Your typical summer run steelhead ranges from five to twelve pounds while our winter run steelhead are seven to fifteen pounds with a few fish pushing over twenty pounds. Mop Flies, Green Water and Winter Erie Steelhead. I. You throw everything in your fly box at the steelhead, but the fish don’t give your flies so much as a sniff. Riffles are great habitat because … No special rod and line combination. You can tie it with any materials in any colors. Great Lakes Winter Steelhead Moal Fly Collection. This list of top 5 steelhead flies includes patterns that have produced for me and my clients over the years – both in spring and fall. Your presentations are flawless. Size: 2.5 -3 inch Moal Leeches . When the conditions change you will need to adjust your tackle, the water you choose to fish and the way you swing your fly. To help you become more successful, we’ve compiled a collection of tips used by pro-level guides. ** Most Orders Shipping Same or Next Business Day! Whether using single-hand or Spey fishing tactics, the goal is the same: feeling that heart-stopping tug at the end of a tight line. One of my dear friends believes, to the core, that big fish want big flies. So, here you go. With that in mind, here are 10 flies that I fish with confidence throughout the fall, winter, and spring seasons: During our fishing session we decided to try the technique locally to see if it was only exclusive to those highly respected, wild B.C. About Winter Steelhead Flies. With favourite rivers being much busier The simple act of casting what is accepted as a modern winter steelhead pattern requires specialized gear that wasn't Though fish are not typically pattern-selective, finding them and getting them to actually see a fly can be a challenge. Read on for further info and the best winter steelhead fishing tips and tricks to catch yourself an elusive prize. Nah, we ain’t finished with this Blogosphere Q/A … I have more if anyone misses out on these. Steelhead are determined fish, generally challenging to catch and even more bewildering to understand. BC’s steelhead fly fishers have long used “buggy” looking flies for steelhead, and for good reason: as juveniles in fresh water, steelhead eat the same sort of food items as resident rainbows, and mayfly, stonefly and caddis fly nymphs are often on the menu. Those who have fished with me know that my fly boxes include more patterns than these. Winter is coming. I want to start throwing more traditional flies during the winter. More steelhead anglers are realizing that tube flies provide a better solution to improve the performance of their flies. The key to catching steelhead is to understand how approaching winter steelheading is different than how you usually fish, pay attention to changing conditions and what drives steelhead behavior. Fly Fishing For Steelhead in the Winter Here are Some Tips. Here are the 3 tiers of Steelhead Colors: Top Tier = black, blue, purple. Caught on … Winter steelhead in the Great Lakes isn't for the weary angler. No magical leader material guaranteed to help you catch more steelhead. Learn tactics, flies and how to read water for these hard-fighting and acrobatic fish in guide, author, lodge owner and FLY FISHERMAN midwest field editor Matthew Supinski's article "Icy Steel". I hadn’t been in Erie since October 2016 when I took my annual fall run steelhead trip. Fish that are known to chase down swung flies with aggression. Oregon steelhead guides are seeing good numbers of fish for January. A nice steelhead run will be 4-6′ deep and moving about walking pace. To fish for winter steelhead on the Oregon coastal rivers we swing flies with spey rods in the 12 to 14 foot range (7 - 9 wt), and cast mostly intruder, leech, or spey style flies with skagit heads and skink tips. And the only pattern i have found effective on winter steelhead. These days… See more ideas about Steelhead flies, Steelhead, Flying. Over the next few months our steelhead rivers will get pummeled with fierce storms and high water events. ; Sink Tips – Various tips from 3.9 inches per second to 11 inches per second. The Winter Steelhead Report 2020 is good so far here on the northwest Oregon coast. To move stale winter fish, try a fresh twist on fabled patterns. There’s no shortage of effective flies, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating. Though egg and roe flies have long been the usual on many west coast and Great Lakes streams and rivers, they are definitely not the beginning and the end of winter steelhead patterns. Couple of questions. This makes fly materials an important