Spring-Run Steelhead

Tippets for steelhead are generally from 4- to 8-pound test, with 6-pound test (3X) the most common. Most anglers who use fluorocarbon fish with 10-pound test. As a reminder, just because fish don’t see fluorocarbon as well as they see mono does not mean they don’t see its effect on the fly. If the line is too stiff due to its thicker diameter, it may make the fly look stiff in the water. As with any nymph rig, the presentation is as important as the pattern itself.

When setting up a right-angle system, the distance between the weight and the indicator is critical. I space the indicator from the weight one-and-a-half times the depth of the water. If the water depth exceeds 4 feet, then I double the distance between the indicator and the weight.

This system has its limiting factors. I find it difficult to effectively apply this method in runs deeper than 6 feet. You should also change the spacing with each run if they vary in depth.

Like fishing to steelhead on redds, the running-line system is a questionable method for some fishermen. This technique uses a fine-diameter (.027 to .031) level running line attached to 8 to 10 feet of monofilament followed by the weight. The tippet is added below the weight. As controversial as it may sound, for some areas, it can be fun and effective. If the system offends your fly-fishing integrity, don’t use it.

Equipment

The equipment you choose to chase Great Lakes steelhead is no different than what you would use in Washington or British Columbia. You match your rod to the fish and the river. The average fish can weigh 8 to 12 pounds in the Lake Michigan and Huron tributaries, and 5 to 7 in the Superior, Ontario, and Erie tributaries. There have been many 18- to 20-pound fish taken out of Erie and Lake Ontario rivers, so don’t let the average fool you. Be prepared.

I use two medium-action rods, a 9'6" 6-weight and a 9'6" 8-weight. I decide which rod to use by the style (nymphing or swinging), depth, and flow rate of the river. On the bigger rivers such as the Manistee where the average water depth is over 6 feet, I generally fish the 9'6" 8-weight. I like longer rods for the mending capabilities and the shock absorption they give if I am using light tippets. On smaller, more wadeable rivers such as the Pere Marquette, I like the 9'6" 6-weight.

Ten pounds of steelhead is a lot of fish on a 6-weight and anything heavier than that can quickly become problematic. If you can bring just one rod, make it an 8-weight.

Timing the Runs

I get asked to predict steelhead runs as often as a Charles Schwab broker is asked about stock futures. My usual response is, “The crystal ball is out of order,” but in some cases I will give it a shot for planning’s sake. The biggest element that affects the return of fish is the length of the winter. If we have a big snow year and Old Man Winter keeps a grip on the area, the return is late. If winter ends early, the fish come early. It’s that simple.

Most of the streams on the north side of Lake Superior are in Canada. Canada stays colder longer than the U.S., so those rivers can be a full month behind ours. This is also true of the north side of Huron and Ontario. The good news is that if you are willing, you can have an extra month of chasing big fish. Usually most of the Great Lakes tributaries peak between April 1 and May 1. The exceptions to this are the peaks of the northern rivers of Superior and Ontario, which usually are two weeks to a month behind the others.

License fees for nonresident anglers are less than $50 annually in any of the Great Lakes states. If you are looking for guides, you can expect to pay about $300 a day. While most of the rivers in the Western Great Lakes are guided by drift boat or jet sled, the eastern Great Lakes tributaries are often guided on foot.

When you travel to the Great Lakes, you will be well equipped and able to cover any situation if you take the following:

• Rod: 9' or 9'6" 8-weight

• Lines: Teeny T200, T300, 8-weight indicator line, and running line.

• Eggs: #8-#10, all colors, with extras in Oregon cheese, chartreuse, peach, and various shades of pink and orange.

• Nymphs: Hex nymphs, Mysis shrimp imitations, Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, caddis larvae, Teeny Nymphs, and stoneflies.

• Streamers: #4-#6 Egg-sucking Leech, #6 black Woolly Sculpin, #2-#6 Tan or Brown Woolly Bugger, or a Hex Bugger.

Great Lakes fish stay close to the bottom, so be prepared to lose a good number of flies. In rivers such as the Pere Marquette that have a lot of downed trees, you may lose two dozen flies a day.

Additional reading: Great Lakes Steelhead: A guided tour for fly anglers by Bob Linsenman and Steve Nevala, Countryman Press, 1995.

Fly Fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead by Rick and Jerry Kustich, West River Publishing, 1999.

Steelhead Dreams by Matt Supinski, Amato Publishing, 2001.

Steelhead Guide: Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead by John Nagy, Great Lakes Publishing, 2000.

Kelly Galloup has been a steelhead guide for over 20 years. He owns and operates the Troutsman in Traverse City, Michigan. His latest book is Cripples and Spinners.