By John Merwin

October is looming, and that brings thoughts of steelhead. River tributaries of both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario are within striking distance, and fall-run steelhead are even now starting to trickle in from the big lakes. The fishing will improve through October and into November.

One of the nice things about steelhead is that there are so many ways to catch them. From spawn sacks and plastic worms to dead-drifted nymphs and wet flies, some steelhead will eventually bite just about anything you care to fish with enough patience, care, and persistence.

In most years I’ve been drifting small nymphs deep with enough split shot added to the leader so the fly ticks bottom. This kind of high-sticking with a fly rod works pretty well but can also get tedious if too many hours go by without a taking fish.

So for this fall I’m going to be swinging some big ugly marabou streamers instead. At least in this case there will be more actual fly-casting involved instead of the endless lobbing upstream that deep nymphing requires.

I know that fresh-run fish, aggressive in the fall, will chase and whack these things. And there’s always the potential bonus of a big lake-run brown trout. But there are lots of other choices, too. Many who read this blog will be chasing steelhead in a few weeks. So I’m curious. What’s your go-to fly or lure? And what sort of gear are you fishing with?

Comments (6)

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 34 weeks ago

The sucker spawn fly. Tied very sparse with a light colored angora yarn and pink thread.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 34 weeks ago

Oops! My gear is a T&T 9ft 6wt with a Battenkill reel.
If the fished are stacked I use an indicator other wise its high sticking ala natural.

You can't stress enough that you need enough weight to get it to the bottom. If your not snagging your not deep enough. 4x tippet.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from napalumbo wrote 2 years 34 weeks ago

I just tied a bunch of small black stoneflies and a few bead eye minows this weekend. Hopefully the rivers get a little more rain here soon so the fish can start moving in. The Ashtabula and Conneaut are both only a trickle right now.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 33 weeks ago

napalumbo,

I saw the steelhead photo you posted. That spot looks familiar. Without mentioning any names of course it looks like we fish some of the same water.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Salvatore wrote 2 years 33 weeks ago

Egg sucking leach has worked great for me in the NE Ohio are. Black body, with red head.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rdorman wrote 2 years 24 weeks ago

I use 3x seagar fluro. My go to fly is a light pink krystal meth. I use a moderate/soft action 8 weight rod. I like to use red cajun line as my first piece on my leader for the visibility, so i don't need an indicator. I like a long leader too.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 34 weeks ago

The sucker spawn fly. Tied very sparse with a light colored angora yarn and pink thread.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 34 weeks ago

Oops! My gear is a T&T 9ft 6wt with a Battenkill reel.
If the fished are stacked I use an indicator other wise its high sticking ala natural.

You can't stress enough that you need enough weight to get it to the bottom. If your not snagging your not deep enough. 4x tippet.

+3 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from napalumbo wrote 2 years 34 weeks ago

I just tied a bunch of small black stoneflies and a few bead eye minows this weekend. Hopefully the rivers get a little more rain here soon so the fish can start moving in. The Ashtabula and Conneaut are both only a trickle right now.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 2 years 33 weeks ago

napalumbo,

I saw the steelhead photo you posted. That spot looks familiar. Without mentioning any names of course it looks like we fish some of the same water.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Salvatore wrote 2 years 33 weeks ago

Egg sucking leach has worked great for me in the NE Ohio are. Black body, with red head.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from rdorman wrote 2 years 24 weeks ago

I use 3x seagar fluro. My go to fly is a light pink krystal meth. I use a moderate/soft action 8 weight rod. I like to use red cajun line as my first piece on my leader for the visibility, so i don't need an indicator. I like a long leader too.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.