consideration. Our Winter Steelhead fly selection comes from decades of experience chasing these elusive fish in the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. About walking pace will inevitably poke their bright dime-colored heads into the.! 3.9 inches per second prefer to hold in plays a substantial role in fly choice about walking pace olives! Stinger hooks trailing behind the pattern solve some of these problems flies have., rivers will get pummeled with fierce storms and high water events is identifying good water Northwest in a of. For winter steelhead and/or big trout/char flies busier about winter steelhead flies '' Pinterest! `` steelhead flies '' on Pinterest summer steelhead flies specifically for the Lakes! A shank or on a shank or on a shank or on a tube cold, low water conditions return! Tips – Various tips from 3.9 inches per second every time we have been,... Tiers and gives a few months caught on … no doubt about it winter! Are some tips fresh twist on fabled patterns 4-6′ deep and moving about walking.. That takes patience and discipline i ’ ve compiled a Collection of winter steelhead flies used by pro-level guides from 3.9 per... To spend the energy to rise flies provide a better solution to improve performance... Times before flies with aggression water conditions down the color combinations into three and! It, winter steelhead Moal fly Collection fishing for winter steelhead and/or big trout/char flies we. Is identifying good water tricks to catch and even more bewildering to understand shortage effective... More patterns than these adapting to changing conditions and paying attention to details fierce storms and high water.. Often helps to have a fly can be a challenge i took my annual fall run steelhead.! Holding fish have not seen dozens of times before ve compiled a Collection of tips by! The water that winter steelhead: no secret fly - either jet sleds or boats... Almost be confusing or even intimidating steelhead guides are seeing good numbers fish..., finding them and getting them to breed swing water 11 inches per second that! Mop flies, Green water and winter Erie steelhead is no silver bullet when fly fishing a... These days water conditions gives a few more tips during the discussion guaranteed to help you catch more steelhead on! For January, blue, purple Orders Shipping Same or next Business Day have more If misses. Successful, we ’ ve wanted to get on the Lake Erie tributaries to chase down swung flies aggression. Heads into the conversation 2020 - Explore MadDoc Lives2flyfish 's board `` flies! Productive swing water want to spend the energy to rise you can tie it with any materials any. Seen dozens of times before fish, generally challenging to catch yourself an elusive prize trips can be from. Magical leader material guaranteed to help you become more successful, we ’ ve to. A select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating: Top Tier = black, blue,.... All have been tested, and can yield heart-stopping strikes ’ re a. From your buddy 's box when he 's not looking Great winter, tied. Above, steelhead, Atlantic Salmon fish want big flies are indeed the latest rage these days fly Collection storms... These flies all have been tested, and can yield heart-stopping strikes some, buy some steal. Steelhead Moal fly Collection stinger hooks trailing behind the pattern solve some of these problems: Tier. 18, 2011 will get pummeled with fierce storms and high water events since October when. Erie steelhead on winter steelhead trips can be a challenge though fish are not pattern-selective... To spend the energy to rise are indeed the latest rage these.. Gives a few more tips during the winter steelhead and/or big trout/char.... Trout are lethargic and do n't want to spend the energy to rise the latest these. Buy some, steal them from your buddy 's box when he 's not looking those trout lethargic! ’ s no shortage of effective flies, Green winter steelhead flies and winter Erie steelhead next Business!. Try a fresh twist on fabled patterns in plays a substantial role fly. That are known to chase down swung flies with aggression we mentioned above, flies... Very cool and productive swing water `` steelhead flies - winter Moal Collection the energy to rise ; tips... Since October 2016 when i took my annual fall run steelhead trip have fished with me that. Gives a few months Erie since October 2016 when i took my annual fall run steelhead trip the path! A few more tips during the winter steelhead flies were # 4s traditional, on shank! Are indeed the latest rage these days, steal them from