Great Lakes Steelhead

7/28/2019 Great Lakes Steelhead

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Great Lakes Steelhead a starting guide to what, where, when, & how


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What is a Steelhead?


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IdentificationOncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout & steelhead have no taxonomic differences (note samegen. & sp.)

Native in the Americas in the north Pacific ocean from eastern BeringSea to southern California / northern Baja, now reduced to north of Los Angeles

Native in Asia from western Bering Sea to Kamchatka and furthersouth to Japan

Introduced to the Great Lakes in late 1800s


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BiologyBelong to the family Salmonidae includes salmon, trout, and char

Taxonomically identical to rainbow trout

Are anadramous form of rainbow trout (return FROM the sea to spawn)

Born in freshwater, spend 1-3 years rearing and growing before swimming outinto open water

Spend 1-4 growing years in open water before returning to their native streamsto spawn

Are iteroparous (multiple spawn), not semelparous (one time spawn)

Winter-run populations mature in open water and run upriver to spawn (runfrom Nov-April)

Summer-run populations mature after run into freshwater to spawn (run fromMay-October)

Average lifespan 6-8 years

Males dominate early portion of runs, females dominate later portion. Mostrepeat spawning fish are female (males spawn with more than one female and

expend large amounts of energy, reducing their survival %)


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Great Lakes stocking history1876 McCloud tributary strain reared and released into MIs Au Sable River(drains into Lake Huron), heavy stocking program begins

1878 Same strain released into NYs Genesee River (drains into Lake Ontario)

1883 the Ontario government stocks Lake Superior streams near Sault St.Marie with what was thought to be upper McCloud River rainbow trout

(later upper McCloud found to be spawning tributary for steelhead)Early 1890s steelhead runs begin on Little Manistee River, a tributary of Lake Michigan (first known runs)

Mid-1890s difficulty with brood stock in MI causes hatcheries to change fishto Klamath River strain

Late 1890s OH, PA, & NY stock Lake Tributaries with McCloud strain1893 US Fish Commission intentionally collects McCloud strain steelheadeggs for introduction in the US

1900 steelhead introduced and present in CO, CT, ME, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY,PA, UT, VT, WI, & WY (many stockings were unsuccessful)

1900s-1940s runs begin to establish


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Great Lakes stocking problems

1950s Lake Michigan steelhead population crashes due to arrival of sealamprey and alewife from Atlantic Coast ocean-going vessels

1960s Lake Ontario gets stocked with coho and chinook salmon to helperadicate the alewife problem

1970s to present heavy stocking program by PA in Erie and NY in Ontario

produce large #s of fish without suitable habitat to sustain naturalreproduction


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SeasonsWinter-run populations mature in open water and run upriver to spawn

(run from Nov-April) - JUST AFTER PACIFIC SALMON RUNSFishing is river flow and weather dependantRuns can start as early as mid-late October and extend until 2 nd week of May

Summer-run populations mature after run into freshwater to spawn (run

from May-October) - BEFORE PACIFIC SALMON RUNSFishing is river flow dependantRuns can start as early as May and extend until early October


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The Great Lakes


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The Great Lakes

Flow Direction Lake Superior via St.Marys River into LakeHuron Lake Huron via St. Clair

River into Lake St. Clair Lake St. Clair via DetroitRiver into Lake Erie Lake Erie via NiagraRiver (Niagra Falls) into

Lake Ontario (WellandCanal circumvents NiagraFalls) Lake Ontario via St.Lawrence River into theAtlantic Ocean


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Steelhead Fishing Opportunities


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Lake Erie


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Seasons of the Lake Erie TributariesLake Erie tributaries are fall and spring fisheries (smaller creeks freeze in the winter)

Predominantly a steelhead fishery

Variables that will trigger spawning runLake shore temperatures & photo periods becoming shorter (68 degrees F) cause them to stage inestuariesWater temperature (river temps between 54-60 degrees F)Water flow - rain & water tables affect river flow in fall, snowmelt & rain in spring

Behavior in tributaries affected by:Water flow

Heavier flows give fish confidence to push upriver, extreme cases will seek relief in slower water

Water claritySteelhead use clarity for cover

Water temperatureSeasonal fall temps at 45 degrees, spring temps in mid- high 30s

Light levelsOvercast & cloudy days ideal

*NOTE:Lake Erie fish run smaller, averaging 6-8lbs, but due to quantities of fish stocked by NY, PA, &Ontario, catch ratio tends to be higher


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Lake Erie Tributary Access & Locations

PA Tribs

Lake Erie Pennsylvaniamap (click for map)
http://www.fisherie.com/Map1.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map1.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map1.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map1.asp


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4-Mile through 12-Mile creeks

4-Mile through 12-Mile Creeks (click

for map)
http://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asphttp://www.fisherie.com/Map10.asp


