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
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Agent Onyx - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79A steelhead nymph that produces! Great for off color waters. Works well as stonefly or general attractor for trout too.
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Beadhead Lifter - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79The 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$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Beadhead R.L. Cotton Candy - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79The BH RL Cotton Candy is a sweet little egg pattern. Great for nymphing for steelhead or egg eating trout. Pattern developed by Tom Larimer
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Copper Swan - Solitude
$2.51Original priceOriginal price $2.51 - Original price $2.51Original price$2.51 - $2.51Current price $2.51A steelhead nymph that produces! Swings well too! Works well as stonefly and caddis nymph for trout too. A tried and true pattern by Todd Osterson
$2.51Original priceOriginal price $2.51 - Original price $2.51Original price$2.51 - $2.51Current price $2.51Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Egg Lace Worm - Solitude
$2.63Original priceOriginal price $2.63 - Original price $2.63Original price$2.63 - $2.63Current price $2.63Dead drift it, or swing it. Both have been known to be effective. A big worm or leech that looks like it is attracted to an egg.
$2.63Original priceOriginal price $2.63 - Original price $2.63Original price$2.63 - $2.63Current price $2.63Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Egg Larva - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Dead drift it, or swing it. Both have been known to be effective. A big worm or leech that looks like it is attracted to an egg. Tied on a red hook.
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Lifter - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79The 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 developed ...
View full details$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Lingerie Egg - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Lingerie Egg is a sexy little steelhead fly that has all the right curves Used mostly as a nymph, but it swings well too Available in Pink #4 A gr...
View full details$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
October Phat Ass - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79This sweet little pattern was developed as a steelhead fly, but has proven effective for trout as well. It can be fished on the swing or a dead d...
View full details$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Princess Nymph Tungsten - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79A steelhead nymph that produces! Swings well too! Works well as stonefly ore general attractor for trout too.
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Pupa-Trator - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79A steelhead nymph that produces! Swings well too! Works well as caddis or general attractor for trout too.
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Salmon River MVP - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79This simple fly has proven very effective for steelhead, both on the swing and under an indicator. It works great as an egg or flesh pattern for t...
View full details$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Sept'Ober Caddis - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Trout and steelhead love this little nymph pattern. It represents an October Caddis, but fish will gobble this down any time of year Fish it on th...
View full details$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Shagadelic Stone - Solitude
$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79It'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...
View full details$2.79Original priceOriginal price $2.79 - Original price $2.79Original price$2.79 - $2.79Current price $2.79Coming soonValue must be grater than or equal to 1. -
Steelhead Brassie - Solitude
$2.46Original priceOriginal price $2.46 - Original price $2.46Original price$2.46 - $2.46Current price $2.46Great 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,...
View full details$2.46Original priceOriginal price $2.46 - Original price $2.46Original price$2.46 - $2.46Current price $2.46Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
