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Pacific Steelhead - Winter Run

Pacific Steelhead - Winter Run

General Info: Winter-run steelhead are on a pedestal. No other freshwater fish has such mystiqur. Anglers can spend an entire season swinging away without so much as a tug. Its almost par for the course. But when that big, chrome winter steelhead finally pulls on your fly.... OOOOHHH. There is nothing like it. Most of the employees at Big Y would consider themselves to be some type of "winter steelhead junkie" or are in some sort of steelhead recovery. While we get plenty of trout, bass and salmon fishing done, we live and breathe for winter steelhead season.
Winter steelhead are more pervasive on the coastal streams of the Pacific Northwest than their summer cousins. Summer fish are found further up the Columbia and its tributaries, and less in the coastal streams. However, winter fish do travel up the Columbia River, and summer fish are found in most coastal rivers.
Fun Fact: The Hood River (home of Big Y) is the furthest upstream tributary on the Columbia River that winter steelhead will travel. We are at the end of the line for winter steelhead, and we are OK with that.
Most winter steelhead anglers prefer to swing flies on a switch or spey rod using a Skagit line system (Developed on the Skagit River, WA). While winter steelhead can be caught on nymphs, the majority of anglers prefer to swing articulated intruders in the winter. These are our favorite flies for swinging up a winter steelhead. For steelhead nymphs, you can visit the Great Lakes Page.
Steelhead nymphs can be found on the Great Lakes steelhead page, and bigger swinging patterns can be found on the Winter Steelhead or Chinook Salmon page.
Preferred Gear
Rods: 7-8wt switch/spey rods as long as needed for river. Rods up to 13'6" rods are common, but most anglers would be fine in the Pacific Northwest with a 7wt switch rod between 11'-12'.
Reels: Large arbor, weighted and sized for longer rods.
Favorites: Orvis SSR, Big Y General,
Lines: Skagit style shooting heads are preferred throughout the winter season
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  • Animal - RIO

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    Intruder style flies are a popular choice for many fall and winter steelhead anglers.  These flies offer a large profile in the water and weighted ...

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    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Articulated Leech

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    A pattern that rocketed into classic status within a few years after it hit the public. Almost all hits on leech come from the head. The action wi...

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    Bantam - Umpqua

    $4.40
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    $4.40

    A great light weight intruder styled pattern that gets into the zone quick. A 2 inch fly that is a great size for fishing pretty much year round. G...

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

    Bjorn's Stinger Prawn - Solitude

    $2.96
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    Designed to catch Kings in Alaska and throughout the Pacific Northwest. Great for swinging flies for steelhead or salmon. Pink is the most popular...

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  • Coming soon

    Dirk Wiggler - Solitude

    $3.96
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    Great for swinging flies for steelhead or salmon. Extremely popular with spey fishermen in the Pacific Northwest. Eyes get this pattern down, wh...

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    $3.96
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    $3.96
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  • Coming soon

    Down and Dirty-Tube Fly

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    Tube flies are great for those who want more options out of their flies. The Down and Dirty Tubes are great year round patterns. These flies will ...

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    $1.99
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  •

    Fish Taco - Umpqua

    $6.20
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    A fishy fishy fly. One of the most famous steelhead patterns out there. Ostrich undulates amazingly well underwater. Great for Pacific Northwest St...

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    $6.20
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Foxee Dog - Solitude

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    $2.96

    The Foxee Dog is a fly pattern created by Charles St. Pierre of Northwest Speycasting. A mixture of natural and synthetic materials the Foxee Dog...

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    $2.96
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Guide Intruder - Solitude

    $3.95
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    $3.95

    This is a "local's favorite" pattern for Winter Steelhead here in Oregon. Deadly effective on the swing. It has great movement and isn't too bul...

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    $3.95
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  • Coming soon

    Haley's Comet - Solitude

    $2.96
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    $2.96

    A great fly to swing for Steelhead and Pacific Salmon! Size 1.5 steelhead hook One of the most infamous steelhead patterns ever. A shop favorite f...

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    $2.96
    $2.96 - $2.96
    $2.96 - $2.96
    $2.96
    Coming soon
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  • Coming soon

    Hobit Spey - Solitude

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    $3.96

    The Hobit Spey is a very productive pattern for steelhead. Developed by Clark Jennings. Great for swinging flies for steelhead or salmon. Extreme...

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    $3.96
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    $3.96 - $3.96
    $3.96
    Coming soon
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Hobo Spey - Solitude

    $3.96
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    $3.96

    The Hobo Spey has quickly become the go-to pattern for guides across the Northwest. Developed by Charles St. Pierre. Great for swinging flies for...

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    $3.96
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    $3.96 - $3.96
    $3.96
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Homeless Spey

    $2.39
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    $2.39

    Designed to be fished all year on the swing. Try it with the heaviest sinking line or a floating line with a long leader. Either way this fly has...

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    $2.39
    $2.39 - $2.39
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    $2.39
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Loop Es Leech - Solitude

    $3.90
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    $3.90

    Loop ES Leech has fairly heavy eyes, and is usually tied about 4 1/2" long. It's wiggling & breathing profile make this an awesome swinging...

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    $3.90
    $3.90 - $3.90
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    $3.90
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
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    Pick 'Yer Pocket - Solitude

    $1.99
    $3.99
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    $3.99
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    $1.99

    Originally designed as a swinging steelhead fly. Extremely popular with PNW Spey fishermen. Proven to catch steelhead and salmon from California...

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    $1.99
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    $3.99
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    $1.99
    Save 50% Save %
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Popsicle

    $1.50
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    $1.50

    Designed by George Cook in the early 1980's. Is now Alaska's most popular pattern. Attracts everything-Chinooks, silvers, steelhead, even sea-run ...

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

    Showgirl

    $1.50
    $1.50 - $1.50
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    $1.50

    Famous in Alaska, Canada and the West Coast Attracts everything-Chinooks, silvers, steelhead, even sea-run cutthroats. Vibrate colors and that mag...

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

    Skagit Minnow

    $2.39
    $2.39 - $2.39
    $2.39 - $2.39
    $2.39

    One of the most effective winter steelhead patterns hands down. Does especially well in rivers that are glacier feed. Light weight pattern does we...

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    $2.39
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    $2.39
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.
  •

    Steelhead Egg-Sucking Leech

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

    The #1 all-time pattern everywhere sea-runs are fished for now tied on a black salmon hook for the Kings, Cohos, Atlantics and large steelies.  A...

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

    Trailer Trash - RIO

    $3.80
    $3.80 - $3.80
    $3.80 - $3.80
    $3.80

    This is a marabou intruder style fly intended for Kings, but it is also a great pattern for Coho and steelhead.

    $3.80
    $3.80 - $3.80
    $3.80 - $3.80
    $3.80
    Value must be grater than or equal to 1.

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