This is the time of the year steelhead fisherman have been gearing up for. December through February is the prime time to target these fantastic gamefish as they are staging for the winter in almost all the tributaries of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Again I must preach about how lucky we are as anglers to be living in this part of the country, and with stream steelhead fishing it is categorically true. Trout fisherman come from all over northeast United States to try to tangle with these acrobatic trout.
To find out more about this type of fishing, I casted a line out to our favorite charter captain, Jeremy Sage. Jeremy runs JD Custom Charters and is a fantastic lake guide, but chooses not guide inland for steelhead although he loves to stream fish for these flamboyant trout. I just opened my bail and let Jeremy run with the steelhead topic. Here is what he had to say:
River walking for Steelhead
“As a charter captain fishing Lake Ontario throughout all fishing seasons, it is bittersweet when the last charter is over and it becomes time to get the boat winterized and stored and the gear put away. That usually falls towards the end of September when the salmon are mostly up in the creeks and rivers heading towards their spawning grounds. This is when the fun starts for my off-season steelhead fishing.
“By the beginning of November, the crowds are lighter and there is a little less fishing pressure. The salmon are usually up at the furthest point in most rivers and throughout the system trying to spawn, laying thousands of eggs which are high in protein. The steelhead gorge on these eggs to fatten up for the winter. They then stay in most rivers and creeks until spring when they will then return to the lake.”
Bait, Bait, Bait
“I usually catch a few salmon on my fall charters that have egg skeins in them that my clients do not want. I take these home to cut into smaller pieces and cure them. This process adds scent, makes them more durable and gives them a longer shelf life. Once cured, I fish these under a bobber to catch salmon that are further along in the spawning process up river that are dropping single eggs (typically September). These are like gold for steelhead fisherman … the bait of choice.
“I cure these by simply rinsing them in cold river water and bringing them home to prepare further. You can add store-bought cures to the river-rinsed eggs that are effective, but natural is the best. This is a hard process the first time, but there is no substitute for fresh bait that you have prepared yourself, especially in the early steelhead season. Once you build up your bait inventory it is then time to fish.”
Gear
“You can have a lot of fun without investing much cash. If you own a spinning reel and a fairly long medium action rod you are in business. For rigging, it is primarily done under a bobber or float. I am by no means an expert, but can tell you how I catch fish.
“I started out with a 10-6 Float fishing rod and a spinning reel. This sport can get as expensive as you want, like any hobby. I now fish a 13-6 Float rod with a center pin fishing reel. If you want to see or learn about center pin reels check them out on-line.”
Rigging
“Whichever reel rod combo you have, fill it with 10-12 lb. test fishing line. You will need an assortment of small split shot, micro swivels, some #6-#10 egg hooks, and some bobbers or floats. The setup is fairly simple once you tie it up. Running off of your rod tip, thread on a slip float and tie on a micro swivel. On the other end of the micro swivel, tie on a 18-24 inch piece of 6lb test fluorocarbon, then tie on your hook. Stretch out your float so that it is approximately 4-5 feet from float to hook. When on the water, you will need to adjust this depending on how deep you are fishing and will need to add split shot to your line between your float and swivel. Try to make your float as neutrally buoyant as possible, the weight will also help you cast. The split shot should be equally spread out to keep your presentation as vertical as possible when you cast it into the current.
“Once you have your eggs or bait you then need to tie them into egg sacs. This is done with nylon sheets that you can get from your local tackle shop or from plenty of places online. It is called nylon veil or netting and comes in an array of colors. Chartreuse, pink, white and purple are good colors to start with. You can search YouTube for more information on tying up egg sacs. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me. If you want to surpass dealing with bait or it’s too late in the season to get your own, check out your local tackle shops; or ask around for where to buy some egg sacs.”
Fishing
“Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s finally time to go fishing. For starters, I would recommend going to a local creek or river where you’ve seen fishermen catching trout before. You should look for water that is fairly slow moving, but still has some current to it. You also want depth and although you usually can’t tell exactly how deep it may be, you are looking for areas where steelhead lay or hold. You can fish faster water, but you should start with slower water and then move up into the quicker water.
“Cast out and check your bobber for how it rides in the current. You ideally want it to be as vertical as possible. If your float doesn’t stand up your bait is too deep, or you don’t have enough weight in split shots on your mainline. This is the nuts and bolts. Once you get a few casts down, it’s time to CATCH FISH!
“There are a thousand ways to catch steelhead in the rivers but fishing natural eggs under a float is deadly for fall and winter steelheading. Ask to tag along with a friend, or go out with a river guide and ask plenty of questions. I started off fishing in Sandy Creek in Hamlin, NY. We are very lucky to have so much fishable water from the Niagara River all the way up to the mighty Salmon River in Pulaski, NY. Do some reading and a little homework, and you’ll soon be ready to catch your first steelhead. Be careful, it is addicting!”
I want to thank Jeremy for giving up more of his hard-earned techniques and for basically writing my column for me this week. This dude is a true pro and knows our area’s trout and salmon like kin. You can contact Captain Jeremy at 585-734-8930 or at http://www.jdscustomcharters.com.
If you want to get a fabulous Christmas present for an angler in your family, I suggest booking them on a fishing trip with Jeremy. I guarantee it will be their best present this Christmas.
