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Steelhead
The average length of Steelhead is around 20 to 30 inches and its average weight is about 8 or 9 pounds. On the back it has blue-green shading to olive, with black regularly spaced spots. The dark coloration fades over the lateral line to a silver white and going more towards white on the belly. Steelheads are acctually ocean fish who migrate into rivers and lakes during the spawning season. They have been known to migrate as much as 1000 miles. Landlocked Steelheads are also called the Rainbow Trout. Steelheads are commonly found in Lake St. Clair.
Popular Baits And Lures For Steelhead
Most popular baits for Steelhead are worms, nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, minnows, grasshoppers, crickets, crustaceans, corn, small marshmallows and pieces of cheese. Troll spinning lures, small spoons, wet flies, dry flies, scuds, nymphs. Bucktails and streamer flies are effective when used near the surface. To ensure that the hesitant fish will take the lure, try attaching a piece of nightcrawler to a treble hook on the lure.
Where To Look For Steelhead
Spring: In the early spring raibows/steelheads prefer streams with fast currents, as well as fallen trees, undercut banks or large rocks.
Summer: During the summer when water surface temperature is over 18 degrees celsius, the rainbows will swim for deepr oxychen rich water of temperatures between 13 and 16 degrees celsius, and will move either into lakes or out to the oceans. Surface feeding generally occurs in the early morning when the waters are still cool, but during stormy summer days rainbows will usually actively feed on the surface throughout the day. If fishing on a stream during the summer, look for pools where the rainbows/steelheads search for small minnows. As the water warms they begin looking for aquatic insects and grasshoppers.
Fall: In the fall, when the rains begin, the steelhead/rainbows move into the rivers and streams. They will be around large boulders near the bottom in the waters of around 4 to 8 feet deep. The best time to fish for Steelheads is between October and May because the water conditions are ideal for them in the rivers.
Summer: During the summer when water surface temperature is over 18 degrees celsius, the rainbows will swim for deepr oxychen rich water of temperatures between 13 and 16 degrees celsius, and will move either into lakes or out to the oceans. Surface feeding generally occurs in the early morning when the waters are still cool, but during stormy summer days rainbows will usually actively feed on the surface throughout the day. If fishing on a stream during the summer, look for pools where the rainbows/steelheads search for small minnows. As the water warms they begin looking for aquatic insects and grasshoppers.
Fall: In the fall, when the rains begin, the steelhead/rainbows move into the rivers and streams. They will be around large boulders near the bottom in the waters of around 4 to 8 feet deep. The best time to fish for Steelheads is between October and May because the water conditions are ideal for them in the rivers.
