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Category: Fly Fishing For Steelhead

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How to Rig a Double Nymph Setup

18 Oct
0 307 Post by

Two nymphs are a great way to cover more water and show trout multiple patterns, but it can be a major pain unless you know how to rig it correctly! 

On most guide trips clients will immediately make a comment about a multi-nymph setup and how it’s something they wouldn’t normally try on their own.  With two flies the chance of a snarled mess increases, and no one wants to spend their fishing time sitting on the bank staring at a bird’s nest of tippet, weights, and hooks. There’s no doubt that adding more hooks to a rig can raise the chances of this scenario, but there are ways to set things up to decrease that likelihood and make your rig that much deadlier! 

One of the best inventions for fly anglers is the tippet ring, and it’s a critical part of the double nymph rig.  It’s tied at the end of your leader, and for this example let’s call it a 4X, 7.5-foot.  The tippet ring tied at the end of the leader makes for the perfect anchor point to set weights, and it also serves as the junction from which your flies are tied on.  From that ring, tie on about 12-15 inches of tippet, usually staying at the same size as your leader or tapering down, so in this case it would be either 4X or 5X.  At the end of that tippet section your first fly is attached, with another section of tippet tied on the bend of the hook, again keeping with that 12-15 inches.  A second nymph is then tied on to the second section of tippet, creating a rig consisting of a leader, tippet ring, 12-15 inches of tippet with fly number one, then 12-15 inches of tippet with fly number two.  

Spacing

The spacing of the flies in the example above is critical for avoiding tangles.  Flies tied too close together have a higher tendency to drift closer together, and even hitting each other which can be the start of a mess.  That length of tippet keeps the flies spaced appropriately and helps ensure that even if one fly gets snagged, the other is often free of the rock or wooded debris.  It’s not a foolproof system, and there will certainly be times where the whole rig gets buried in a log or under a large rock, but the idea of nymphs is to be fishing at or near the bottom so those snags just come with the territory!  The tippet ring is also a critical part of the process that helps limit the mess.  In the event a fly is helplessly snagged with no hope of retrieval, more often than not the rig will break somewhere below the tippet ring, thus limiting the damage done and time that has to be spent re-rigging. 

Tippet Rings

Another strategy for using a double nymph rig highlights the importance of the tippet ring even more.  It starts with the same idea:  the ring tied on at the end of the leader with 12-15 inches of tippet attached from the ring down to your first fly.  What changes is the placement of the second fly.  In this scenario, instead of tying fly number two onto the first fly, tie another section of tippet from the tippet ring and use that to attach the second nymph.  When trying this, the second tippet attachment is usually much shorter, say 4-6 inches off the tippet ring.  This can be a killer strategy when you want one fly at or near the bottom, but another nymph somewhere closer to the middle of the water column.  It’s also important to have that second tippet attachment and fly (sometimes referred as the tag fly) tied onto a lighter line.  If you’re using a 4X leader and 4X tippet down to fly number one, use 5X or 6X for the shorter tag fly.  That way if that second fly gets hung up, odds are it’ll break off by itself due to that lighter line and you’ll avoid blowing up the entire rig. 

Weights

Experienced anglers know that most of the tangles get really bad when the weights get involved.  It’s a pretty hopeless feeling when you’re staring at tippet, weights, tippet rings, and hooks all clumped together in one ball.  Keeping the weights further away from the flies can help avoid this, which is where the tippet ring comes in handy again.  The double nymph rig should have its weights above the ring so that they can’t slide down and sit right on top of the fly. Maintaining that distance between weights and flies should help avoid nasty tangles! 

It’s no secret that trout feed on subsurface bugs a majority of the time, so it’s only natural that anglers want to fish with nymphs!  After all, if that’s the insect life stage they’re feeding on, why wouldn’t you want to imitate that?  There’s also no question that using two nymphs can increase your odds and make for more productive time on the water. That productivity can be diminished if the rigging is done improperly though, and no one wants to spend their fishing time sitting on the bank repairing a mess!  Knowing how to properly tie a double nymph rig in such a way that limits the messes and maintains the effectiveness is the first step in mastering this setup!

