Gravel: An essential component of Steelheading success

By Thomas Steele
Webmaster, The Steelhead Site

Gravel and the Steelhead
The Steelhead needs the gravel for reproduction.

Finding the Steelhead and the Gravel
How do you find the gravel and the Steelhead?

Target the Gravel Zones
How to fish the gravel areas for Steelhead.

Fish by Feel
When presenting to fish that you cannot see, you need to fish by feel.

Getting Started
Do I need a special rig or what?

Fishing the Bottom
A presentation that ticks bottom is essential to Steelheading success.

Gravel and the Steelhead

From the creeks of Indiana to the big rivers of Michigan and Wisconsin, the Steelhead of Lake Michigan can be caught in a variety of settings from urban to remote locals. In the last decade, I have caught Steelhead in water that ranges from less than six feet wide and a few inches deep, to big rivers like the Manistee that flow hard and can be a hundred yards wide. In general, if it flows into lake Michigan chances are there are Steelhead somewhere in the tributary.

Many tributaries in Michigan and Northern Wisconsin provide an environment that enables natural reproduction, but most all tributaries to the lake have gravel stretches that provide the necessary structure for returning fish. Gravel is what the fish seek on the spawning runs. To find returning migratory species on our river and stream systems, it is essential to find gravel. Gravel is a necessary component for reproduction of the steelhead and all salmonids.

About half of our Lake Michigan tributaries don't support natural reproduction for several reason. Fishing pressure and over fishing, destruction of the redd by anglers, pollution, siltation and loss of gravel structure are just a few of the problems in the complex issue of our environment and how it effects natural reproduction.

Finding the Steelhead and the Gravel

Knowing the name of the tributary is a good start, but how do you find the best water to fish? First, you need a DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteer. Delorme maps are available in the TSS Bookstore http://steelheadsite.com/books/delorme.php. Visit the DeLorme Page, find the Book you want to order, and click on the title. All DeLorme Atlas & Gazetteers are 20% to 35% Off and usually ship within 24 hours.

Second, you need to know what structure to look for on the maps. Since we are talking about anadromnous fish, we know they will be returning to the rivers for the spawning ritual. Spawning will always involve gravel, so you need to able to locate significant gravel deposits to find fish.

The key to locating the gravel on many tributaries can be found on the maps. Note the symbol below:

Map © Copyright DeLorme Mapping Company

This denotes a gravel pit. If you can locate this symbol near the tributary, chances are you will find gravel in the river as well. The maps are telling you that the underlying geological structure contains significant deposits of gravel in the area. In most cases, you will find this type of structure at the head waters and upper stretched of Lake Michigan tributaries. Typically on our streams the spawning gravel can be a few miles to 70 miles or more upstream of the Lake.

By finding the prime gravel stretches, fly fishers will increase their odds and finding and hooking our beautiful Steelhead.

As I have pointed out, finding the gravel is essential to Steelheading success. Once you have found the gravel, the next component is understanding the stream structure and how it will effect fish locations in the river. Since we understand that the Steelhead is migratory by nature, we know they will not stay in a given location for very long until they have hit the gravel. After all, gravel is the destination they have been seeking. Steelhead will stay in the gravel areas for a few days to a few weeks depending on the strain, time of year, water levels, temperature and other variables. Once they have completed the spawning process, they will return to the Lake to continue life. Fish that are on the way back to the Lake are often called drop backs. Sometimes it seems as those these fish are not really happy about heading back to the Lake and they often times will just roll downstream. Unlike the Salmon, the Steelhead does not die after spawning but can return to their natal waters year after year if they survive.

Target the fish in the gavel zones.

Fish that are holding in structure, often times faster water are the fish you want to target first. In general, Steelhead prefer faster broken water, that provides cover and camouflage. Often you will find Steelhead prefer lies that are in the back 1/3 of a pool with a tailout into a riffle. This lie provides a good feeding lane for the fish. Typically in these areas you will find a rising bottom structure to the stream with larger deposits of gravel that create the rise. Behind this type of structure you will also find larger boulders and rocks, which provide cover and holding areas for fish out of the main current flow. The first area I will target when fishing new water is the back section of a tailout through the subsequent riffles. I consider this a prime zone for active fish.

Steelhead will hold in water behind the gravel, redds and rising bottom structure. This structure will provide a pocket and hydraulic behind the rising bottom to the tailout. More often than not, there will be a pocket of darker, deeper water behind the tailout that provide the fish cover. Also the fish have a food source in the loose spawn that flows off the redd. The hydraulic created by the back of the gravel will enable the fish to easily see the loose morsels as they comes off the gravel.

