The climb?

They always climb in small groups so if you catch one, there are others bound to be nearby. Due to their autumn-climb coinciding with the climb of the Coho, the best time for us starts, as soon as the commercial fishing for the coho takes a break or is done for the season in the estuary regions. Steelheads like to climb in peace and enter their spawning grounds in peace as well so they try get around any big salmon-climbs. Should they encounter big numbers of salmon in their spawning grounds spawning, the early climbers might retreat to the river, nearby waiting areas and pools. Sometimes they migrate along with small groups of coho salmon. Unfortunately it is very probable that there are still many steelheads sold as coho-filets or they end up ans bycatch and – after being smothered to death in the net – are thrown back to the see again.

Where does it stay in the river?

During the climb, if it made it so far, the steelhead rests in the river at some preferred spots, behind rocks, cross-waters, etc. The advanced steelhead fisherman searches those spots in fast streaming sections of the river. During the climb, the steelhead looks for deep, fast zones but – like any other fish as well - tries to get around the strongest currents. So try to get into the steelhead's mind. If you have discovered a spot, it will deliver fishes again and again. Yes, such spots usually attract more than one fish at a time. It goes without saying that we catch steelheads also during their climb – fishing in pools is just a possible variation for fishes at rest or for those that have reached their spawning grounds

Does the steelhead hunt?

Steelheads eat and hunt during their climb! You get them to bite because the fly imitates their prey and because of the higher level of aggression they display while climbing. Swimming through fast flowing water means higher levels of aggression based on the unusual expenditure of power, inchoate territorial behavior and evolutionary assertiveness. An aggressive steelhead will bite almost anything crossing its way. 

The right fly, its presentation and hookup?

A simple bound super fly for steelheads can be made out of a mix of form and color. Steelheads do not like pacific salmon to have the fly offered on the ground of the river. Quite on the contrary. Just fish 20 inches above. A steelhead will pursue its prey, provided it seems to be reachable: most mistakes are being made through an involuntary accelerated drift or swing. Steelheads tend to jump during the first phase of the hookup, especially in fast flowing water. Only the very big specimens take it easier, trying to get away downstream and making us sweat this way. 

Treating the caught fish fairly

At the start of the season, all stealhead anglers face the same problem with fish longer than 35 inches: they would love to hug them, pat them, cuddle with them etc. So: how can you return them into the river unharmed? A firm grip on the root of the tail and the other hand supporting the fish below the pectoral fins – this way you can keep the fish horizontally for the photo-shoot. Keep your fingers away from the head and its sensitive gills – you will cause a bloodbath, otherwise. Hold the fish on the root of the tail when you release it, until it starts freeing itself – and wish him godspeed in any case.

Danger of confusion!

The steelhead is often confused with the coho or silver salmon. Just to make sure that none of those rare big trouts are ending up in the cooking pot or the smokehouse, we list below the most outstanding differences:

Have you been fishing for weeks for steelheads in a river recommended to you by an acquaintance looking forward to a great catch, and are you getting desperate because you haven't caught one yet?

• Not every river has a steelhead climb!
• Not every acquaintance is a friend!                              G.Heufler

Ask us! We will guide you to the fish of your dreams, like many others before. 

Your Skeena Lodge Team!