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Fly Fishing For Trout, Nymphing

What Size Tippet Should I Buy?

18 Oct
0 155 Post by

There’s nothing worse than fishing gin-clear water and watching fish shy away from your drift as it approaches their feeding line. 

While sometimes it’s the fly itself that’s causing the damage, more often than not it’s the tippet that’s spooking fish.  Trout, especially on pressured waterways, get accustomed to seeing a ton of angling pressure that educates them to avoid the perceived danger.  Using a tippet size that’s too heavy will result in a day of blown spots and skittish fish.  On the flip side is having constant break-offs when a fish is hooked, and this can be a sign that the tippet you’re using is too light!   There’s a fine line to navigate in knowing what size tippet to use and when, but how do anglers figure that out?

When To Use Heavier Tippet

It’s critical to understand the water you’re fishing and what size of fish are in that water.  For example, steelhead require heavier tippet than most trout just for the sheer difference in sizing and fighting ability.  Most steelhead anglers won’t use anything lighter than 4X due to the prolonged fight time and increased lost fish, but trout can require thinner varieties down to 6X and 7X.  One way to tell if you need heavier tippet is by anecdotally understanding what’s happening that given day.  If the first two or three fish all snap off, odds are you need to go with something heavier. Mid-summer is also a time to “rope up” with heavier tippet once water temperatures warm on a favorite trout stream.  In these situations when trout are stressed, decreasing the fight time is crucial for their safety so using a stronger line can help muscle them in quicker and limit the damage done. 

When To Use Lighter Tippet

Usually low and clear water creates skittish fish that shy away from anything they deem unnatural.  If you’re watching trout or steelhead move away from your flies as they drift, odds are it’s because the tippet is too heavy.  Instead of changing flies, the first thing to do is downsize tippet.  If 4X was spooking fish, drop down to 5X and so on until you find that sweet spot.  This is especially true of summertime trout fishing when flows drop and fish have been pounded on for several months. 

Water Conditions

One of the most impactful factors of selecting tippet size, and knowing what to have in your arsenal before the day starts, is what water conditions you’re dealing with.  Streams that are off-color give anglers the chance to use heavier tippet than usual, which is good because we should always use the heaviest line possible.  When the conditions give you the chance to use that heavier tippet, take full advantage!  On the flip side, when streams are low and clear the conditions call for using the lightest tippet possible.  If a trout stream holds fish in the 10-14 inch range, muddy water might allow you to get away with 3X or 4X even though that’s heavier than you’d need for the size fish present.  That same waterway might call for 5X or 6X tippet if conditions are low and clear.  So much of the tippet choice is dependent on the fish, but the water on that specific day is equally important. 

Looking at a wall full of tippet sizes at your local fly shop can seem overwhelming.  YouTube videos might mention using 2X or 6X, but how are you to know which is most applicable to the stuff you’re fishing?  It’s not always an exact science, but knowing what water conditions you’ll encounter and what fish you’re targeting is the best starting point for understanding the tippet needed.  It’s best to have a variety of options on hand just in case, but use fish encounters to give you the intel and make the best decision to successfully land more and spook less fish!

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Fly Fishing For Trout

How Do You Fish With Two Flies?

18 Oct
0 111 Post by

Many anglers take to YouTube or go on a guided trip to learn new techniques, and much of that is centered around fishing two flies. 

It might be simplistic to say, “two flies are better than one,” but the fact is many times it’s true!  Having multiple patterns out there increases the odds of hooking a trout for a variety of reasons, whether that be imitating two different insects or using different life cycles of a bug that might be hatching.  The problem with fishing two flies is that if done incorrectly, you’re doing more harm than good and the end result can be tangled messes and far fewer landed fish. The keys to fishing this way efficiently involve understanding what type of rig you’re going for, the water you’re fishing, and how to specifically rig the setup!

