JavaScript is required to view this page.
Skip to content
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 
Reels: Large arbor, with solid drag system 
Lines: Weight forward, floating. Specialty nymphing lines for steelhead are a real plus

Read More

Filters

$
$
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z All

  • Barr's Copper John Steelhead Rubberleg - Umpqua

    $4.40
    $4.40 - $5.50
    $4.40 - $5.50
    $4.40

    It turns out that steelhead love a copper john about as much as a landlocked rainbow trout, and that is a lot. This larger copper john features a h...

    View full details
    $4.40
    $4.40 - $5.50
    $4.40 - $5.50
    $4.40
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Coming soon

    Beadhead Lifter - Solitude

    $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79

    The Beadhead Lifter is a great little egg fly that is super fishy Used mostly as a nymph, but it swings well too Available in #6 A sweet pattern d...

    View full details
    $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79
    Coming soon
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Coming soon

    Beadhead R.L. Cotton Candy - Solitude

    $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79

    The BH RL Cotton Candy is a sweet little egg pattern. Great for nymphing for steelhead or egg eating trout. Pattern developed by Tom Larimer

    $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79 - $2.79
    $2.79
    Coming soon
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Big Ugly Stone

    $1.02
    $1.02 - $1.02
    $1.02 - $1.02
    $1.02

    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...

    View full details
    $1.02
    $1.02 - $1.02
    $1.02 - $1.02
    $1.02
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Blood Dot

    $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85

    Fish love eggs. They will eat them indiscriminately. Not just steelhead and salmon either, every fish will eat any eggs. Very popular for Erie Ste...

    View full details
    $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.

Compare products

{"one"=>"Select 2 or 3 items to compare", "other"=>"{{ count }} of 3 items selected"}

Select first item to compare

Select second item to compare

Select third item to compare

Compare