Fly Rods Optimized for Great Lakes Steelhead

Jeff Blood has guided for steelhead on the Great Lakes tributaries of Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York for more than 30 years. His well-known fly patterns—the White Death and Blood Dot Egg—are staples in many Great Lakes fly boxes. Last fall, I fished with Blood for three days, testing his rods, and caught my personal best Pennsylvania steelhead with him. At 10'3", the Jeff Blood Premium Fly Rod is a prime single-handed size in the 6- through 8-weight models to target steelhead and smallmouth bass on any of the Great Lakes tributaries. Ten-foot rods are standard for many steelheaders, but the additional three inches Blood incorporates into his taper design allows for extra line control when indicator fishing, loads the rod easily, and when fighting a chrome-bright steelhead deeply bends the tip-flex design to absorb the fish’s power while protecting your tippet. High-grade 40-ton carbon fiber (super high modulus), and a proprietary rod taper create a modified fast action that is stiffer in the butt section. This translates to added leverage when fighting a fish.

The reel seat is aluminum with dual locking rings, and a composite reel insert reduces weight. Polished porcelain stripping guides and stainless steel snake guides reduce line friction, allowing for easy casting when you have a bank, woods, or a sheer cliff behind you. The 8-weight is a great choice if you like to land fish quickly, safely, and get them back swimming as soon as possible. Swinging flies with a sink tip is also possible on the 7- and 8-weight models using single-handed Spey casts and the proper fly line setup. Blood offers a limited, no-fault lifetime warranty if you need a repair or replacement. As Blood states, “This is a workhorse of a rod, able to ‘chuck and duck’ two-fly rigs, yet nimble enough to cast dry flies, and with enough backbone to throw streamers.” The 10'3" models are available in 4- through 8-weights. A 9'3" model is also available in 4- through 6-weights.

jeffbloodflyfishing.com | $600