Dry-Dropper

One of the most popular spring/summer setups is a dry-dropper, meaning there is one dry fly and one subsurface fly on the rig.  This is a phenomenal way to utilize two flies and a ton of trout fall victim to anglers who know how to properly fish this way.  It all starts with selecting the dry and the dropper, which is critical to the efficiency of this technique.  The dry fly has to be large enough, or buoyant enough, to float with the weight of the nymph underneath.  That means you probably won’t want to use a #18 Adams with a #10 weighted stonefly below.  Typically speaking, larger dries like Parachute Hoppers or Chubby Chernobyls are perfect selections for the dry fly as they are capable of staying afloat with a nymph trailing behind.  In terms of nymphs, this can largely depend on what exactly you’re trying to imitate.  Attractor nymphs like a Prince or CDC Pheasant Tail are always good choices, but you can also go more technical by hatching a specific hatch like a Grannom Caddis nymph or baetis. 

Double Nymphs

Most anglers are aware that trout feed subsurface a vast majority of the time, so it only makes sense to try using two nymphs at once.  When using an indicator, the classic setup is having the heavier nymph in front (also called the point fly) and a smaller nymph trailing behind.  Looking at specific patterns, a stonefly out front is heavy and will get the rig down with less split shot, and then a smaller, lighter fly like a mayfly nymph or midge as the trailer is a good place to start.  The selection of the second fly is largely dependent on bugs that might be hatching at that time.   For example, during a heavy caddis hatch anglers should consider going the route of a caddis larvae, but if it’s mid-winter and midges are the way to go a zebra midge will produce fish. Another fly all trout anglers should be aware of is a squirmy worm, because when tied as the second fly on the two nymph rig it will move and play in the water in such a way that drives fish wild!

Double Dries

Having two dry flies is another way to fish two flies at one time. For example, you can target the day’s caddis hatches and mayfly hatches by using one of each. This is a great way to dial into what trout are keying in on and figure out what they are feeding on. If you have never fished two dry flies at the same time, there are many benefits.

  • One, both dry flies will work together to keep the other afloat.
  • Two, with low visibility it will be easier to spot both as opposed to just one — especially when fishing smaller sizes the parachute post will stick out.
  • Three, you can fish two hatches at once.

When fishing dry flies it can be a challenge to spot your imitation amongst the naturals or even just within the bubbles or glare, but with two flies marking the general location, you can have a better idea of when to set the hook. Plus, when you find something the trout are biting on you can double up on the hatch with two of the same flies.

Water and Spacing

Specific setup for either of the above rigs largely depends on the type of water being fished. Smaller pocket water might not allow for several feet of tippet between flies, but deeper pools might mean you have three or four feet of tippet between the dry and dropper.  Each situation is different, so keeping tabs on the depth of water is important to know how to adjust through the day.  An easy way to determine whether or not the distance between flies is correct is to pay attention to how often your flies get hung up.  If the dropper snags on rocks every cast, odds are you need to shorten the tippet between the dry and dropper.  The spacing between flies is less variable when it comes to two nymphs.  Most times the distance between the point fly and trailing fly is somewhere between 12 and 15 inches. The spacing difference here is mostly centered around where the indicator is set. 

Using two flies at a time might not guarantee a day full of double hookups, but it can increase your odds of success greatly!  The opportunity to hit on multiple bugs or key on different life stages of those bugs can be a wonderful tool for fly anglers.  Whether it be a dry-dropper or two nymphs, giving yourself that extra chance to key in on what the trout are feeding on is a huge help.  Once you get the hang of the rigging and know how to utilize different setups for varying water conditions, the results will speak for themselves and make you a true believer that two flies are, in fact, better than one!

