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 Hardware
Favourites For Fall Steelhead
By: Tyler Dunn
Tyler Dunn Guiding
Steelhead addicts like me, always welcome the
annual salmon run into our rivers throughout our
Great Lakes. Although, I am always eager to wet
a line for fall salmon, I am much more excited
for the autumn steelhead opportunities that lie
ahead. Most of my time spent targeting fall
steelhead is with a float. Usually, I’m drifting
roe, plastics, jigs and flies beneath my float.
When I’m not doing this you will find me firing
spoons and minnows baits across pools or even
right at the mouth of rivers; hunting for active
steel. “Chuckin hardware” isn’t for everyone.
Those who do can experience some most exciting
strikes of the season. The following list of
lures is a few I use regularly when wading the
rivers of Superiors north shore.
Little Cleo - A staple in many
anglers’ arsenals. The Little Cleo is as
reliable as they come. Some of the most
arm-wrenching hits I have ever experienced have
been when I was burning a Cleo over top of the
bigger of pools in the tributaries north of
Sault Ste. Marie. Long casts with a moderate
speed, straight retrieve is usually my starting
point with a Cleo. If I try a variety of both
slow and fast retrieves to no avail, Pauses are
next when the steelies seem tight lipped.
Mepps/Vibrax – These are two
different brands of inline spinners, I use in
tributaries. In-line spinners are a very easy
lure to manipulate in smaller rivers or shallow
water. Spinners excel when short, accurate casts
are needed. The lure is relatively light, runs
high but will stay deep enough in the water
remaining in the strike zone. I’ve
underestimated the size of spinners steelhead
will take. To my surprise #4 and #5 sizes do
take fish of all sizes.
Rapala Countdown - The
Countdown is a sinking model in the line of
minnow baits Rapala offers. Although this bait
sinks, it does not dive any deeper when
retrieved. A sinking speed of 1 foot per second
is a way to keep a good idea of where the lure
is at in the water column. With this is mind,
the Countdown is ideal for casting in rivers
with current. I tend to work a Countdown a
little slower than I would a spoon before
speeding the pace up. I almost always fish this
lure deep. Before casting a countdown, I will
always have an idea of the depth usually from
previously floating the hole. I want to stay in
the bottom ¾ of the pool. For example, if I
estimate the pool to be 15 feet deep, I will try
and start 10 feet down eventually making my way
right to bottom. Often making contact if I know
snags and debris are not an issue.
Storm Hot’n Tot - A very wide
wobbling plug, the Hot’n Tot is a must have for
anyone casting. These lures can be fished in
surprisingly small pools but are most effective
in mid-large pools and rivers. I like a slighter
quicker retrieve when compared to a Countdown.
The wide, wobbling action is sometimes too much
for steelhead to resist especially in water with
some decent flow.
I try to keep an open mind when it comes to
steelhead fishing. Floating, bouncing and
casting hardware are all methods of river
fishing I try to utilize throughout the fall
season. That being said, sometimes you just have
to forget the spawn bags and cast some hardware.
Pack a few of the recommended or similar lures
above for days when you can’t buy a hit on roe.
It might be the difference in a skunking or a
hook up with one of the most exciting autumn
fish found in fresh water.
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