Steelhead, often passionatly reffered as the fish of a thousand casts, are really just andronomous rainbow trout. Now considered the norm for the species these fish will migrate in and out of a major body of water based on seasonal spawning patterns.
These fish can typically be found in the Great Lakes tributaries from early October trough mid June, with the bulk of the fishing pressure concentrated around the late fall and early spring runs.
Skemenia, or summer run fish, starting moving up the river in late spring and typically finish up their spawning by the end of June. These runs are typically concentrated around the Lake Michigan tributaries in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.
Many different methods have been developed to catch these fish, but among Great Lakes fisherman the most popular are flyfishing, centerpinning, and spinning. Over the winter fish hold in deep slow holds and often slow presentations of nymph, spawn, or egg patterns will catch the most fish.
I only flyfish for steelhead so I will let someone with more experience on centerpins explain that. A typical flyrod rigged for steelhead is a 7-8 wt 9-10 feet long with floating line and a 6-8 lb tapered leader. An indicator or float is used to keep the flies off the bottom. Then shot is added to slow down the presentation and to keep the flies deep. Typically a nymph is tyed on first, different types of stones work well, about a foot below the nymph any of a variety of egg paterns is tyed to the rig.
During the fall and through most of the winter most fish will be caugth on eggs, as spring starts warm the river up a bit nymphs will be all over the river bottom this is when the fish will really start hitting on these flies.
During the winter and late fall fish will move into their winter haunts. The bite will be slow but try to cover lots of water looking for the slowest and deepest holes, also seems and riverbends should not be overlooked. Even a few degrees can really turn the fish on so look for days with slightly higher then average temps.
As March starts to roll around fish will move out of their winter holds and move into faster water. If you see fish on beds leave them be although typically easy to catch these fish are supplying you with future generations. Concentrate your fishing on the tail ends of the gravel and into the holes behind the spawning fish, typically fish will gather behind the early spawners to try and catch an easy meal.
These fish can typically be found in the Great Lakes tributaries from early October trough mid June, with the bulk of the fishing pressure concentrated around the late fall and early spring runs.
Skemenia, or summer run fish, starting moving up the river in late spring and typically finish up their spawning by the end of June. These runs are typically concentrated around the Lake Michigan tributaries in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois.
Many different methods have been developed to catch these fish, but among Great Lakes fisherman the most popular are flyfishing, centerpinning, and spinning. Over the winter fish hold in deep slow holds and often slow presentations of nymph, spawn, or egg patterns will catch the most fish.
I only flyfish for steelhead so I will let someone with more experience on centerpins explain that. A typical flyrod rigged for steelhead is a 7-8 wt 9-10 feet long with floating line and a 6-8 lb tapered leader. An indicator or float is used to keep the flies off the bottom. Then shot is added to slow down the presentation and to keep the flies deep. Typically a nymph is tyed on first, different types of stones work well, about a foot below the nymph any of a variety of egg paterns is tyed to the rig.
During the fall and through most of the winter most fish will be caugth on eggs, as spring starts warm the river up a bit nymphs will be all over the river bottom this is when the fish will really start hitting on these flies.
During the winter and late fall fish will move into their winter haunts. The bite will be slow but try to cover lots of water looking for the slowest and deepest holes, also seems and riverbends should not be overlooked. Even a few degrees can really turn the fish on so look for days with slightly higher then average temps.
As March starts to roll around fish will move out of their winter holds and move into faster water. If you see fish on beds leave them be although typically easy to catch these fish are supplying you with future generations. Concentrate your fishing on the tail ends of the gravel and into the holes behind the spawning fish, typically fish will gather behind the early spawners to try and catch an easy meal.
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