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
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91 in stockBarr's Copper John Steelhead Rubberleg - Umpqua
$4.40Original priceOriginal price $4.40 - Original price $5.50Original price$4.40 - $5.50Current price $4.40It 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$4.40Original priceOriginal price $4.40 - Original price $5.50Original price$4.40 - $5.50Current price $4.40Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
623 in stock
Candy Stone
$0.80Original price $0.89Original price $0.89 - Original price $0.89Original price $0.89$0.80 - $0.80Current price $0.80Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. Hot bead, rubber legs, flash wing case. Also useful for trout. Stoneflies are...
View full details$0.80Original price $0.89Original price $0.89 - Original price $0.89Original price $0.89$0.80 - $0.80Current price $0.80Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
2024 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. -
532 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. -
477 in stock
Conehead Epoxy Stone
$1.10Original price $1.22Original price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price $1.22$1.10 - $1.10Current price $1.10These 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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1765 in stockConehead Woolly Bugger
$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. -
893 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. -
224 in stockCopper 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. -
537 in stockCrystal 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. -
2671 in stockCrystal 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. -
3 Low on stockFish Skull Zonker - Fulling Mill
$2.75Original priceOriginal price $2.75 - Original price $2.75Original price$2.75 - $2.75Current price $2.75Great for all rivers with hopper action This fly moves like crazy in the water and attracts fish like no. The skull adds good weight and profile ...
View full details$2.75Original priceOriginal price $2.75 - Original price $2.75Original price$2.75 - $2.75Current price $2.75Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
239 in stockFlashbugger
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Great for all species of game fish including, steelhead, salmon, trophy trout, and trophy bass. Tied with that great marabou tail, for lifelike mo...
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1053 in stockFlashbugger-Beadhead
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99If we had one fly to fish, it would be this pattern. Great for all species of game fish including, steelhead, salmon, trophy trout, and trophy bas...
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157 in stockGlow Wiggler
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99Hugely popular for great lakes steelhead, especially in the Michigan. Suggested to us from a Michigan fly shop as a great searching pattern and g...
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52 in stock
Jumbo John-Beadhead
$1.01Original price $1.12Original price $1.12 - Original price $1.12Original price $1.12$1.01 - $1.01Current price $1.01The Copper John's big brother. Great stonefly imitation for steelhead, and trout. Big, heavy, great for faster oxygenated water. Stoneflies are a...
View full details$1.01Original price $1.12Original price $1.12 - Original price $1.12Original price $1.12$1.01 - $1.01Current price $1.01Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
433 in stock
Kaufmann Stone - Tungsten
$1.10Original price $1.22Original price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price $1.22$1.10 - $1.10Current price $1.10Especially 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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781 in stock
Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs - Tungsten
$1.10Original price $1.22Original price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price $1.22$1.10 - $1.10Current price $1.10All 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...
View full details$1.10Original price $1.22Original price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price $1.22$1.10 - $1.10Current price $1.10Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
4507 in stock
Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs-Beadhead
$0.89Original price $0.99Original price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price $0.99$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Stonefly 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$0.89Original price $0.99Original price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price $0.99$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
2734 in stock
Kaufmann Stone-Beadhead
$0.89Original price $0.99Original price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price $0.99$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Stonefly 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$0.89Original price $0.99Original price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price $0.99$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
25 in stockLast Call - RIO
$2.66Original priceOriginal price $2.66 - Original price $2.66Original price$2.66 - $2.66Current price $2.66This pattern takes the look of a classic steelhead fly, but tied on a short, stinger style hook. It can be used as a trailer behind a skating steel...
View full details$2.66Original priceOriginal price $2.66 - Original price $2.66Original price$2.66 - $2.66Current price $2.66Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
328 in stockMarabou Muddler
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99One basic fact central to all fishing is this: Big fish eat little fish. This pattern capitalizes on that fact better than any other fly pattern w...
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. -
167 in stockSalmon/Steelhead Woolly Bugger
$1.50Original priceOriginal price $1.50 - Original price $1.50Original price$1.50 - $1.50Current price $1.50You asked for it, we provide; a woolly bugger on a super strong, salmon-friendly hook. The classic pattern is now beefed up for our Great Lakes an...
View full details$1.50Original priceOriginal price $1.50 - Original price $1.50Original price$1.50 - $1.50Current price $1.50Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
444 in stock
Stone Prince - Tungsten
$1.10Original price $1.22Original price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price $1.22$1.10 - $1.10Current price $1.10A 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...
View full details$1.10Original price $1.22Original price $1.22 - Original price $1.22Original price $1.22$1.10 - $1.10Current price $1.10Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
62 in stock
Stonefly Bugger
$0.89Original price $0.99Original price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price $0.99$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Stonefly nymphs live in clean moving water, and are an important feeding source for both trout and steelhead. This pattern was created for the S...
View full details$0.89Original price $0.99Original price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price $0.99$0.89 - $0.89Current price $0.89Save 10%Value must be grater than or equal to 1. -
608 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...
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1990 in stockZonker
$0.99Original priceOriginal price $0.99 - Original price $0.99Original price$0.99 - $0.99Current price $0.99This pattern really excites the big trout. The ones that lurk deep and strike hard. The nice thing about this pattern is it has the same effect on...
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.
