The Steelhead is a sea-run Rainbow Trout; they’re native to freshwater and ocean environments across North America and have been introduced to every other continent except Antarctica. Unlike the Rainbow Trout, the Steelhead migrate to the ocean and return to freshwater tributaries to spawn; they’re also larger and less colourful than the Rainbows. Steelhead can live for up to eleven years and, unlike Pacific Salmon, don’t die after spawning, meaning they can breed multiple times. These repeat spawning fish grow to some massive proportions and are the one’s that anglers dream of catching each year.
Steelhead varies in size, between 5lb to 25lb, but fish to over 50lb have been recorded; the average size catch for freshwater fly fishing anglers in North America is around 9lb to 10lb. Often referred to as the ultimate game fish, they are elusive and challenging and can test an angler’s patience and persistence. However, the reward is hooking into a fish, famous for its line-peeling runs and spectacular, acrobatic fighting style.
When targeting Steelhead on the fly, the best tactics include swinging with a switch or spey rod and indicator fishing with a switch or single-handed rod. Some of the popular fly patterns which work well are Intruders, Mini-Intruders, Hoh Bo Spey, Popsicle, Prom Dress, Pick Your Pocket, Leeches and some Sculpin patterns.
Below are the top destinations in the world for Steelhead Fishing.
Designed for complete beginners and experienced fly fishers alike, this hosted Kalum River Lodge trip with our Sportquest Holidays host is perfect for either single anglers or small groups of friends. Enjoy the benefit of having a fully qualified host with you at all times, as well as enjoying privacy and comfort with private single rooms.
The Coho or Silver Salmon, as they’re also known, are powerful game fish, famed for their hard fighting qualities and aerial acrobatic displays. They get found in good numbers throughout the Skeena region from around the middle of August until the end of October, and our Nicholas Dean Trophy Coho package runs right through the peak summer and fall seasons.
If you are looking for an incredible fly fishing holiday for Steelhead, Salmon or Trout with the comfort of having your own single room with private en suite bathroom our lodge on the banks of the Skeena River is the perfect destination. Our guided Steelhead and Salmon trips offer spectacular fishing for all levels of anglers.
Our British Columbia Sturgeon fishing tour provides travelling anglers the chance to fish for the mighty White Sturgeon on the Fraser River. These prehistoric river dinosaurs can grow to over 10ft in length and half a tonne in weight, and provide one of the most exciting freshwater fishing challenges on the planet.
This is as close as we can get to guaranteeing you to catch Steelhead on the fly, we offer stable river conditions (a rarity for Steelhead) to eliminate those annoying lost fishing days. With our partners Alaska Steelhead Co, you will have access to not only the top guides but rivers that hold high numbers of Steelhead.
This is fishing for Steelhead in probably the world’s last great-untapped Steelhead river, in the middle of the immeasurable plains of Patagonia. Steelhead have often been credited as being one of, if not the hardest fighting migratory fish and the specimens in Santa Cruz are some of the biggest found anywhere across the globe.
Our famed Nicholas Dean Steelhead fishing packages cover the whole of the Steelhead season in Canada, fishing on the mighty Skeena River and all of its watershed. These ultra-chrome rockets on the Skeena average between 8lb and 20lb; however, there’s always the chance of a more significant specimen and each season fish to over 20lb and even 30lb grace anglers nets.
Flowing for an incredible 570 kilometres, the Skeena River is the second largest river in Canada, behind only the Fraser. Originating in northwestern British Columbia, the river and its basin is one of the most famous spots in the world for Salmon fishing. The river and its tributaries host vast numbers of migrating Steelhead, Chinook and Coho.
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Name: Steelhead
Also Known as: Silver Ghosts
Scientific Name: Oncorhynchus mykiss
The Steelhead, often known as the Steelhead Trout, is a popular target for fly anglers worldwide. They start their life as a Rainbow Trout, but rather than staying and living in freshwater, they travel to the ocean, where they can live for two to three years before returning to freshwater to spawn. Once they move to their saltwater habitat, their familiar rainbow colours disappear, and they take on a bright, silvery appearance. However, once they return to freshwater, their colouration will revert to what it once was.
Compared to Rainbows, Steelhead can live much longer, for around 11 years, unlike the typical 6-7 years of a Rainbow Trout. Steelheads can also spawn more than once, meaning they can return to the sea to take advantage of the abundance of food. The advantage of their differing spawning patterns is that the Steelhead can spread out their spawning over multiple years, which can help remove the worry of certain unfavourable environmental conditions.
Steelheads have a diverse diet that varies depending on their life stage and habitat. In freshwater, juvenile Steelhead primarily feeds on insects, crustaceans, and small invertebrates such as mayflies, stone flies and caddisflies. As they migrate to the ocean and become adults, their diet expands to include larger prey like fish and squid. Steelhead are opportunistic feeders, meaning they adapt their diet to what is available in their environment, making them highly versatile in both ecosystems.
Fact: Steelheads can spawn up to three times. However, survival chance is low.
Steelhead are found along the coastal regions of the United States, with historically the most prolific lodges located in Alaska and Canada. However, an increase in anglers targeting Steelheads has caused them to be endangered or highly threatened in 12 significant rivers across the Pacific Northwest.
Alaska is one of the best locations in the world to target and catch Steelheads, with many famous lodges such as Alaska Steelhead Company offering one of the best opportunities to target this species. Going slightly north, Canada also provides a host of destinations for Steelhead, including our range of tours with Nicholas Dean Outfitters.
Our top Rainbow Trout fishing destinations:
The Alaska Steelhead Co
Steelhead Santa Cruz River Argentina
Nicholas Dean Steelhead Fishing Canada
Steelhead are opportunistic feeders, consuming a wide variety of food depending on their life stage and environment. They are most active feeders during dawn and dusk, taking advantage of low-light conditions to hunt. However, their feeding patterns can vary depending on water temperature, season, and availability of food sources.
When targeting Steelhead trout, a fly rod in the 7# to 9# weight range is ideal, as it provides the strength and flexibility needed to handle the power and size of these fish. An 8# weight rod is often versatile for smaller and larger Steelhead. A 9 to 10-foot rod gives you better control for casting longer distances and handling lines in larger rivers. For the reel, opt for a sturdy, large-arbour model with a smooth drag system, capable of holding at least 150 yards of backing and handling the strong runs and long fights that Steelhead are known for.
Moving on down to the flies, there are a vast number of different patterns that will attract Steelhead. Due to their broad diet, many typical Trout flies will work. We advise anglers targeting the much smaller juvenile fish to go with typical tungsten nymphing patterns and a range of egg patterns in different colours. When targeting larger Steelhead, we advise using larger streamer patterns, with egg-sucking leeches also being a must-have in any Steelhead angler box.
Compared to Rainbows, Steelhead grow much more significantly, mainly due to their diets. In their ocean phase, they often reach lengths of 60 to 90+ centimeters, but some exceptional individuals can exceed that. Their weight varies, with most ranging from 6lb to 12lb, although they have been known to surpass 20lbs.
The current IGFA all-tackle record Steelhead was caught back in 1970 and weighed in at 42lbs from the sea off Alaska while trolling for Salmon.
