Basic Steelhead Fishing Tips

Basic Steelhead Fishing Tips

The Ohio Division of Wildlife’s Lake Erie steelhead trout fishery is maintained by stocking approximately 400,000
6- to 9-inch Little Manistee River strain steelhead trout in five tributaries (west to east): Vermilion River,
Rocky River, Chagrin River, Grand River and Conneaut Creek. This strain of steelhead trout average 25” and 7
pounds after two summers of growth in Lake Erie. This world-class fishery provides terrific opportunities for
shore or wading anglers to catch large lake-run fish relatively inexpensively

See the Advanced Steelhead Fishing Tips page for information about fly fishing, noodle rod fishing and float fishing

for steelhead.

TIPS

Fish close to the bottom in creeks and rivers.
Always use a fluorocarbon leader of 5- to 7-pound strength.
Use an 8- to 10-pound main line.
Sharpen your hooks.
Check your line frequently for abrasion, kinks, etc.
Wear a ball cap and use polarized sunglasses for stream fishing.
When handling fish:
Always wet your hands.
Gently unhook and release fish
Cut the line of deeply-hooked fish off at the mouth prior to release.