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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 
Reels: Large arbor, with solid drag system 
Lines: Weight forward, floating. Specialty nymphing lines for steelhead are a real plus

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  • 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...

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    $4.40
    $4.40 - $5.50
    $4.40 - $5.50
    $4.40
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Copper Swan - Solitude

    $2.51
    $2.51 - $2.51
    $2.51 - $2.51
    $2.51

    A 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

    $2.51
    $2.51 - $2.51
    $2.51 - $2.51
    $2.51
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Steelhead Hammer

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

    Excellent pattern where ever you are targeting steelhead.Popular in BC, Alaska, Great Lakes, Pacific coast. Has become a go to fly in very little ...

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    $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Steelhead Hammer-Beadhead

    $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89

    Excellent pattern where ever you are targeting steelhead. Popular in BC, Alaska, Great Lakes, Pacific coast. Has become a go to fly in very little...

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    $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Sucker Spawn-Beadhead

    $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89

    This pattern is legendary for the Great Lakes Steelhead. Fish eat eggs indiscriminately, this pattern originally imitated the egg sac of the sucke...

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    $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89 - $0.89
    $0.89
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Trout Beads: BeadHooks

    $7.75
    $7.75 - $7.75
    $7.75 - $7.75
    $7.75

    There is an endless supply of hooks on the market designed for specific fisheries. The TroutBeads BeadHook™ is the only hook ever that was tested,...

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    $7.75
    $7.75 - $7.75
    $7.75 - $7.75
    $7.75
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Wire Worm

    $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12

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

    $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.

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