lot of patience, and a stronger commitment compared to fishing in other seasons, but it’s all part of the process of winter fly fishing!
Most anglers associate steelhead fishing with the colors of autumn and snows of winter, but there’s great fishing to be had in spring as well!
Fall rains swell tributaries of Lake Erie and bring in thousands of steelhead from the depths, and with it, hordes of anglers in search of these spectacular fighting fish. A few months later, most start to turn their focus toward trout or other species, but excellent steelhead fishing still exists through winter and into spring. With the change of the season, tactics shift accordingly, so here are a few tips to help catch more fish this spring!
Target Depth
There are a few reasons to target depth during the spring when searching for steelhead. Aside from early and late in the day when fish are more likely to move, steelhead holding in shallow water are often there to spawn. Spawning fish should be left alone and given a wide berth not only from our flies, but from where we’re wading. Choosing to target deeper slots and holes will help avoid some of those steelhead that are in spawn mode. It’s also beneficial since the fish will feel very secure there after spending the winter months clinging to the bottom of the deepest spots.
Use Eggs
Anglers know to use egg patterns in the fall as steelhead instinctively enter the streams to gorge on salmon eggs. In all actuality, chromers probably do more egg eating in spring than any other season thanks to suckers that run into the tributaries. Suckers and steelhead will inhabit the same runs, and for the steelhead, that’s in an effort to feed on the eggs that get swept away from the spawning suckers. Orange and cream are two colors in particular that steelhead love during spring!
Go Early and Stay Late
As the days get longer, steelhead choose the low-light conditions of morning and evening to be active. This especially holds true as the weather warms and the middle of the day reaches the 50s and 60s. Anglers will be well rewarded to hit the stream early and then take a break for lunch before hitting it hard again in the last few hours before dark. It’s also the perfect time to fish faster water as fish move out of their deeper holding lies and into the head of riffles and runs as they prepare to move under the cover of darkness.
Spring is a wonderful time to be out fishing for steelhead. The weather warms, crowds are more sparse, and fish abound for those in search of their fix a few more times before the season ends. As long as anglers remember to adjust tactics and follow these tips, spring is sure to become a favorite time of year to chase after these fish!
Would you rather write the fishing report or read the fishing report?
That’s the conundrum for so many anglers during the cold winter months. Sure, the fish are out there and probably willing to eat, but is it really worth it during that snowstorm that brings several inches of snow and freezing temperatures? The answer to that becomes much easier when you’re armed with the right gear and clothing to combat the harsh conditions of winter!
Hands
Of all the things that threaten to end the day early, cold hands and fingers is at the top of the list. The inability to comfortably tie on a new rig and the stinging of frozen fingertips grinds a day of fishing to a halt. During these winter months, I like to bring two pairs of gloves with me. The first pair is fingerless wool, which allows me to stay pretty warm and still maintain a level of function. For those extra cold days, the second pair is a wool mitten that flips down into gloves. When I’m casting, my off hand is in mitten mode for maximum warmth, but it’s still really easy to switch into the gloves for retying or unhooking a fish!
Feet
Keeping feet warm in winter is the toughest thing to achieve. Numb toes that feel more like blocks of ice than extremities is a miserable feeling, and it’s really hard to combat. When it comes to dressing for warmth, wear two pairs of socks. Typically my bottom layer is just a regular run-of-the-mill athletic sock followed by thick wool socks. Having two layers helps a ton, and walking around out on the stream keeps blood circulating, which is about the best you can do when water temperatures are hovering just above freezing.
Layers
Dressing in layers, and having more layers available in the car, is key to a day out in winter. Weather can change in an instant, and even a few degree drop can be debilitating to the cold weather angler. Companies like Simms make some fantastic layering options that are lightweight and warm. A classic winter layering system for me is a long sleeve tee, fleece quarter zip, hoodie, and then a jacket to cut the wind and, if necessary, repel precipitation. Another jacket, usually a puffy warmer option, extra hoodie, and fleece layer are stashed in the truck just in case it’s colder than anticipated or even worse, a fall in happens.
Some of the best action of the year happens during winter, and there is incredible solitude to be found for those brave enough to battle the conditions. Arming yourself with the right gear makes all the difference, however. How much fun you have in a given day often starts with your choice of what to wear before even leaving the house!
That’s always the million-dollar question, isn’t it?
