Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - april2008 - Index

milt (sometimes one, and possible two,
sub-dominant males may also participate),
and the female moves immediately
upstream to begin making another redd.
The displaced gravel from this redd covers
the previously fertilized eggs downstream.
The female will continue this
process until she is spawned out.
When tributary temperatures start
rising into the 50s, steelhead will start
moving down toward the lake. These
“drop-back” steelhead spread out pretty
evenly in the tributaries and prefer
to hold in the slower current areas of
deep pools and runs. A cold, wet spring
will keep drop-back steelhead in the
tributaries well into the spring. Many
Great Lakes tributaries have spawning
smallmouth as well, running in from the
lake in mid to late spring. These compact
fighters take flies well and often mix
with drop-backs, especially in the lower
reaches of the tributaries.
Spring Steelheading Tips
1 A good strategy in the spring is to
concentrate on the upper sections/
reaches of tributary rivers and streams,
as well as the feeders of the big rivers.
The majority of steelhead will be found
here because of the presence of ideal
spawning riffles and gravel.
2 If you don’t notice any spawning
activity on the redds themselves, fish
adjacent, deeper holding areas (shallow
runs, seams and pocket water). Here,
pre-spawn steelhead are staging and
stealthily using their grayish-black backs
for concealment in the darker water.
3 Fishing on the redds themselves has
a simple strategy: sight fish for the
males. They will be easy to distinguish
from the females, since they appear almost
black, while the females are bright
silver. If you catch the female first, the
males will scatter. These aggressive
males become territorial and are not
actually feeding, but will chase flies to
dominate the redd. The females typically
don’t take flies well while digging
out redds and depositing eggs.
4 Before fishing a spawning redd,
position yourself slightly upstream
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