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Categories: Dry Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Fly Fishing For Trout, Nymphing

What are Tippet Rings Used For?

18 Oct
0 75 Post by

Every now and then there are new accessories or techniques that come into fly fishing and truly change the sport. 

Simple as it may be, the tippet ring surely falls into this category.  It’s become a mainstay for guides and DIY anglers alike, and the benefits of using them far outweigh any drawback that comes from adding another piece to rig. Not only do they create anchor points for split shot, but they also allow for quick and easy transitions between rigs for those times when a hatch comes out of nowhere and the trout are boiling.  They’re beneficial for those who like streamers, nymphs, dries, and any combination of the above! 

Switching Rigs

When you tie tippet directly onto the leader using a variety of knots, it can be cumbersome to switch rigs.  Going from a dry-dropper to a full nymph rig can sometimes require different size line, and even swapping monofilament for fluorocarbon.  It’s time-consuming to tie those knots, and if they aren’t done well it’s an easy breaking point for a big fish.  The tippet ring saves the day in this situation by creating an easy anchor point at the end of your leader, so when these changes have to be made, all that’s required is tying the new section of tippet onto the ring with a strong clinch knot.   It’s strong, easy, and saves anglers a ton of time swapping setups for those times when a hatch kicks up and presents an opportunity for some surface action.  

Weight Anchor Point

Have you ever attached a split shot onto a nymph rig only to see it slide down right on top of the fly after a few casts?  We’ve all been there, and it’s frustrating to constantly stop what you’re doing and move the weight back up, attempting to clamp it down more each time.  Not only is this time-consuming, but it can increase the odds that the weight frays the tippet and thus creates a weak point.  Tippet rings can save the day here as well!  By attaching a tippet ring onto the end of your leader, you’re creating a perfect anchor point for which weight cannot slide down closer to your flies.  You can then dictate just how far away the weights are from your flies by carefully tying on a certain amount of tippet from the ring down to your flies.  The weights won’t ever slide down right on top of your flies, and if you feel the weights are too close (or too far away) from your flies all you have to do is put a new section of tippet on with the different length and you never have to fuss with taking weight off, then putting it back on once that new adjustment is made. 

Taper Line

Let’s say you have a 4X leader tied onto your fly line and below the tippet ring there’s a section of 5X tippet that leads down to your first fly.  That’s a common situation for trout anglers and it makes total sense that you’d want to taper the line diameter down as you get closer to the flies.  But what happens if the fish become a bit shy and move away from the 5X?  Instead of re-tooling the entire rig and putting on a thinner leader, you can just tie a second tippet ring onto the 5X tippet and extend things out with a section 6X below that second ring.  Since they’ll be tied with a clinch knot, the adjustment won’t take very long, and rest assured it’s a strong knot that won’t greatly increase the odds that a snag or nice trout will break the whole thing.  The ability to quickly and effectively extend a rig out to further taper your line makes the tippet ring an invaluable tool!

Tippet rings can transform your time on the water by making many aspects of the day quick and easy.  Whether you’re switching from dry flies to nymphs or looking for a place to anchor split shots, tippet rings are the tool for the job. These handy little fly fishing accoutrements are worth their weight in gold, and should be carried by fly anglers of all skill levels regardless of how they like to fish or what they’re fishing for!

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Categories: Dry Fly Fishing, Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Fly Fishing For Trout, How to Fly Fish, Nymphing

When Should I Change My Fly Leader?

04 Oct
0 243 Post by

One of the most common questions among fly anglers is, “When should I change my fly leader?”

It’s a good thing to ponder, as it shows an observant nature and makes it apparent that you’re keeping an eye on your rig.  There are certainly times when folks change their leader too quickly, but usually if you’re thinking about changing it, it’s probably time to change it.  With that said, there are absolutely tell-tale signs that your leader needs freshened up, and there are also situations trout and steelhead anglers will encounter that call for a switch of tactics and new leaders. 

