Oncorhynchus mykiss
(Up to 20lbs+)
One of the most prized species on a fly, the Steelhead is an anadromous sea-run rainbow trout, usually returning to freshwater to spawn after 2 to 3 years in the ocean. Unlike most Salmon, steelheads survive spawning and can spawn multiple times with a space of a few months between episodes. Smolts remain in rivers for a year before heading out to sea, and can return to their rivers either reproductively immature (summer-run) to complete their growth in freshwater, or return later (winter-run) once they maturation is complete and they are ready to spawn.
Method: Dead drift sink tip lines, Swinging wet/spey flies, occasionally will take a dry fly.
Gear: 8-9wt single or Spey rods. Type III-V Sink Tip Lines and Floating Lines.
Flies:
- Egg Patterns
- Egg Sucking Leech
- Wolly Buggers
- Bubble Gum Popsicle
- Crystal Leech Variant
- Squamish Poacher
Check out these great locations for Steelhead:
