Fall Steelhead

Fly-Fishing for Fall Steelhead in Michigan is magical. Leaves are changing color, grouse are in the woods, the salmon runs are coming to an end, having completed the circle of life and Michigan anglers are gearing up to capture the most prized of all fly rod game fishes, the fall run steelhead. All of the rivers on the west coast of Michigan get a fall steelhead run. Some years it is better in some rivers than others. The big three, the Manistee, Pere Marquette and Muskegon all get good runs of steelhead. Timing can vary year to year but generally they start showing in decent numbers towards the end of the Chinook Salmon run and we continue to fish them all winter and into spring when they start the spawning cycle.

In Michigan we use three different methods to catch fall steelhead using fly tackle. The first and most common method is what we call chuck and duck or drift fishing. To a small diameter running line (company's such as Rio and Orvis carry this type of lines) the angler attaches a ten foot section of fifteen pound test line and ends it with a swivel. *A Hawkins Outfitters guide tip is to use 15lb Maxima, it is what we carry in our boats. Above the swivel lead is added to the line via a snap swivel set up so that it slides up and down the fifteen-pound test. (See picture below). From the swivel add six or eight-pound test tied with a dropper. Tie on a couple of flies and you’re ready to fish. Lob the weight into a likely run and feel it touch the bottom. You want to lightly tick the bottom, not pound down the run. Matching your weight to your run is critical. Everyone loves the hammering hits that fall steelhead provide. But once in a while a soft bite occurs. Imagine how light a steelhead can take a single egg or small nymph. Your weight needs to match the water depth and current speed, you don't want to be too heavy or you won’t feel those soft bites.

A more traditional way is to fish dead drifting flies using split shot and a strike indicator. Strike indicator nymphing is a very satisfying way to catch steelhead. Use the same method that you use to catch trout during the summer just use bigger equipment and heavier leaders and tippet. Pick runs and holding lies that are shallower so that you don’t have to throw a huge amount of lead. The Pere Marquette is a great river to use this tactic. From the drawing below follow the simple Strike Indy Rig. The most important factor with Indy Fishing is leader length. Your two fly rig should not exceed 30". If your leader is too long your flies will not reach the desired depth. Under most circumstances a leader length of 18"-24" will work.

If Strike Indy Fly-Fishing is what you want to learn your fly line needs to match up with what your trying to do. Orvis has a Coldwater Striper line with an aggressive, weight-forward taper that will turn over your Indicator, weight and two flies. The braided nylon core will keep the line supple in cooler water and weather. This is important because as most know steelhead tend to bite best when the weather is at it's worst.

Fall may be the steelheader’s best opportunity to pursue steelhead with traditional methods. Spey fishing, a traditional method, for steelhead may be the most exciting method to hook fall steelhead. Though it accounts for fewer hookups than the other ways it is by far the most rewarding. Swinging a large fly, as big as size 2 10x long, a foot or two under the surface and having a silver bullet come up from the bottom and smash is almost heart stopping. Most of the Michigan steelhead taken swinging flies aren’t taken on the traditional west coast patterns but on more realistic streamer type flies in natural colors. (click here for Michigan Leech Spey patterns) The key element to these flies is movement. You want flies that look alive. Great Lakes spey patterns consist of big sculpins and egg sucking leeches. Other wise known on the river as the big and uglies.

So what are the best places to look for fall steelhead? Fall run steelhead love eggs so the first place to look is behind spawning gravel. If you know where the Kings, Coho, and Lake-run Browns are spawning look for steelhead in behind these gravel areas. As the season progresses look for fish in the deeper runs in seams and near structure. Fly selection early will lean heavily towards egg patterns while the river is full of natural eggs. The bite will turn to nymphs as the season moves towards winter. *Hawkins Guide Tip for fishing for fall steelhead, egg color and nymph sizes are not that important it is about covering water. Don't waste your time changing flies to find the hot one, cover as much water as you can. Fish are aggressive they are not picky yet.

Fall steelhead combine jewel like beauty, superb fighting skills and wariness not found in most other fish. Steelhead in the fall are difficult to hook, land and even photograph. Everyone captured should be remembered for the prize that it is and released to complete its life cycle. Please release all Wild Steelhead! If it has all it fins let it swim.