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Great Lakes Steelhead

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
Lines: Weight forward, floating. Specialty nymphing lines for steelhead are a real plus.
Favorites: Rio Elite Indicator, Scientific Anglers Mastery Anadro
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  • 79 in stock

    Agent Orange

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    Great color contrast excellent searching pattern.  Hot bead, rubber legs, flash wing case. Also useful for trout. Stoneflies are availabl...

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    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    224 in stock

    Big Ugly Stone

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    Name of the fly says it all... It's Big... It's Ugly... And it's a stone. Should fish well in any rivers stones are present, but especially well i...

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    369 in stock

    Candy Stone

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    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. Hot bead, rubber legs, flash wing case. Also useful for trout. Stoneflies are...

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    583 in stock

    Conehead Epoxy Stone

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    These guys are monsters that pack a punch, if you don't catch a fish with one of these bad boys it is because the fish are scared of it. Great for...

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    225 in stock

    Crystal Stone

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    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. A bright thorax acts as an attraction. Also useful for trout. Stoneflies are ...

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    235 in stock

    Double Bead Peacock Stonefly

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    One of the most requested patterns for us to start tying. This stone pattern is a hugely successful PNW nymph pattern. Particularly useful when ...

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    242 in stock

    Egg Sucking Stone-Beadhead

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    These guys are monsters that pack a punch, if you don't catch a fish with one of these bad boys it is because the fish are scared of it. Great for...

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    927 in stock

    Estaz Stone

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    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. A bright thorax acts as an attraction. Also useful for trout. Stoneflies are a...

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    52 in stock

    Hot Head Grub

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    A big ole grub pattern with a hot bead to draw attention.

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    108 in stock

    Robinson's Chicken Hawk

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    Legendary pattern in Steelhead Alley. Fishes particularly well late in the season when the fish have seen the same thing over and over. Fish in a...

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    180 in stock

    Soft Hackle Caddis

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    Caddis are some of our favorite bugs to fish and for good reason they are extremely effective. This variation is a great trout and steelhead patt...

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    33 in stock

    Spring Wiggler

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    A fantastic fly for Great Lakes Steelhead, and a great dragonfly imitation as well.

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    59 in stock

    Steelhead Brassie - Solitude

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    Great summer steelhead fly. When the water is clear and the fish are skiddish this is a great go to pattern. Small enough not to scare fish off,...

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    193 in stock

    Steelhead Stone

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    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. These patterns have a bright colored thorax that drives them to strike. Swing it o...

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    157 in stock

    Stone Prince - Tungsten

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    A quick and dirty attractor fly that has worked wonders. A long time ago the boss took two of his favorite flies, (the prince nymph and pheasa...

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    333 in stock

    Stone Wiggler

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    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. These patterns is tied in tandem style, allowing the fly to wiggle in the water a...

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    335 in stock

    Twenty Incher Rubber Legs

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      The standard Twenty Incher is a renown pattern for catching both trout and steelhead. Its known as a great prospecting nymph pattern and a sto...

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    205 in stock

    Twenty Pound Stone

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    21 in stock

    Wiggle Hex

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    Precocious action emits strikes when other hex patters fall flat.   A must if you are going fishing during this hatch or wherever hex nymphs molt.

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    213 in stock

    Wire Worm

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    A very popular midwest pattern. Great larger and heavier worm pattern. 

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