Fly Fishing For Ontario Steelhead
Catching Steelhead On A Fly
Steelhead are one of the hardest fighting fish in Ontario and they’re even more fun on a fly rod. Fly fishing for Ontario steelhead can be a challenge for most anglers but it sure is a whole lot of fun and is one of the most rewarding ways to catch these acrobatic feisty fish.
Some days guys call them the fish of 1000 casts and other days you could hook and land over 20, but regardless of how many fish are in the river learning how to fish for them properly, using the most effective methods is the most important thing you can do, and that’s were we come in.
If you have already been trying for them and are still not consistently having success one tip I tell most of my clients is, “it’s not your fly”. A saying I like to use is ” A bad fly fished good, is better than a good fly fished bad”. That basically means that if you’re using the wrong method, or not presenting your fly it doesn’t matter how good your fly is because you’re not going to catch many fish.
It’s not uncommon for me to guide two guys and watch one guy catch all the fish, even if they are both using the same or similar flies. Presentation is key!
Steelhead Season
Steelhead Season For Fly Anglers
Steelhead fly anglers can target big steelhead in the rivers from early September to late May with the peak times being Mid October to Mid December and then again from Mid March until early May.
Even though most rivers would be closed for the season or would be frozen in the winter some die hard anglers can usually find some open water to fish. Even in the coldest months big rivers like the Niagara, the Saugeen and or Maitland river can often have open water where anglers can fly fish.
Although we have a long 7 month closed season for trout there’s an extended fall and winter Steelhead fishing opportunities. Some rivers even have year round open seasons for trout and steelhead allowing anglers to fish them 12 months of the year. You can see the extended season opportunities and year round open seasons on the OMNR website.
Fly Fishing Tactics
There are a few good methods for fly fishing for Ontario steelhead.
- Indicator Nymphing: Most anglers choose to nymph fish with indicators.
- Euro Nymphing: Some more advanced anglers are now using advanced Euro Style nymphing methods for even more success.
- Spey Fishing: There is also a growing number of fly anglers starting to target Ontario Steelhead using Spey fishing methods adapted for our rivers.
- Streamer Fishing: Even traditional streamer fishing can be productive when steelhead are aggressive or anglers are faced with low water conditions. For more on streamer fishing methods go to our Streamer Fishing Page.
When most people think of fly fishing they often think of just trout, but in Ontario our rivers have many opportunities for anglers to fish for salmon for a month or two and for steelhead for 8 to 9 months of the year.
Nymphing For Ontario Steelhead
Nymphing for steelhead is likely the most productive way the fly fish for steelhead. Nymphing for steelhead requires a heavier outfit due to the larger size of fish and the bigger rivers. For an average size steelhead river I recommend a 7 weight 10 foot or 11 foot rod for the best line control and fighting ability, and the longer rod also provides better tippet protection by acting like a large shock absorber.
On very large rivers like the Niagara, the Maitland and maybe the lower Grand or Nottawasaga rivers an 8 or 9 weight rod would be fine and maybe more suitable for casting longer lines. A 7wt rod should also have enough backbone to handle even very large fish, larger flies and still be soft enough to cushion and protect the lighter tippets sometimes required just to get the steelhead to bite.
A standard weight forward line, some indicators, split shots and a variety of flies is also recommended. Some anglers and guides are also starting to use Euro nymphing methods with good success.
Euro Nymphing For Ontario Steelhead
Fly fishing for Ontario Steelhead can be done with a technique call Euro Nymphing or also know as Modern Nymphing.
Euro Nymphing for steelhead is something new in Ontario. We have been using this method and teaching anglers how to be effective at Euro Nymphing.
This method is very similar to Euro Nymhing for trout but with some minor adjustments to compensate for the larger size of the fish and the larger size of the rivers and pools.
Under the right conditions Euro Nymphing can be much more productive than traditional nymphing
If this is something that interests you let us know and we can book you in for a Euro Nymphing Trip.
