Len's Sportfishing Adventures - Ph: 1-604-991-0287

Steelhead

The Fraser Valley has several rivers that offer excellent Steel heading opportunities for both wild and hatchery fish. We often catch large Thompson River bound Steelhead while fishing for Salmon on the Fraser River. Best fishing in other local rivers from January to late spring.

What Are Steelhead and Where Do They Live?

Steelhead Trout are very similar in appearance to rainbow trout, the main difference between the two is that steelhead migrate to the sea to live part of there life cycle of up to 9 years. After the steelhead fry have hatched they will live from 1 to 3 years in freshwater before migrating to the sea. Generally they will spend 2 to 3 years before they return to spawn in there native rivers. Unlike there relatives the salmon, not all steelhead die after spawning.

Steelhead are one of the most sought after sport fish in British Columbia, they are also one of the most beautiful and hardest fighting fish we have here. These fish tend to have a grey bluish back with scattered black spots over there bodies. They also have large square tails which enable them to jump obstacles in the river and help with there great fighting abilities when hooked by an angler.

There are two different runs here on the west coast of British Columbia. The first is a summer run which enters the rivers from May to October and a winter run which enter the rivers from December to April. Some rivers do support both winter and summer runs which is an added bonus for the steelhead angler.

Steelhead Fishing Techniques
There are many different angling techniques used to catch these fish. Here on our local rivers float fishing with bait casters or center pin reels is popular. When this method is employed we use an adjustable float and below that a pencil lead attached to the mainline. We use a swivel between the mainline and a 8 to 15 pound leader which is generally around 18 inches. As far as attractants go there are many different options for the angler. Some of the most popular are: wool ties in sorted pinks, peach and red colors; bait such as salmon roe and shrimp are very effective; lead head jigs with marabou feathers work good along with Colorado blades and spoons.

For many anglers fly fishing is the ultimate way to fish for steelhead. When fly fishing most anglers use spey rods. This enables the angler to cover more water and use heavier sink tips and weighted flies. This method is commonly used to fish for winter run Steelhead on our fast flowing west coast rivers. Rods in the 8 to 10 weight seem to be the most common; the G Loomis Dredgers are my favorite spey rods to use with the Airflow Skagit heads. There are a multitude of flies to use while steelhead fishing. Some of the most commonly used in or local waters are: marabou patterns with pinks, purples, black, blues in many different combinations; Squamish Poachers; GP in orange or black and intruders tied with rhea or ostrich feathers. Minnow patterns are also used when the salmon fry are hatching (remember steelhead do eat when in the river).

As a general rule try to keep it simple. You do not have to have four fly boxes filled with flies! Use the flies that you have confidence in and fish them well. If the steelheads are in the biting mood they will take a properly presented fly and don't waste your time thinking about how you palmered your marabou.

Fishing for steelhead is not for everyone; braving the cold and damp weather we tend to have here in the winter takes a special kind of angler. They can be one of the most frustrating and one of the most personally rewarding fish to catch here on the west coast of British Columbia. There are many days spent casting flies without a fish for your efforts, but when it happens and you feel the take of the fish, see it jump and the line peeling off your reel, it makes it all worth while.