The Steelhead fishery in Southern Ontario is a world class fishery that offers anglers a great opportunity to target these highly powerful and acrobatic fish from early Fall to late Spring. Many factors go into locating and catching these elusive fish. Undoubtedly the most important factor for getting up close and personal with a trophy Steelhead is getting to know the rivers and creeks that flow into the great lakes. Although this step is very time consuming and you will never fully understand everything 100% about each tributary since they are all very unique, it is important to learn as much as you can on every outing. The first step to learning about the rivers and creeks that you have identified as ones that get runs of steelhead, is to visit them during the warm summer months or during dry spells when the rivers are low and clear. This will give you an idea of where the deeper pools are located as well as allowing you to identify structure that may not be visible at other times of the year when the water is high and colored. This might include boulders, logs, undercut banks and other areas that might hold fish. Fish will relate to this kind of structure for protection from predators and strong current, as well as to give them a good ambush point for their next meal. For the anglers out there that ask if there is a simpler way I would have to say that there is really no short cut to learning the rivers and creeks as they are all best learned by visiting them frequently and taking notes. This is very much due to the fact that rivers change substantially every year and structure seems to come and go on a yearly if not more frequent basis. Logs will disappear and new ones will re-appear in different places, new pools will form and some will fill in, and fish will change their habits based on these changes. Where you once found dozens of fish one year, might not hold fish the year after. Learning the tributaries is very critical; therefore consistently visiting them on a regular basis will ensure that your trips are most productive in prime conditions when the water is high and stained.

The Steelhead runs are broken down into three main parts, the fall run, the winter run, and spring run. It is my belief that this is all for the most part one big run that spans from early October to late June. From late fall to late April some stretches of the tributaries become sanctuaries and are illegal to fish. In that time fishing is done in the extended season zones. (Check your local regulations) It all starts in the fall shortly after the great lakes salmon enter the rivers and carry out with their spawning process. During this time the first runs of steelhead will enter the river and creeks to feed on the salmon spawn that is littered all over the river. This creates a great opportunity for them to make their way as far upstream as possible while still ensuring that they are well feed throughout their journey. Not only do they feed on the spawn but other food sources native to the river system like worms, flies, and baitfish. The fall is a great time to get into these fish as they are generally very fresh and hard fighting. After conversing with many anglers and coming up with my own ideas, I feel that the fall run is meant to give those fall run fish a head start to the spring spawn. Although there are exceptions to this, as some fish will spawn in the fall months. In most cases these fish will spawn in late winter and early spring. The fall is my favorite and is the most exciting time to get into some big hard fighting fish.

As the fall months come to an end and the freezing temperatures begin to appear, the runs of steelhead get smaller and the fishing becomes more challenging. This is the time that you can get into some very big fish. During the winter, periods of thaw do occur and this will trigger runs of fish even if there is ice on the river. These fish will generally hold in the deepest pools and will become very lethargic. This makes fishing very challenging at times as fish will no longer be willing to chase your bait. There will be times that the rivers are frozen over and you simply cannot target these fish with your regular techniques. Some anglers that I would refer to as "True Steelheaders" will break thin layers of ice that may have formed overnight or will drill holes and ice fish for them in the lower sections of the creeks and rivers where most large pools are located. At this time of year it is important that you fish safely. This means always going to the river with someone and wearing a floatation suit in case accidents occur.

As spring temperatures begin to appear and the ice is melted from the rivers and creeks, strong runs of fish will make their way up the rivers and creeks for the spring run. At this time of the year you will catch a combination of both fresh fish and drop back fish that are returning to the lake from spawning, these fish being the Fall and Winter run fish mentioned earlier. This is also your best chance to catch some very big spawned out fish as the winter run fish will be making their way back to the lake. These fish tend to be the biggest due to the reduced angling pressure in the winter months that allow them to get so big and return every year. As the spring months wear on, the fish will lay their eggs and begin to drop back to the lake until all of the fish have completed this process. By late April most fish have already dropped their eggs and the trout season opens for the upper stretches of the tributaries. This time of the year offers some very exciting fishing as you have more room to fish and these fish have not been pressured for months. However within about a month after the season opens, most fish that have survived will have returned back to the lake. By relating weather patterns and rainfall to your favorite creeks and rivers you can develop patterns with experience and be able to take full advantage of our fishery from early fall to late spring.

After you have been able to track down some fish you will need to have the proper bait and equipment for catching these fish. The most common setup is a good quality spinning reel and a noodle rod. It is important to use a reel with a smooth drag and a noodle rod at least 10 feet long that can absorb the shock of each fish's powerful headshakes to accommodate the use of light leader lines in the 3-6lb range. For the individual that wants to take Steelheading to the next level, I highly suggest getting yourself a centerpin or another name for them is a "float reel". I have been using one for years now and I find you have a lot more control of your drift as well as the fight when you have a fish on. There is no mechanical drag system on most float reels and you have the opportunity to use your hand as the drag system by applying pressure to the spool. These will make your outing a lot more productive as you have your bait in the water longer, smoother and more steady drifts, and you can have less line out between you and your float making hook sets much better, all resulting in more fish being hooked and landed.

Bait selection and setup are also important for tricking these elusive fish into striking. The most common and most productive setup consists of a float, small micro swivel, some split shot, leader line, and a small hook. This set-up is great for casting up-stream and allowing a very natural presentation to drift with the current through the pool. When the water is low and clear you will want to reduce your terminal tackle sizes. This means using lighter line (fluorocarbon leader), smaller clear floats, and reducing the number of split shot on your rig. The opposite is true for high and colored water.The same principle holds true for bait selection. In clear water you will want to use small natural colored roe bags (peach, white, orange and yellow), single eggs, small jigs and artificial plastics in more natural colors.

In high dirty water larger more noticeable baits are necessary, such as large roe bags in pink and chartreuse, big black flies, and even some larger artificial plastics. By making your bait and setup selection based on daily river conditions you will have much more success. Also it's important to experiment with different patters to find what works best for you. Everyone has their own favorite baits and set-up variations that they have the most confidence with. Once you have hooked into a steelhead the battle is far from over, the focus then shifts to bringing the fish to the bank which is a more challenging task that getting a strike. By trying to guide the fish out of the pool or spot as fast as possible you can avoid spooking the rest of the pool as much as possible. Although this can be a very tricky task due to the strength of these fish, if you succeed, this will allow you to continue to catch other fish that are un-spooked out of the same spot.

Once you have successfully landed one of these amazing specimens, it is important to treat it with the utmost care and respect. This can be done by tailing these fish and lifting it by supporting its belly. If you don't plan on taking a picture or keeping the fish you can leave the fish in the water and use a pair of hemostats to quickly free the hook and release it. This is by far the best way to release these fish unharmed. It is important that you release as many fish as you can, as great lakes tributaries in Ontario have seen a very large population decline over the past few years. This is highly due to the amount of angling pressure and harvest rates. Do your part and release these fish whenever possible. If you intend on keeping one for the table, take only a male or "buck" and avoid keeping females especially those that have yet to finish the spawning process. There is no reason why anyone should keep their limit on every outing. Take a picture and put these fish back so we can have this amazing fishery around in the future.

Good luck!

Author: Daniel Miguel