The Wonders of Steelhead Alley

by Lucas Smith

As an experienced steelhead angler who often fished around Eastern Pennsylvania, especially at Steelhead Alley, I caught a lot of different fish. Still, one of my favorite catches is lake run trout or what is more commonly called steelhead. Steelhead Alley is made up of rivers streaming from the southern border of Lake Erie. Numerous rivers and streams in this region flow into Lake Erie, attracting anglers from all over the nation to hunt for steelhead. Steelhead Alley's waters are diverse and suitable for a range of fishing techniques, and it is one of the major reasons why I like it so much and keep coming back.

Steelhead spawn in freshwater, smolts move to the ocean to graze for several years, and adults return to their natal streams to spawn, like other sea-run trout and salmon. The freshwater form of the steelhead is the rainbow trout.

One of their differences is that rainbow trout do not leave freshwater, whereas steelhead migrate to the ocean. Rainbow trout are also much smaller than steelhead. What I like about steelhead trout is that they are unique because their size differs depending on the environment they are living in. The fact that steelhead trout can pinpoint their primary spawning grounds while frequently traveling to the open ocean and returning to the same freshwater source throughout their lives is another reason I like them. It is probably their most intriguing and perplexing characteristic. Also, I can practice my fly fishing techniques and continue improving the fly-tying business I founded.

I founded my business out of a passion for pursuing steelhead trout. My fishing charter, What That Vise Do, mostly focuses on fly tying and guiding operations for people who want to fish and who share the same passion as I have. And currently, our area is along Lake Erie because it is where you can commonly find steelhead trout.

Steelhead runs are very seasonal, and the months of November, December, March, and April are the ideal time for catching steelhead from Lake Erie. Our two runs are in the spring and the fall. We "chuck and duck" for steelhead utilizing indicator rigs and flies like eggs, baitfish, nymphs, etc. Find clear retaining water and deep flows. In “chuck and duck,” a weight is cast, and the fly line and fly have pulled along, whereas in traditional fly fishing, the line is cast, and the fly goes along.

Working as a guide at Blue Quill Angler is my best experience so far. I like it because Blue Quill Angler provides excellent fly fishing equipment, supervised fly fishing excursions, and fly fishing training classes, where I also discovered a few new techniques. Relocating to Colorado for half the year was my favorite guide experience because who would not like to discover new places? Also, Colorado is a state in the Western United States with a diverse landscape of landforms. Compared to rivers like the Colorado and South Platte serve as my new office, working a 9-5 job from home was a dream come true when you are used to fishing at Lake Erie.

As a person whose degree is not directly related to my business or job right now, I advise everyone to put in a lot of effort in their early 20s. To discover what they are into and passionate about and then spend the rest of their lives attempting to make that into a job. We all know that it’s easier to learn when we are young and because we still have the energy to discover and learn, but as the years go by and we get old, we often tend to get tired quickly. During your 20s, try to learn as many things as possible, choose where you are having fun, and make it a part of yourself. In reality, you spend about 30% of your life at work, so you had better like it, or else you will not enjoy life! Remember: life is neither a race nor a competition, to begin with.

Speaking of competitions, I have never tried any activity or event related to competitive fly fishing. My priority right now is studying more about my business and improving myself in this field, but I am not limiting myself from just doing the usual fly fishing;  instead, I am looking for other opportunities. In the next few years, that might be something that I might consider trying because, in that scenario, I can see how far I have come and improved since I started fishing. Life is all about learning, and competitions bring in the thrill and excitement, so you might as well try it for the experience and, if lucky, earn a place in the competitive scene. Anything is possible, so I’m going to try it for a change and have fun! It’s all about having fun, anyway.

My favorite catches are either when I pull out the Spey fly rod and swing meat for steelhead along the lake or when I'm waiting on a good dry fly hatch and have to change out the bugs a few times before I discover the one that the fish are taking because as you can see, steelheads are also picky with what they are eating. Fish eggs, also referred to as roe, are a favorite food of steelhead fish. Their innate instinct is to devour other fish's eggs. This is a strong bait that will attract steelhead. Fishing guides and anglers consider it one of the most effective baits for steelhead.

All the time you are spending while fishing is worth it because, in the end, a catch is a huge achievement for me and, most likely, for people who want to try fishing in any river. Another fulfilling moment is when I see the people I am guiding on trips get their first catch, lift their fly rod, and pose for photos that get shared online. For me, those are the steelhead fishing moments that are the most fulfilling. Nothing is more fulfilling than catching the fish you are looking for and enjoying your time around nature.

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