ORIGINAL: buckhunter14

Shootstuff: All over Michigan I have been fishing lately. Up in Elk Rapids and Betsie River (Northern tip of Lower Michigan, next day on The Mighty Muskegon, and lastly in good ole' can't tell ya that spot. haha)


AmateurHunter: Steelhead are the smartest fish fish worth fishing for, they are like the Whitetails of the water. Exteremly intelligent fish.Steel leaders are a big no go, the fish will see that coming 20 yards away. On my main line I am using 12 pound mono non-stretch line. I like to use Maxima 12 lb. Attach a barrel swivel at the end and to this attach your line leader. I either you 6 poundfluorocarbon or 4 pound mono. (Yes, that is VERY light but the fishdon't see it and bite much better. That top fish, 10+ pounder took over 20 minutes to land.)

As for theattractants, do not buy spawn from the store, it is trash. It works, but not well. You see the spawn that I have tied, that is true Steelhead spawn. The stuff from the store isCoho Roe usually, and has completely different scents and has been cured. (Yesterday I got to my spot and three guys were there, asked them how long they had been fishing and they said ALL night 8 hours and no fish... My second cast I hooked up with a six pound hen,6th cast I hook with another 5 pound male, all because of the fresh spawn.)

Jigs with maggots works well. Pending on the river condition, I like to fish deep runs orgood holes withsteelhead jigs or lil' nippers. Chartruese is a great color and pink. Tipit with a wax under afloat and your setupdecently.

I also love to catch Steelhead on flies, it is more of an art than anything. IF you find fish on their beds, there is now better fly than the Egg Sucking Leech. (Seend in the photos with the brown trout and one steel.) Also, in the earlier season black and brown stone flies work wonders onfish. (Remeber, you can fish flies with a spinning setup the way I have shower you before. I use a spinning setup and can fish flies better than some flyfisherman.

GOOD LUCK, Tight lines.