STEELHEAD AND BROOK TROUT

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Springtime rod bending!

There are those that find battling a smallmouth bass to be an absolute rush of excitement. There are those that find that same exhilaration from a musky, and there are many that find excitement in fishing for and catching bluegills and other panfish. Then there are the OTHERS. This group includes those of us that truly enjoy getting into the backcountry of Wisconsin and finding the true "gems" of the fishing world. Those fish that are rarely seen by the majority of the fishing world, because you don't find them by boat. Access isn't the easiest, and it is sometimes more closely related to work than fun, but it always has a reward. That reward is the Brook Trout (salvelinus fontinalis). In the larger tributaries to Lake Michigan, at a similar time of year, and with considerably less effort on the part of the angler, is the reward of the Steelhead (oncorhynchus mykiss). The following is in celebration of these two spectacular fish species, in hopes that all that read this may want to experience these fish for themselves.

Trout are fish that prefer much cooler water than most of the other freshwater species of fish. That is why the Brook trout is most often found where there are many overhanging branches and obstructions in the streams. They provide shade that keeps the water cooler, and makes the fish feel safe. All trout species are very shy, and will flee at the first sign of danger...no matter what that may be. Too large of a lure can be seen as danger to the trout, and a shadow from an oncoming animal or angler will send trout scurrying to the closest deadfall, branch or cutbank to find safety. Stealth is a buzzword in the world of trout fishing, and for Brook trout this is no exception, but the rule!

Trout require high amounts of oxygen to survive, and are very fragile fish. They prefer to live in areas of streams with many rocks and gravel, as the water tumbling over the rocks and gravel creates oxygenated water, thus making the correct habitat for the trout to survive. Also, there are many organisms that thrive in rocks and gravel that the trout rely on for food. Stoneflies, mayflies and mosquitoes are just a few examples of the many organisms that the trout survive on in these streams. Worms, minnows and grasshoppers help to round out the feast that the trout enjoy through the year. Locating streams with the right habitat and imitating these food sources is key in having a successful outing.

In Wisconsin, anglers have the distinct privilege to be able to fish for Native Brook Trout, meaning trout that have not come from a hatchery. That is an especially wonderful opportunity in a day and age when stocking is so prevalent for so manyspecies, and in many areas Brook Trout is one of them. Yet, there remain many places where stocking of Brook Trout has not occurred.

The Native Brook Trout have some of the most vibrant colors that can be found in the freshwater world. Colors that become more vibrant as the summer turns to fall. Using small spinners and flies, and sometimes worms to catch these beautiful fish is what many do when they are in their spawning glory in the fall. I stress releasing these larger fish in the fall to help to ensure that the genetics will pass on in that area for years to come.

The spawning run that the Brook Trout make in the fall, happens in a similar fashion with the Steelhead in Lake Michigan as they make their way up the tributaries in the Spring. Anglers come from all over the Nation just to have an opportunity to hook one of these beauties. Though the Steelhead will run periodically throughout the year from Lake Michigan, the spring run is by far the most popular, producing the best opportunity for a true trophy Steelhead, being heralded as one of the best in the world!

The Steelhead, for all practical purposes, is a very large Rainbow Trout, with an enormous amount of energy that produces some spectacular angling action. They will strip line from your reel faster than almost any other fish that swims, and they love to jump! Acrobatics are very common from this specie of fish, and they seem to fight without end.

Many anglers use fly equipment to fish for Steelhead, and others use regular spinning tackle. In either case, high quality equipment is a requirement. Strong, proven line and sensitive yet strong rods are a must. The terminal tackle varies greatly, and starts off with flies that are the size of a mosquito to spinners that are nearing use for muskies. I prefer the finesse approach, using a custom built 5'0" rod, spooled with 4 lb test, and finished with a small #1 spinner. It seems ridiculously small for such a large fish, but sometimes it takes a very gentle approach, and a 7'0" stiff rod is just too much to gently land a spinner in a pool without spooking the very Steelhead that you are after. When the Steelhead are in to spawn, they aren't looking to eat, so using the proper lure to create a reaction is the key, and the slow, gentle approach is the only way to go. I have found that the best way to get them to strike, is to imitate a minnow, and the best for that is a spinner. Yes, there are flies that imitate a minnow very well, but a spinner works much better with a short spinning rod and reel setup.

This past spring, while fishing with Brian Uttech, I was fortunate enough to land a beautiful 28 inch hen (female) Steelhead. The fight lasted for nearly 30 minutes, and covered over 200 yards of stream. The fight ended, just before Brian hooked into a truly large buck (male) Steelhead. As if to prove that he was truly the king of the stream, he stripped the line quicker than anything we had witnessed, and then to rub it in, spit out the spinner. A heartbreaking sight, but one with promise. That fish was healthy, and strong! He was there to spawn, and to create more of these beautiful and enjoyable fish for other anglers to enjoy. There was no disappointment at the loss of the fish, but utter enjoyment at the feeling of having one on the line for what turned out to be just seconds. What an awesome experience! We will be back again in the spring to try for that big guy once again...or maybe one of his offspring! We will find out in April.

Until then, happy fishing, and keep your lines tight!

Clint Burns
Classic Cast Outfitters
(715)479-4542
Email: classic-cast@lake-link.com

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