As summer winds down and salmon make their way up the spawning rivers and die, the chrome bullets—steelhead—aren’t far behind. Fall is prime time to target them! With plenty of food in the system and slightly warmer temps, it’s a great time to get out and fish. You’ve got a ton of options for how to approach them. The bug activity, egg patterns, or baitfish imitations—whatever your style. But for me, nothing beats chasing these silver rockets on the fly. And as winter’s chill sets in the fly rod lets you tackle the finesse that is sometimes needed. The sensation of hooking one on a fly rod? It’s like a tug-of-war with raw energy! Sure, I’ll use a centerpin or conventional tackle from time to time, but this article is all about hunting fall and winter steelhead on the fly!
Fly Rods and Reels for Steelhead
A lot of folks think steelhead fishing means spey casting with two-handed rods. And yeah, that’s an incredible way to do it. But guess what? You don’t need a big, complicated setup to catch steelhead! In the Southern Great Lakes, many rivers aren’t ideal for traditional spey fishing. But they’re perfect for a regular old fly rod. I like a 9- or 10-foot, 7-weight rod paired with Scientific Anglers Anadro Indicator line for fall and winter steelhead on the fly. This line handles clunky rigs, mends easily, and casts just about anything. Plus, you can switch between nymphing and single-hand swinging with ease! I also use a large arbor reel with a solid drag system. Trust me, you need that drag, they’re called silver bullets for a reason.
Swinging Streamer Flies
When people think fly fishing for steelhead, they often picture swinging flies with a spey rod. While that’s awesome, you can swing flies with a single-hand rod, too! I do it all the time on smaller rivers. To get the fly down without adding weight or shot (which I hate), I use a poly leader. It’s much more enjoyable than casting a loaded-up rig, though you’ll get better at untangling messes!
If you’re fishing Lake Erie tributaries, you’ve probably heard of the White Death—or white Zonker. It’s killer when steelhead first enter the rivers, mimicking dead or dying shiners perfectly. This fly’s a must-have for Erie waters! Another go-to for me is the egg-sucking leech. But I don’t tie just any old ESL—I like to tie them like spey flies! I add a hot pink, orange, or red bead as the egg. This adds extra pulse and action without bulking up the fly, making it deadly in murky water. Woolly Buggers, Muddlers, Slump Busters, and Hobo Speys round out my streamer box. I tend to favor either muted or super bright colors when it comes to steelhead streamers.
Nymphing for Clear Water Steelhead
When the water gets low and clear in the fall, streamers can be too aggressive. In these conditions, I swap the poly leader for a tapered 9-foot leader, long tippet, and an indicator. My favorite indicators are from Oros—they’re small and unobtrusive but float most rigs. As for weight, I still avoid adding shot. Instead, I’ll fish two flies, which is legal in most areas I fish. My go-to rig? An egg paired with a Copper John, or a Euro nymph-style Hare’s Ear on a long line.
The Copper John, in size 8 or 10 with extra weight helps get the egg fly down. The cool part is steelhead will eat the Copper John Fly as well! For eggs, I prefer weightless patterns like Glow Bugs, Nuke Eggs, and Yarn Eggs. But I have a secret weapon: soft plastic or glass beads pegged just above a small hook. The Anglers Choice Soft Egg mimics a real egg perfectly, especially in clear water. Since the hook rarely sets deep, it’s less harmful for catch-and-release fishing.
As we approach ice-up and the water becomes even clearer, I switch to smaller nymphs. My favorite is a size 14 or 16 Hare’s Ear tied on a jig hook with a pink or gold bead. By this point, steelhead have been in the river for a while and are getting pickier. Smaller flies and light line can make all the difference! Just make sure to fight the fish quickly if you’re planning to release them! 4 lb test is stronger than you might think, but you don’t want to stress out the fish unnecessarily. Beyond the Hare’s Ear, smaller stoneflies and buggy nymphs with some flash will often do the trick.
Bring a Net For Fall and Winter Steelhead!
I can’t tell you how many anglers I see on the river without a net. If you’re planning to release fish, beaching them in mud or on rocks is not a good idea. Mud in the gills can be fatal, even if the fish swims off strong at first. A net helps keep the fish out of the mud and off the rocks, shortens the fight, and speeds up the release process. Plus, it gives you a safe spot to keep the fish while you snap a photo. And remember, three eyes, two heads, a tail, and a smile in the shot!
Keep Fall and Winter Steelhead on the Fly Simple
It’s easy to overcomplicate things, but steelhead fishing doesn’t have to be tricky. These fish are in the rivers to eat before the spawn—so get out there and show them some flies! Fall and winter steelhead on the fly is a fun and rewarding alternative to chucking hardware, and it just might change the way you see these powerful, silver rockets.
