| As we stated in our article on Pacific Steelhead flies, | | | | Steelhead consume lots of eggs in their lifetime. |
| the steelhead fisheries of the Great Lakes region has | | | | Especially in the winter, when suckers move up the |
| developed differently. First off the Erie steelhead has | | | | rivers to spawn. The most popular egg pattern is the |
| only been around a little over a hundred years. First | | | | Sucker Spawn, with the Crystal Meth a close second. |
| planted in the 1880's, the steelhead nearly died off in | | | | Egg patterns are generally bounced along the bottom. |
| the 1950's due to pollution in Lake Erie. But since the | | | | And are a good choice all winter long into March. |
| 1980's, intense stocking efforts by Ontario, New | | | | The last class of patterns fished for Erie steelhead is |
| York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania have been the reason | | | | the basic nymph and beadhead nymphs. Like trout, |
| for this area being nicknamed Steelhead Alley. | | | | steelhead consume lots of nymphs in their lifetime. |
| Erie steelheaders use a wide array flies in their pursuit | | | | The same nymphs that are popular for trout fishing |
| of this most worthy game fish. One can classify | | | | are used in Steelhead Alley. With Hare's Ear, Prince, |
| them broadly in the same way trout angler's classify | | | | caddis larva and stonefly imitations being the most |
| flies. In general the Erie steelheader carries a variety | | | | popular. Buggy nymphs seem to work best, and |
| of streamers, egg patterns, and nymphs. | | | | although bug life is fairly dormant in the winter these |
| Steelhead feed heavily on schools of shad, smelt and | | | | are never a bad choice. |
| other fish in the summer months. And when they | | | | Some classic steelhead patterns from the Northwest |
| first enter the river they have fish on their brains. | | | | are used as well, including the Green Butt Skunk. And |
| Streamer patterns are the thing to start off with, | | | | in murky waters the Popsicle is popular along with |
| when steelhead are first stacking up to make their | | | | other bright streamers. |
| run. Primary patterns used are the woolly bugger, | | | | After reaching the water, use some of the same |
| Mickey Finn, Muddler Minnows and other streamer | | | | techniques discussed on out other steelhead articles, |
| patterns. Dead drifted or swung they are deadly in | | | | clearer water go smaller and more subtle colors, high, |
| the early months. | | | | murky water go brighter and larger. |