Muskegon, MI – As the days get longer, streams in “Steelhead Country” come alive, snowmelt runoff and rain boosting flows and adding turbidity that absorbs solar energy warming the water. Aquatic insects such as stoneflies and caddisflies begin to hatch with regularity, kick-starting the food web.
Streams supporting multiple strains of steelhead may simultaneously feature fresh run prespawn fish, actively spawning fish, and post-spawn “dropback” steelhead. Both prespawn and post-spawn steelhead, as well as residents, will feed on eggs and insect larva immediately downstream of spawners. This is one of the few times largely nocturnal trophy-sized resident brown trout will be out in the open during daylight hours taking advantage of the “egg hatch”.
Peak spawning activity occurs sometime during February, March, and April, depending on the region. When the main “runs” winddown there are streams throughout Pacific Coast and Great Lakes where steelhead will push spawning activity well into May and some years, June – yes, the further north you go the odds are usually better for late steelhead.
Steelhead fishing can be challenging, especially for newbies. Many avid anglers and guides specialize in pursuing these fish and the wisdom they possess is earned through thousands of hours on the water. That said, it’s not brain surgery and there are some basic guidelines anglers should consider when pursuing spring steelhead.
BASICS
Steelhead activity increases dramatically when the water temperature is somewhere in the low-40’s to mid-50’s. Tracking water temperature is important because any time it falls below 40 or so, activity slows down and adjustments in technique and presentation become prudent. If obtaining water temperature is not physically feasible, the USGS provides Real Time Water Data for many streams. In addition, Enviro Sensor DIY (monitormywatershed.org) stations are… finish reading here at The Fishing Wire.
