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Steelhead & Salmon

Oncorhynchus mykiss (migratory), O. tshawytscha, O. kisutch, Salmo salar · also: steelie, chrome, chinook, coho, Atlantic salmon

Migratory fish running from the Great Lakes and the Pacific into rivers. Float fishing, drift fishing and fly fishing.

Where to find them

Great Lakes tributaries (Niagara, Ganaraska, Saugeen, Credit, Nottawasaga, Grand), BC coastal rivers (Skeena, Vedder, Fraser tributaries), Atlantic salmon rivers in Quebec, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.

Rigs by season

SeasonWhere and what to tie
Fall (Sept–Dec)Salmon run first, then steelhead follow. Float rig with roe bags, beads, jigs; drift rigs with roe.
WinterSteelhead hold in deep pools; slow float drifts with small baits.
Spring (Mar–May)Spawning run and drop-back fish. Float rig with beads, pink worms, roe.

Gear

A 10'6"–13' float rod with a centrepin or spinning reel, 8–10 lb mono main line, 6–8 lb fluoro leaders. Fly: 7–8 wt with an indicator rig or a Spey rod for swinging.

Bait and lures

Roe bags, beads, pink plastic worms, marabou jigs, egg flies and nymphs.

Tips

  • Cover water; fish move every day.
  • Match leader to clarity: 4 lb in clear low water, 8 lb after rain.
  • Learn the tributary's sanctuary boundaries — they are strictly enforced.

Rigs for steelhead & salmon

3 rigs

Nymph Indicator Rig diagramTapered leaderStrike indicator1.5× depthSplit shotPoint nymph (weighted)Tippet 12–18"Dropper nymph

Nymph Indicator Rig

A strike indicator, a tapered leader, split shot and one or two weighted nymphs drifting dead along the bottom. The fly-fishing rig that catches trout 90 percent of the days when nothing is rising.

troutIntermediateTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)Steelhead & Salmon
Steelhead Float Rig diagramMain line 8–10 lbDrift float (fixed with caps)AAA shotBB shot#1 shot#4 shot Micro swivelFluoro leader 18–30"#8–#12 hook + roe bag

Steelhead Float Rig

A fixed float, a shot pattern that tapers down the line, a swivel and a light fluoro leader to a roe bag, bead or jig. The Great Lakes tributary rig fished on a centrepin or long spinning rod.

troutIntermediateSteelhead & SalmonTrout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow, Lake)
Flatline Trolling Rig diagramMain line 10–12 lb Ball-bearing swivelFluoro leader 4–8 ftCross-lock snapFloating stickbait / crankbait

Flatline Trolling Rig

A crankbait or stickbait tied to a short fluorocarbon leader and a small snap, trolled behind the boat with no added weight. The easiest way to find fish in a new lake.

multiBeginnerWalleyeNorthern Pike