Great Lakes Steelhead
General Info: Skamania summer steelhead were once transplanted from our beloved Columbia River Gorge (home of Big Y Fly) to the Great Lakes. A fantastic seasonal fishery was created in just a few years. Steelhead now pour into the tributaries of Great Lakes tributaries every fall. From Michigan to New York, big runs of steelhead can be found close to major metropolitan areas. The most famous area is the area called "Steelhead Alley" in Ohio. It runs along the shoreline of Lake Erie to the inlet from Lake Ontario. Another very popular spot is along the Salmon River near Pulaski, NY.
While anglers on the Pacific coast tend to swing smaller flies for steelhead, Great Lakes steelheaders most often use a nymphing setup. Swinging a fly is still fairly popular in the Great Lakes, but nymphing is the name of the game. Many anglers also fish a trout streamer either under an indicator or with a tight line. The peak time to go is in October, but fish start showing up in September and can be found as late as ice conditions will allow. There is also a spring season where fish that "wintered over" in the rivers can be found heading back towards the lake.
Preferred Gear
Rods: 7-8 wt. rods. Many prefer a 9'6" or 10' rod, but 9' rods are still the most popular
Favorites: Big Y Boss, TFO Pro III, Redington Vice, Orvis Clearwater
Reels: Large arbor, with solid drag system
Favorites: Orvis Battenkill Disc, Big Y General, Lamson Remix, Redington Behemoth
Lines: Weight forward, floating. Specialty nymphing lines for steelhead are a real plus.
Favorites: Rio Elite Indicator, Scientific Anglers Mastery Anadro
-
367 in stockChilean Bugger-Beadhead
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99A more flashy version of the regular Woolly Bugger. A great attractor pattern, inciter pattern, prepare for vicious strikes, and large fish. Use f...
View full details$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
373 in stockClouser Marabou Minnow
$1.22Original priceOriginal price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price$1.22 - $1.22Current price $1.22How do you improve on the Clouser Minnow??? Tie it with lifelike marabou, this pattern is like the Marabou Jigs that are so popular, but better. L...
View full details$1.22Original priceOriginal price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price$1.22 - $1.22Current price $1.22Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
1729 in stockConehead Crystal Bugger
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99A more flashy version of the regular Woolly Bugger. A great attractor pattern, inciter pattern, prepare for vicious strikes, and large fish. Use f...
View full details$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
382 in stockConehead Crystal Bugger Rubber Legs
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99A more flashy version of the regular Woolly Bugger. A great attractor pattern, inciter pattern, prepare for vicious strikes, and large fish. Use f...
View full details$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
529 in stockConehead Woolly Bugger Rubber Legs
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99All the attributes of the Ubiquitous Woolly Bugger, with the streamlined silhouette of a conehead gives it unique swimming action.
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
4412 in stockKaufmann Stone Rubber Legs-Beadhead
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Stonefly nymphs live in clean moving water, and are an important feeding source for both trout and steelhead. All the attributes of the Beadhead K...
View full details$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
339 in stockSuper Bugger
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Part bugger, part dumbbell streamer. A great attractor pattern, inciter pattern, prepare for vicious strikes, and large fish. Use for every game f...
View full details$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
335 in stockTwenty Incher Rubber Legs
$0.89Original priceOriginal price $0.89 - Original price $0.89Original price$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89The standard Twenty Incher is a renown pattern for catching both trout and steelhead. Its known as a great prospecting nymph pattern and a sto...
View full details$0.89Original priceOriginal price $0.89 - Original price $0.89Original price$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