It’s something I’m often asked by curious anglers and prospective clients as everyone tries to time up the run perfectly. Some swear by studying Lake Erie water temperatures, photoperiod shortening, rainfall counts, and a variety of other scientific means to pinpoint when the fish will be in the streams and make a trip to Erie worth it. Is it all snake oil, or data that should be utilized by those attempting to time the run?
The strain of steelhead in Pennsylvania is a fall-running variety that sticks around through spring and their spawning season.
Steelhead begin running and entering the tributaries as soon as Labor Day, but the peak doesn't come until after Thanksgiving. When the spring fish leave the streams (usually sometime in April) in favor of the icy depths of Lake Erie is of far less angler interest than when they enter in fall.
Steelhead begin running and entering the tributaries as soon as Labor Day, but the peak doesn't come until after Thanksgiving.
As a steelhead guide, there are a few key factors I look for when trying to schedule a trip to fish the steelhead run.
Rainfall
Most of the time the Lake Erie tributaries are helplessly low and clear. That makes for challenging conditions going after the fish in the streams, but it also means fewer fresh fish enter from the Lake. Rain events triggering the upstream migration are incredibly important to the start, and continuation, of the steelhead run. Without precipitation to swell water levels and provide fish the ability and security to venture inland, the run would never go off!
Temperatures
This might not be as much a factor in the actual run as just circumstance for the time of year, but falling temperatures coincide with fish entering from the Lake. While the first Erie steelhead start to show up after Labor Day, the “peak” times don’t normally occur until Thanksgiving or Christmas. Steelhead, like other trout species, prefer cooler water and the passing of fall into winter encourages more upstream migration of the run.
Photoperiod
Most of the fish activity, at least in terms of running upstream, occurs at night. The cover of darkness provides security they need to move through shallower areas when they would otherwise be quite exposed. These fish are big, and in the low water conditions that are so often present, they would stick out trying to traverse sections of stream that are only inches deep. That problem is somewhat alleviated during nighttime hours!
What it all adds up to is a run that gets going sometime in October, but doesn’t get really good until November. That can change from year to year based on weather systems and temperatures, but it’s relatively consistent. Checking in with a local guide service, like Wildwood Outfitters, can be a great way to stay plugged in.
Otherwise keeping an eye out for shorter days, more rain events, and dropping temperatures, anglers can successfully time up the steelhead run from their computer and fairly accurately determine when the fish will start their migration!
When the leaves start to tint with orange and yellow and the breeze turns crisp, anglers become obsessed with the pursuit of steelhead.
In Pennsylvania, the steelhead run peaks around Thanksgiving, and in Ohio it’s even later, coming after the New Year’s holiday. The first signs of these fish come much sooner, however! These behemoths from the depths of the Great Lakes start to show themselves in late September, and for many the urge to go after these fish is unbearable. Unfortunately, anglers that target steelhead in these early months often end up disappointed and frustrated!
Go Early
One of the most challenging aspects of early season steelheading is the water conditions. Streams are often extremely low and clear throughout September and October. This makes the fish easy to spot, but incredibly wary. A key to finding success in this early season is to go early. Experienced steelheaders will find that most of their success comes in the pre-dawn light when the fish briefly let their guard down.
Get Walkin’!
Another difficult part of early season steelheading is the number of fish in the tributaries. With each rain, more and more fish enter the waterways. The trouble is that in September and October there might only be one or two rain events that will bring in a run. This results in few fish being in the streams, and those that are in will be located in the lower portions of the drainages close to the lake. That means anglers have to walk to find fish, and when they do find a pod, anchor down and work it hard. Early season fish are often few and far between, so make those shots count when you find them!
Go Light
This is tough to do because the fish are so big! Early season steelhead are full of spunk and vigor, noted by their powerful runs and acrobatic attempts to throw the hook. While anglers will want to use stiff leader and tippet in the 1X and 2X variety, the low and clear conditions call for something much lighter. Fluorocarbon leader and tippet in 3X and 4X will result in more hookups in this early season even if it means a few break-offs!
Getting out in pursuit of steelhead early is one of fly fishing’s greatest pleasures. Having the chance to catch these amazing specimens while wearing only a t-shirt is a unique and memorable experience. Keep these tips in mind to ensure that the early season season outing is full of fun and smiling pictures holding bright chromers fresh from the lake!
