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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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    117 in stock

    Agent Onyx - Solitude

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    A steelhead nymph that produces! Great for off color waters.  Works well as stonefly or general attractor for trout too.

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    122 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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    542 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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    623 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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    477 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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    221 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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    224 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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    332 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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    87 in stock

    Golden Stone Poxyback-Beadhead

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    The poxyback on this pattern adds an attractant that fish can't help but see. Great pattern for when the stoneflies are hatching. Try in a dead d...

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    62 in stock

    Hot Spot Wiggle Zone-Beadhead

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    Originally designed as a steelhead nymph, this guy has also caught it's fair share of trout. A great pattern for Great Lakes Steelhead, as it is ...

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    49 in stock

    Jumbo John-Beadhead

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    The Copper John's big brother. Great stonefly imitation for steelhead, and trout. Big, heavy, great for faster oxygenated water. Stoneflies are a...

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    433 in stock

    Kaufmann Stone - Tungsten

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    Especially for fast water, when your fly needs to get down fast and deep. For steelhead and torpedo like trout everywhere. Be prepared with a stou...

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    778 in stock

    Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs - Tungsten

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    All the bells and whistles on one stonefly nymph. Especially for fast water, when your fly needs to get down fast and deep. For steelhead and torp...

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    79 in stock

    Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs Beadhead - Steelhead

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    Tied on Extra Strong Steelhead/Salmon hooks Fish it dead drift, down deep. Then feed it on the swing. Often works when others fail. Produces strik...

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    4507 in stock

    Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs-Beadhead

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    Stonefly nymphs live in clean moving water, and are an important feeding source for both trout and steelhead. All the attributes of the Beadhead K...

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    2734 in stock

    Kaufmann Stone-Beadhead

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    Stonefly nymphs live in clean moving water, and are an important feeding source for both trout and steelhead. All the attributes of the Beadhead K...

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    Out of stock

    Princess Nymph Tungsten - Solitude

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    A steelhead nymph that produces! Swings well too!  Works well as stonefly ore general attractor for trout too.

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    114 in stock

    Purple Stone-Beadhead

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    Fish it dead drift, down deep. Then feed it on the swing. Often works when others fail. Produces strikes throughout the range of steelhead.

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    57 in stock

    Rubber Legs Kaufmann Stone

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    Fish it dead drift, down deep. Then feed it on the swing. Often works when others fail. Produces strikes throughout the range of steelhead.

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    67 in stock

    Shagadelic Stone - Solitude

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    It's shagadelic baby! This newer stone pattern is a great twist on a classic Kauffman stone. It's dubbed body will get buggier the longer it's f...

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    382 in stock

    Steelhead Mysis

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    Great Lakes are chock full of Mysis shrimp Some estimate Steelhead diet's might consist of up to 70% of these creatures. Steelies affinity for t...

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    188 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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    295 in stock

    Steelie Golden Stone-Beadhead

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    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. These have a shiny body, and great rubber leg action. Also useful for trout. ...

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    444 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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    332 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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    62 in stock

    Stonefly Bugger

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    Stonefly nymphs live in clean moving water, and are an important feeding source for both trout and steelhead.  This pattern was created for the S...

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    105 in stock

    Sub Golden Stone-Beadhead

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    What? Is that a new stone pattern? You bet it is, if you are like us you are counting down the days until the next Salmonfly and Stonefly hatches...

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    28 in stock

    Sucking Stone Fly

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    Fish it dead drift, down deep. Then feed it on the swing. Often works when others fail. Produces strikes throughout the range of steelhead. Leathe...

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    360 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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    Wired Chromer Stone-Beadhead

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    As new patterns come into the fly fishing world, some become staples in fly boxes, other inspire new patterns. The Beadhead Wired Chroma is one th...

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    97 in stock

    Wired Stone-Beadhead

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    Stonefly nymphs live in clean moving water, and are an important feeding source for both trout and steelhead. Use this pattern in faster moving wa...

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