What Does It Look Like? 

Every leader has a certain lifespan, and much of that depends on how often you’re fishing and what happens when you’re out on the water.  A windy day with plenty of false casting will undoubtedly end in a couple knots, and for those fishing in winter, ice shelves can eventually create little frays in the leader that make for weak spots.  If you run your fingers along the length of the leader and feel those imperfections, it’s probably time for a new one!  Furthermore, leaders will eventually get curls, twists, and kinks in them which can threaten to spook fish and minimize cast accuracy and distance. You can try to stretch these out and increase the life of your leader for a while, but eventually enough wear will mean that it’s time to put a new one on. For those that are on the water frequently, meaning a couple outings a week, spending some time at the end of each session stretching the leader out and correcting some of the imperfections can extend the life further.  Even with that, most leaders might only last a couple weeks and should be freshened up to make your time on the water as productive as possible. 

selecting the right size fly leader

What’s The Situation? 

Knowing the situation you’re facing is another key factor for knowing when it’s time to change leaders.  Picking apart pocket water with a dry-dropper is great when using a 7.5-foot leader, but what about when you get to that deep, fishy-looking pool that’s probably ten or twelve feet deep?  In those cases, it’s quite likely that a 7.5-foot leader, even with tippet tied off the end, won’t be enough to successfully reach the bottom where some of the bigger fish are feeding.  Swapping things out for a 9-foot leader can be wise in these situations, and depending on the style of fishing you might even consider going to a weighted leader.  Many experienced streamer anglers will carry an array of sinking leaders to limit how much extra weight they have to use and ensure that the flies are getting down to the desired depth as quickly as possible.  As a general rule of thumb, the faster the water the less time your flies have to get down.  With that in mind, deep pools that are fed by swifter currents might require those sinking leaders; otherwise your flies never have a chance to get in front of fish. 

Changing a fly leader can sometimes be a pain when you’re in the groove of fishing, but it can be well worth the time if it makes your setup more productive.  It’s not always just a worn out leader that calls for change, though. Spooky fish, different water types, and varying rigs all situationally need new leaders, and as such, anglers should carry a wide variety of them in order to be ready for anything that may come their way!  Having a variety of leaders handy can help you be prepared for any situation encountered during a day on the water. 

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Fly Fishing For Trout, How to Fly Fish

Where to Put Split Shot on a Nymph Rig?

04 Oct
0 435 Post by

You can do everything almost perfect on a nymph rig, but one minor error in the setup can really decrease efficiency and productivity.

While fly placement, or rather incorrect placement, can negatively impact our goals, it’s often the split shot that creates the most issues.  Adding this extra weight comes with the territory when you’re trying to use flies that should be at or near the bottom, so it’s an important aspect to understand as a fly angler.  Some of this knowledge comes from trial and error, but there are also things to know beforehand that can help better arm your rig and put more fish in the net during your next nymphing session! 

Above the Flies

Adding split shot above the flies is typically the most common weight placement on a nymph rig. To simply explain the setup, the leader is tied onto the fly line, an indicator is added somewhere on the leader, a tippet ring is tied onto the end of the leader, tippet and flies extend below the tippet ring, and weight is attached above the tippet ring.  This is a great spot for the weight because the tippet ring will prevent it from sliding down closer to your flies and altering the drop rate and drift unnaturally.  If you could look under the water as the rig is drifting, the weights would drop down at or near the bottom, and the flies will trail behind in a similar position in the water column.  Since you’re trying to mimic natural bugs on the bottom, weight added above the flies is the perfect spot to get your flies down!

