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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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  • Clown Egg

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    Fish love eggs. They will eat them indiscriminately. Not just steelhead and salmon either, every fish wil eat any eggs. Developed in Michigan for ...

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    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Clown Egg-Beadhead

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    An excellent egg pattern with all the best colors.  Now with a bead! They will eat them indiscriminately. Not just steelhead and salmon either, ev...

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  •

    Eggi Juan Kenobi-Beadhead

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    This hybrid egg/worm is gaining popularity at an alarming rate.  Better have a few in the box for when the fish are stubborn, or there is nothing...

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    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Glo Bug Red Dot

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    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...

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    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Glo Bug with Dot-Beadhead

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    A small bead head keeps this fly down where the fish are.  These patterns are especially effective for Erie Steelies

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    Glo Bug-Beadhead

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    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...

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    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Sucker Spawn

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    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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    Y2K--Beadhead

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    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...

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

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