Migratory rainbow trout from steelhead lineage were first transplanted to the Great Lakes region around 1875 and established self-sustaining naturalized populations in all five lakes in the years thereafter. Today, the steelhead programs managed by each state and province rely on both wild, naturally produced fish and hatchery-supported runs to maintain a quality fishery and a wide range of fishing experiences.
Unfortunately, this was not always the case. Unchecked pollution led to degraded water quality in the mid-1900s, upending the food chain balance across much of the Great Lakes basin. Water quality issues were addressed through the Clean Water Act, and transplanted Chinook salmon, starting in 1968, were intended to balance the predator/prey ratio. However, unethical fishing practices and widespread snagging associated with Chinook salmon created a new issue that persisted into the 1990s. A black eye that took years for the region to shake.
Today, the Great Lakes fishery is enjoying quite a resurgence, both in reputation and fishing opportunity for both native and transplanted species. Steelhead have become the favorite of anglers fishing the tributaries that feed all five of the Great Lakes. It is a diverse fishery with rivers and streams of all sizes found in both suburban and beautiful rural areas.
Swinging Flies for Great Lakes Chromers
Steelhead begin to enter most Great Lakes rivers and streams in early autumn or even late summer. Mid-October through mid-December tends to be prime time. Fish can be found throughout the winter months and into the following spring. Most fish spawn in the late winter or early spring; however, weather and water conditions can have a significant impact on timing.
I first started swinging flies for steelhead in the Great Lakes in the late 1980s. It was a time when very few were fly fishing in the tributaries, and most who were used dead-drift techniques. But much has changed since then in terms of equipment and fishing attitudes. Word spread from the PNW and Atlantic salmon fisheries about fishing with a swung fly. Great Lakes anglers quickly adapted these tactics to the steelhead tribs, embracing a technique focused on the quality of the experience over the quantity of hookups.
Two-Handed Fishing Gear
Equipment options have advanced significantly since I first started swinging flies in the Great Lakes region. Shorter, lighter two-hand and switch rods match well with many of the moderate-sized waters of the region. While full two-handers of 13 to 14 feet are at home on larger tributaries. I’ll drop down to single-hand rods and one-hand Spey casting on smaller, intimate waters.
Fly Lines and Shooting Heads
My line or head selection is quite simple. Scandi heads match well in low water conditions or when presenting a fly up in the water column. For fishing the fly deep in higher or bigger flows, a Skagit head is capable of handling heavier, fast-sinking tips and weighted flies. There are a few lines on the market that act as a hybrid between a Scandi and Skagit, allowing for one head to meet a wide range of applications. I’ll also opt for a mid-range head of 40 to 50 feet when making long casts on bigger water to minimize line retrieve between each cast.
Sink Tips and Leaders
When fishing up in the water column, a tapered monofilament leader, the approximate length of the rod, on a Scandi head works best. This rigging can also provide a stealthy approach to fishing a weighted fly deeper into the water column. A Scandi head can also handle tapered sinking leaders with sink rates up to 6 inches per second that can take the fly down to the fish. Sinking leaders can also be added to a Skagit head. But for presenting the fly fast and deep, I rely on T material sink tips. I typically use lengths of 8 to 12 feet of T-8, T-11, or T-14 to cover a wider range of depths.
The leader/tippet section looped to the sinking leader or sink tip is between 2 and 4 feet. I tend to go toward the longer end of the range in clearer water. In ultra-clear conditions, I may lengthen the leader/tipper beyond 4 feet but use a weighted fly so that the fly sinks at approximately the same rate as the tip. Be sure to use a strong enough tippet to withstand the aggressive take of a fresh fish. I mostly use 12-pound monofilament tippet. For very clear water conditions, I’ll switch to fluorocarbon.
The Basics of Catching Steelhead on Swung Flies
Today’s equipment has also softened the learning curve for Spey casting. With some instruction for efficient movements and setup of the cast, basic Spey can be learned in a relatively short period of time. And while the basics can place you in the game, the details of developing a range of casts to meet various fishing conditions do take time to master. But this is the challenging factor of the Spey fishing journey that makes the pursuit so captivating and interesting.
Fly Presentation
There is some evidence to indicate that steelhead may opportunistically feed after entering a Great Lakes tributary. However, the swung fly presentation is designed to play upon the instinctive response of a fish to chase fleeing prey. A cast across or across and slightly down presents the fly broadside, pulled by the tension of the current pushing against the fly line. The fly swimming and moving away from the fish is the trigger.
