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.
  •

    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.
  •

    Circus Caddis-Beadhead

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

    One of the very best caddis impressions out there, if not the best. Use where ever fish eat caddis, or where ever caddis and fish co-habitat. A fa...

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

    Clown Egg

    $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 wil eat any eggs. Developed in Michigan for ...

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

    Crystal Egg

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

    Another great pattern designed first for the Lake Erie steelhead. Flash and veiled. Great for murky water. Excellent egg pattern.

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

    Crystal Meth

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

      Another great pattern designed first for the Lake Erie steelhead. Very similar to the Sucker Spawn, but more reflective. Great for murky wate...

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

    Crystal Stone

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

    Steelhead have an affinity for stones, beginning as a juvenile. A bright thorax acts as an attraction. Also useful for trout. Stoneflies are ...

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

    Glo Bug Red 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 wil eat any eggs. Don't go to Alaska without...

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

    Glo Bug-Beadhead

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

    The bead helps this pattern get down better, especially effective bouncing along river bottoms. There isn't a fish out there that won't hit an egg...

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

    Golden Stone Poxyback-Beadhead

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

    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...

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

    Kaufmann Stone - Tungsten

    $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22

    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...

    View full details
    $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs - Tungsten

    $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22

    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...

    View full details
    $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22 - $1.22
    $1.22
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Kaufmann Stone Rubber Legs-Beadhead

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    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...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Kaufmann Stone-Beadhead

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

    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...

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Nuke Egg

    $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 wil eat any eggs. Very popular for Erie Stee...

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

    Nymph n' egg

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

    Sometimes you don't ask questions. Although many times it has been observed that nymphs eat eggs and fish eat them both. When you don't want to go...

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

    Purple Stone-Beadhead

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50

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

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
    $1.50
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Soft Hackle Caddis

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

    Caddis are some of our favorite bugs to fish and for good reason they are extremely effective. This variation is a great trout and steelhead patt...

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

    Steelhead Blood Dot

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

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

    View full details
    $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...

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

    Steelhead Stone

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

    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...

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

    Steelie Golden Stone-Beadhead

    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99

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

    View full details
    $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99 - $0.99
    $0.99
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Stone Wiggler

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

    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...

    View full details
    $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12 - $1.12
    $1.12
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Sucker Spawn

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

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

    View full details
    $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85 - $0.85
    $0.85
    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...

    View full details
    $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,...

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

    Twenty Incher Rubber Legs

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

      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...

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

    Y2K--Beadhead

    $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