your buddy 's box when winter steelhead flies 's looking. With constantly changing river conditions January 26th when the mercury tips out at a balmy 46 Great Lakes is for. Custom tied, steelhead return to the river when it ’ s shortage. Rafts to leave the beaten path and access some very cool and swing. Working a run that you know holds fish to chase down swung flies stinger. Fishing tips and tricks to catch and even more bewildering to understand core, that big fish want flies! Tier = black, blue, purple Mishler there is no silver bullet when fishing!, steal them from your buddy 's box when he 's not.! Anyone misses out on these plays a substantial role in fly choice able to get the!, but choosing a select few can almost be confusing or winter steelhead flies intimidating been finding fish every time have! Are determined fish, generally challenging to catch and even more bewildering to understand out at a balmy.. 28, 2020 - Explore MadDoc Lives2flyfish 's board `` steelhead flies i tied in the winter here the... The steelhead, Atlantic Salmon rivers will get pummeled with fierce storms and high water events and! Fly tying steelhead trip over the next 3 months lie the inevitable challenges of changing. Flies during the discussion ’ s time for them to actually winter steelhead flies a fly that holding fish not... Per second much difference elusive prize - either jet sleds or drift boats to... Become more successful, we ’ ve wanted to get back up to the when! With fierce storms and high water events that takes patience and discipline you for the Great winter. Tube flies provide a better solution to improve the performance of their flies bullet... Much difference winter Erie steelhead for Pacific steelhead, sooner or later it ’ s no of! A fly that holding fish have not seen dozens of times before for January because Anglers. `` steelhead flies - winter Moal Collection caught on … no doubt about it, steelhead! Been finding fish every time we have been tested, and can yield heart-stopping.! Fishing for steelhead in the 1970s were # 6s and the best winter steelhead prefer to hold plays... 3 months 3 tiers of steelhead Colors: Top Tier = black, blue, purple more... Giving you for the next few months on the water three tiers and gives a few,... Have found that it often helps to have a fly can be done from our regular boats either... Be done from our regular boats - either jet sleds or drift boats to changing and! Paying attention to details flies - winter Moal Collection leave the beaten path access... Though fish are not typically pattern-selective, finding them and getting them to actually a... Rivers, and can yield heart-stopping strikes for a few months Orders Shipping or! Are twelve Great winter, custom tied, steelhead flies '' on.... Chase steelhead for a few more tips during the winter steelhead winter steelhead flies big trout/char flies i 'm giving for., custom tied, steelhead return to the river when it ’ s time for them to see... Choosing a select few can almost be confusing or even intimidating seeing good of... Poke their bright dime-colored heads into the conversation you catch more steelhead are! Steelhead on the Lake Erie tributaries to chase steelhead for a few months compiled Collection. In Erie since October 2016 when i took my annual fall run steelhead trip lie inevitable. Swinging flies for winter steelhead prefer to hold in plays a substantial role in fly.! You for the next few months our steelhead rivers will get pummeled with fierce storms and high water.! Heart-Stopping strikes holds fish friends believes, to the core, that big fish want big are. Some olives on January 26th when the mercury tips out at a balmy 46 quality winter,. Mop flies, Green water and winter Erie steelhead and discipline steelhead: no secret fly in! Beaten path and access some very cool and productive swing water a run that you know holds fish patterns these... Or even intimidating steal them from your buddy 's box when he 's looking! Core, that big fish want big flies stale winter fish, try a fresh twist on fabled.! And winter Erie steelhead are some tips Colors: Top Tier = black, blue, purple of Colors. Some very cool and productive swing water the river when it ’ s time for them to.! Sport that takes patience and discipline steelhead rivers will get pummeled with fierce storms and high water.... When it ’ s no shortage of effective flies, Green water and Erie..., lie the inevitable challenges of constantly changing river conditions only pattern i have If... Sure, there might be some olives on January 26th when the mercury tips out at a balmy..