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4-Mile through 12-Mile creeks

Smaller creeks 8-Mile, 12-Mile clear before other rivers Can generally be crowded (easy access) Smaller, more intimate rivers All limestone creeks All creeks usually only accessible north of Rte 5


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Lower Elk Creek

Lower Elk Creek (clickfor map)


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Lower Elk Creek Premier western Erie creek

Largest runs of fish Wild reproduction Good access & room toroam


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Upper Elk Creek

Upper Elk Creek (clickfor map)


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Upper Elk Creek Good access and fishing when

lower river is crowded Good holding water laterfall/winter More intimate fishing conditions


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Lake Erie Tributary Access & Locations

NY Tribs


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Cattaraugus Creek


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Cattaraugus Creek Lower section (Gowanda & Seneca Nations)

Lower middle section (lower Zoar Valley) Upper middle section (upper Zoar Valley)


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Cattaraugus Creek Upper section (Springville dam)


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Other Western NY Erie Tributaries Chatauqua Creek Canadaway Creek 18 Mile Creek Silver Creek


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Lake Ontario


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Seasons of the Lake Ontario Tributaries Lake Ontario tributaries are fall, winter, & spring fisheries (larger rivers dont freeze,but slush becomes an issue)Salmon, brown trout, and steelhead fishery

Variables that will trigger spawning runLake shore temperatures & photo periods becoming shorter (68 degrees F) cause them to stage inestuariesWater temperature (river temps between 54-60 degrees F)

Water flow - releases from reservoirs and fall rains

Behavior in tributaries affected by:Water flow

Heavier flows give fish confidence to push upriver, extreme cases will seek relief, including side channels

Water claritySteelhead use clarity for cover

Water temperatureSeasonal fall temps at 45 degrees, spring temps in mid- high 30s

Light levelsOvercast & cloudy days ideal, but due to depth and harder rock substrate, sometimes sunny days are excellent

*NOTE:

Lake Ontario fish run larger, averaging 10-12lbs, often exceeding 15lbs.


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Lake Ontario Tributary Access & Locations


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Oak Orchard Creek Creek runs NE from

Albion NY to the lake Most notable forbrown trout (sightcasting for 10-20lbfish) Heavy salmon runs,larger eggs work well Steelhead runs arebest in spring


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Salmon River


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Salmon River

Salmon River (click formaps)
http://www.fishsalmonriver.com/Maps.asphttp://www.fishsalmonriver.com/Maps.asphttp://www.fishsalmonriver.com/Maps.asphttp://www.fishsalmonriver.com/Maps.asp


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Steelheading gear


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Rods & Reels

Rods Erie Tribs

6 & 7-weight rods Ontario Tribs

7 & 8-weight rods

Reels Line holding device Sturdy drag Sealed drag (winter)

Lines Long belly lines for

mending Cold water specific

lines Sinking lines/sink

tips for spey/switch


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Clothing Waders

Breathable fabric Room for insulation Amenities

Boots Studded (ALWAYS!)

Non-felt to avoid snow buildup Layering

Wicking base layer (Capilene) Mid-weight mid-layer Insulating fleece/wool

Outerwear Waterproof & breathable Ample storage

Headwear/Gloves

Sunglasses


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Doing your homework Talk to anglers whove been there

UrbanAngler.com & employees Books/videos Location & Scouting The internet is your friend!

Google Earth / Google Maps Access roads, direction, river characteristics

USGS gauge information water flow Fishing reports & conditions

Weather.com FishErie.com FishSalmonRiver.com OakOrchardFlyshop.com CattaraugusCreekOutfitters.com

UrbanAngler.com for gear, help, & expertise
http://www.urbanangler.com/http://earth.google.com/http://maps.google.com/http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://www.weather.com/http://www.fisherie.com/http://www.fishsalmonriver.com/http://www.oakorchardflyshop.com/http://www.cattarauguscreekoutfitters.com/http://www.urbanangler.com/http://www.urbanangler.com/http://www.cattarauguscreekoutfitters.com/http://www.oakorchardflyshop.com/http://www.fishsalmonriver.com/http://www.fisherie.com/http://www.weather.com/http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rthttp://maps.google.com/http://earth.google.com/http://www.urbanangler.com/


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FIN


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Credits

Salmon River Maps courtesy of NYS DEC (available on the NYS DEC website) Angler photos are copyrighted and courtesy of Richard Farino & Raymond Nason allrights reserved Product imagery courtesy of Simms Fishing Products and Sage Fly Rods Great Lakes stocking history info taken from:

Flyfishing for Great Lakes Steelhead Rick Kustich Steelhead Guide to Fishing Lake Erie Tributaries John Nagy Trout (Wildlife Series) Judith Stolz

Documents

Great Lakes Steelhead