In Between the Flies

This can certainly be a trickier spot to attach weights onto a nymph rig for the simple fact that there isn’t an easy anchor point to prevent their sliding.  However, sometimes it’s important to have some extra weight here to keep the trailing flies down near the bottom.  An example of this is a nymph rig that might have a heavy stonefly as the point, with an unweighted squirmy worm or egg pattern trailing behind.  Those smaller, lighter flies are a long way from the weight above the tippet ring, so they can have a tendency to float higher in the water column and go above the desired fishing depth.  It’s usually easy to see this happening for those who are observant as you’ll watch the flies bouncing closer to the surface, and this is the tell-tale sign that you need to add weight lower on the rig.  When you do have to attach weight in between flies, really take the time to clamp it down because that’s your best defense to prevent it sliding down towards the trailing fly.  

The success of a nymph rig is predicated on how well your flies can mimic the natural bugs in their nymph stage of life.  Doing this usually requires adding extra weight, but placing it incorrectly can be counterproductive and threaten to create a very unnatural offering.  The placement of that weight can vary depending on what specific rig you’re fishing, the specific water depth and speed, and by watching what your flies are doing during the drift.  Understanding how to best set the weight will greatly increase the odds of a good drift and create more fish opportunities during your next outing on the water!

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Fly Fishing For Trout, Nymphing

3 Flies for Early Season Pennsylvania Steelhead

29 Aug
0 179 Post by

Steelhead season is fully upon us, and with each new rain and the shortening of days, the action is just going to get better! 

Steelhead in the Great Lakes are fairly simple fish, a stark contrast compared to their Pacific cousins.  Most of the fish spawn in spring but come into the tributaries in the fall to gorge on salmon eggs.  The kicker is that many streams don’t receive a run of salmon, leaving steelhead searching for something else to devour.  Arming yourself with the right flies during this early season is a key to success, and here are four great patterns that are sure to produce results! 

Eggs

Even though many Great Lakes tribs don’t have a salmon run, the steelhead still instinctively key in on eggs.  It’s what’s “supposed” to be there, so they’ll feed heavily on them during the fall and winter months.  In fact, the same can be true throughout spring when suckers run in from the lake and do their own spawning ritual.  Orange is a fantastic color that always produces fish, especially during October and November. 

Stream conditions are typically low and clear, with the exception of the day or two after a big rain, and that means discreet flies are a must.  Another great egg pattern is the white sucker spawn, which achieves the egg imitation while not being overly flashy.  It’s also perfect for sight fishing with a pinch or two of split shot a foot above the fly.  When the water is clear, as it so often is, it’s possible to watch the fly bouncing on the bottom and actually see the fish inhale it as it drifts along!  It’s one of the most exciting ways to fish. 

Shiners

Steelhead coming into the streams in September-November are full of fight and energy.  When they’re fresh from the lake they still key in on the forage fish that make up a bulk of their diet for the summer months.  That makes the Lake Erie Emerald Shiner a perfect pattern for aggressive fish that are willing to move several feet to chase down a streamer.

Caddis Nymphs

Many Great Lakes tributaries (especially those in Pennsylvania) are fairly devoid of bug life.  That leaves steelhead helplessly searching for a meal in a situation where there’s little to be had.  One of the few bugs to be present in many drainages is the caddis, making it a must-have for steelhead anglers.  The exact variation of caddis doesn’t matter as much, but orange, green, and purple are great choices and should all be carried in a variety of sizes. 

The yearly return of steelhead marks the start of some of the most exciting fishing of the entire year throughout the Great Lakes.  These fish can be tricky, however, and having the proper fly selection is the first step in achieving success.  There are few better choices than a variety of egg patterns, some caddis imitations, and a stream pattern that mimics the forage fish of the big lakes! 

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Nymphing

Catch More Steelhead Using Streamers

24 Dec
0 656 Post by

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 streamer and 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!

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Stripping Streamers

Catch More Steelhead in the Winter

24 Dec
0 446 Post by

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!

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Winter Fly Fishing

Easy Tips To Improve Your Steelhead Nymphing Rigs For More Hookups

03 Dec
0 439 Post by

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!

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Categories: Fly Fishing For Steelhead, Nymphing
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