The first step to controlling fly depth during the presentation lies in the rigging. When using a sinking leader or sink tip, matching sink rate to the depth and current can take some trial and error. But it is always best not to fish too heavily to prevent hanging up on the bottom. I generally start with a tip that sinks in the 5 to 6 inch per second range and adjust from there if needed. Using a weighted or unweighted fly also impacts depth. But the key to depth control is found in casting angle and line manipulation. Casting at more of an across-stream angle, or in other words, 90 degrees to the current, gives the fly more opportunity to sink than if the cast is angled more downstream. Also, adding an upstream mend after completing the cast takes tension off the line and tip, allowing the fly to sink deeper before the swing.
When swinging a steelhead fly, I work the presentation so the fly is swimming to provide the appearance of prey fleeing or getting away to play on the fish’s instinctive response to chase. But I also want the fly not to move too fast. A steelhead tends to lose interest in a fly that speeds away. Think in terms of a swimming fly that remains accessible to the fish. I mainly control speed through mending and rod angle. A downstream belly in the line increases swing speed. A slight upstream mend or line manipulation removes the belly and slows the swing speed. In slow water flows, a slight downstream mend may be necessary to keep the fly moving. Reaching out with the rod tip toward the opposite bank slows the swing of the fly by eliminating the fly line’s belly.
Getting the Grab
The true excitement in this style of fishing is the grab. It can range from a subtle pull to an explosive take. When fishing, I keep my running line tight to the reel and pinched off lightly against the cork while utilizing a passive hook set in most cases. When a fish grabs, I let it take some line from the reel before setting the hook with a sweep toward the near bank. On grabs where the fish doesn’t turn and take line from the reel, I set by pulling the rod back and then lifting. Don’t react to picks and plucks as the fly swings, but wait for a definitive sign that a steelhead has taken the fly. When a fish just plucks at the fly, try a smaller pattern in hopes of sealing the deal.
Reading Swung Fly Water
Steelhead in Great Lakes rivers can be found in a wide range of water types. My preference is a pool or run that can be worked methodically from top to bottom with a rotational approach, stepping down with each cast. The prime swing water can typically be found as the current begins to slow down through the tail out. But fish can be found in a wide range of water types, including riffles, pockets, inside seams of a turn, and short slots with depth – anywhere that a steelhead feels secure. I focus on slower flows during the wintertime.
Know Your Water Temps
A key consideration when swinging flies for steelhead is water temperature. Fish are most aggressive at temperatures between 40 and 60 degrees F. Significant and sudden decreases in water temperature tend to shock the system and decrease a steelhead’s responsiveness to a swung fly, even when in the optimum range. After an overnight drop in water temperatures, fishing the fly slowly will typically result in more takes. In the winter, when water temperatures drop and remain below 40°F, a steelhead’s metabolism seems to acclimate. Fish can be active toward a swung fly even in water temperatures that hover just above freezing. However, in cold water, I look for deep, slow pools, slow tail outs, and any type of soft currents where a fish only needs to expend limited energy.
Understanding Flows
Water flow may be the most important factor affecting the microtiming of steelhead runs in the Great Lakes region. An increase in flow from rain or runoff pulls steelhead into the rivers and tends to stir up the fish that have already entered. Fish on the move in higher flows that then settle into comfortable holding spots, as the water drops and clears, can be pretty active and aggressive. This provides an excellent opportunity for the swung fly. Prime holding water may continue to change as the water recedes. Don’t be intimidated by water that carries a stain. In fact, high stained water keeps other anglers off popular tributaries, providing a decided advantage to the swung fly approach. Swinging flies is still effective in low, clear water, but adjustments may be required for stealth purposes.
Steelhead Swung Flies
My swing flies for the Great Lakes region are all designed to swim and move seductively in the water. Materials such as marabou, rabbit strip, Arctic fox, and flowing hackle, such as schlappen, all provide lifelike movement. I also add a little flash to most of my flies. I prefer tube or shank style flies so that a short shank hook can be positioned at the rear of the materials for a higher hook-up percentage. My top flies are the reverse marabou tube fly, Bunny Spey, Scandi Swinger, and the Cattitude. Baitfish and sculpin patterns that mimic actual bait in the water being fished can be quite productive.
For stained water, I rely on darker hues like black or purple to cast a silhouette in the water. Also, my flies for stained water are larger in size. As the water drops and clears, my flies get smaller and tend toward more natural colors of olive, brown, and tan. For some of the smaller flies, I’ll move to tying these directly on hooks in sizes 6 to 10. A small woolly bugger makes for a great steelhead fly in clear water conditions and a good pattern to come back with if a fish pulls on a larger fly without getting hooked.
Final Thoughts
Swinging flies for steelhead in the Great Lakes region is an enjoyable approach to experiencing this fishery. There is a challenge in developing the casting and presentation skills that make success that much more satisfying. And after one good grab from a fresh fish, you’ll probably be hooked for life.