For more info check out our Euro Nymphing page
Spey and Streamer Fishing For Ontario Steelhead
Fly fishing for Ontario Steelhead can be done with a method called Spey fishing. Nymphing is not the only method of fly fishing for Ontario steelhead anymore. Some anglers swing flies using single or double hand Spey rods on the bigger rivers. Some anglers will also throw and retrieve streamers in the same way they do for brown trout.
When the steelhead come in they can be very aggressive and chase down and hit properly swung flies. Heavier tippets of over 10lbs are required to absorb the shock of these hard hitting fish. Spey fishing for steelhead in Ontario is much more popular then ever.
Spey fishing uses longer 2 hand rods usually over 12 feet with special Spey lines and special sink tips to get you flies down. Spey fishing requires different casts and presentation. You cast your fly across and swing it from the far side to the near side of the river on a tight line and wait for a fish to grab it.
Streamer Fishing can be done with a single hand rod and regular floating lines or sink tip lines. Streamer fishing requires the angler to cast the fly across and swing it on a tight line or strip the fly in to give it action.
Dry Fly Fishing For Ontario Steelhead
However rare, there are even some anglers in late spring and early summer fishing for steelhead and catching some steelhead on dry flies, either dead drifting them while matching the hatch or skating them across the surface and waiting for those aggressive takes.
We have seen adult steelhead rising for the fist large mayfly known as the Hendrickson. This fly can hatch during the first week or two of May when steelhead are still in some rivers.
Knowing where to go and being lucky enough to be there at the right time and under the right conditions is the key to catching steelhead on a dry fly
BONUS TIP OF THE DAY
Drag Sucks: I don’t know how many times I’ve guided two anglers at the same time and seen one angler catch all the fish. Why?
Fly fishing for Ontario Steelhead is not as easy as it seams and the unfortunate part is most anglers skills are very basic, and the lack of knowledge limits them from catching more steelhead.
Although there are a few reason for one guy to catch more fish than the other the number one reason is drag, or speed. Drag basically means your fly or bait is being pulled by the current in an unnatural way, often to fast.
Think about it this way. These fish grew up in these rivers and have seen a million pieces of weed, bark, grass, debris, eggs, worms, and insects drift past them and it all moves past them at the same speed, it’s a speed that looks natural to them and a speed they are accustomed to. Then one day they’re sitting down there in their little safe feeding spot picking up the odd chuck of food at that natural and normal speed when this fly (yes, your fly) comes zipping by at 3 or 4 times the natural speed. Do you think they’re going to eat something so unnatural??? Not likely! But maybe or sometimes they will, and it’s the maybe which is the reason why sometimes you’ll still catch the odd fish and why guys keep making this critical mistake of dragging their fly to fats and they never try and change. You ever heard the saying ” even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes”. Well, a poorly presented fly catches a fish sometimes too…
Learning to control your drag can mean the difference between no fish or a dozen fish at the end of your day! In fact it’s critical . . The problems is how do you achieve this slower presentation.
One of the most important things I teach my clients on guide trips is proper presentation and how to get a drag free drift. It’s not uncommon for my past students and clients to email me months later thanking me because they’re catching more fish than they thought possible. Fly fishing for Ontario Steelhead can be tough, but it’s tougher when you drag your fly to fast. Learn how to get a drag free drift and you will instantly up-your catch!
Steelhead Gear
Using the right gear can be the difference between a good days and a bad day.
Check out all my best gear recommendations so you can see what you are missing.
RIVER FISHING TIPS AND ADVICE
Have you ever wanted to know what the guides know? Now you can!
Anglers ask me all the time about what rods and reels and other gear that I recommend, or they ask me about my best flies, or my best methods or even which rivers are good to fish. I build a website that cover’s all of that and more . . . . . You should checkout our sister site where I tell you exactly what gear you need and i give you free tips and tricks to help you catch more fish. Check out www.ontariotroutandsteelhead.com
Graham
Head Guide / Owner
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