F all steelhead fishing will be taking a front seat for the last two months of the year, as our very energetic silver friends come in from Lake Michigan to feed on the salmon eggs and insect larva that gets kicked up by spawning salmon. These fish are considered by many to be the crown jewel of Great Lakes big game fish….and for good reason. They have unmatched leaping ability, speed that can rival some salt water screamers, and have endless energy at times. Pound-for-pound, itâs tough to find ANY fresh water game fish that can match it.
Fall steelhead will post up near spawning salmon at the onset of their season, and as salmon numbers dwindle, they will drop back into deeper pools and runs down from salmon spawning grounds. Fly fishing options for include swinging gaudy streamers with sinking or sink tip fly lines, on both single-handed rods, as well as two-handed rods for those who like spey casting. For line systems get your fly down in the middle of the water column, in 6-10â runs, with medium- to medium-fast current. Heavier tippet is okay for swinging, 15# is common. Other fly gear options include floating line and indicator rigs, for fishing runs of less than 10â, where you can get nymph and egg fly patterns down to a couple feet off the bottom. Bottom bouncing, a.k.a. chuck-n-duck is likely the most popular. C & D rigs are fished with 9-10+ foot rods, good large arbor reels spooled with running line, a butt section of 10 feet of 15# fluorocarbon, with 6-10# tippet for fishing egg and nymph fly patterns. Spin fishing rigs would include 9-10+ foot rods, with 12-14# main line and 6-10# tippet based on water conditions. Both bottom bouncing egg flies or spawn bags, as well as floating the same egg flies or bags under bobbers, will get your offering in front of steelhead. Limited access is available below Croton Dam, the Pine Street launch, as well as around Newaygo itself.
Resident trout are packing on the pounds and can be a LOT of fun this time of year. A 9 foot, 5 or 6 weight rod, with weight forward fly line, leader tapered down to 3-4# with egg and small nymph patterns, with small split shot 10-15â above flies and an indicator for fishing behind spawning salmon, can keep the trout angler quite busy. Donât be too surprised if you hook a steelhead real close to spawning salmon and if so, hang onto that 5-weight rod! The same sections of the river for walk-in fishing for salmon will produce trout right now as theyâre focused on the easy meal that salmon provide.
Happy fishing, enjoy the season, and donât forget to stop, take a look around at the  changing of scenery, and enjoy your time on the water.
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