There are fish that can be found on the gravel that I would not target, fish that are actively spawning. In this state the fish are more interested in completing the ritual that taking a fly, some things do take a priority. This behavior is characterized by fish that are shoveling gravel with their snout and body to clean the spawning gravel. In many of our tributaries fly fishers can find the redds by noticing a distinct color difference between the cleaned gravel in the redd and the rest of the surrounding gravel. The redds will have gravel that is void of moss, debris and circular in shape. It is several shades lighter that the surrounding gravel because of the cleaning in preparation for egg laying. The redd will also have a depression in the middle with gently sloped sides that rise up around the spawning gravel. This shape creates a flow of water over the redd that actually holds the eggs in place with the streams current. When anglers step on this gravel, they are damaging the shape of the structure. This results in the eggs going down stream, if they aren't crushed entirely. It is vital on our naturally reproducing streams to avoid redd destruction when pursuing our Steelhead. Anglers should take care not to get near the redd when wade fishing. By knowing what to look for, we can take measures to protect it!

It is possible to catch spawning fish on the fly, but in most cases the fish are not as willing to hit a presentation like active fish. In fact many fish in this state have been lined in the mouth, not hit the fly. I try not to target fish in this state, they have had enough pressure from the fisherman in many of our tributaries. Besides, if you have found fish that are spawning, there are others nearby that will be more active and a better target.

My personal favorite is faster runs just below the tailout. Fish holding in this structure tend to be very active, and will hit a presentation with aggression. In these situations, the Steelhead has to quickly make a selective choice about your offering. Faster water flows create a faster drift, giving the fish little time to refuse a tasty looking fly. Pick-ups in this situation are often followed by strong runs and maybe a few airborne cartwheels. In many cases, the fish will head upstream after the hook-up with power and speed that few fish can muster. Pound for pound the Steelhead is very strong and like a bone fish can test the capacity of your reel.

Faster water means fishing deep and wet for the Steelhead. It is essential to get your presentation down to the holding fish. When fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead if you are not on the bottom you are not fishing. An effective Steelheader is comfortable with nymphing techniques and can fish a fly deep. It is not impossible to catch Steelhead on a dry fly, but most Steelheaders fish wet as opposed to dry.

An Effective Steelheader Can Fish by Feel Alone.

When fishing deep and fast to these fish, more often that not, you will never even see or in many cases feel the pick-up of your fly by the Steelhead. A Steelhead like a rainbow can gum a fly and spit it out before you have a clue as to what just happened. That is why it is essential to develop a feel of your drift on the bottom of the stream.

Some of the best Steelheading is at night and very low light times, when the fish are less spooky. Often times I will fish the streams of Michigan and Wisconsin (when legal) in total darkness with only the light of the moon and stars on the water. I will fish by feel and develop a rhythm and sense of my fly in the water. This is a situation where you don't see the fly or the fish, only occasional fish movements. In these situations, fishing by feel is the only way to catch fish. It is possible to develop a oneness with the river and when the hook-ups come they are more satisfying.

Fishing by feel requires an extra-sensory awareness of the stream, the fish and your presentation.

The next aspect of our Steelhead fishery that I would like to discuss is end of the line fisheries below dams. many of our tributaries have hydroelectric facilities. These facilities in most cases have regulated water flows that can produce an amazing fishery. Over the last few years many of our fisheries below the dams have actually improved for Steelhead and migratory species. TU and the FFF have lobbied hard to force the utilities to manage the flows. The result is more predictable flows that help to improve fisheries in these situations.

Many of the tributaries with Dams such as the Root, St. Joe, Muskegon and others provide great access to fishable water and holding fish. Most migratory species will push right up to the end of the line which is the dam.

many tributaries with dams, have excellent gravel and holding areas below the dams that will provide a destination for the fish. At Tippy dam on the Manistee it is not uncommon to find several hundred or more fish holding in the waters immediately below the dam.

How Do I Get Started?

The easiest Steelheading rig is a standard floating line to a leader that ranges from 4 to 10 feet.

If fish are on the gravel, or in the fast water how do you fish to them?

As I have stated it is essential to get your fly down to holding fish. You must fish at the level that the fish are holding, otherwise your presentation will not be in a position to get a strike.

In most situations, you need to adjust your weight according to the flow of the particular drift you are fishing. It does not matter if you are fishing slow or fast water the adjustment of your weight to get down is necessary. A riffle or run may require adjustment of your weight periodically.

Adjusting the weight on your leader to maintain the proper drifts essential to Steelheading success.

I recommend starting out with a single spit shot on your leader about 18-24" from the fly. Increase the weight of your split shot until you can feel your weight tic bottom every few feet of your drift. Your presentation should be bouncing periodically on the bottom of the stream not dragging bottom Adding too much weight will result in dragging the bottom with your weight. Too much weight will roll your line along the bottom, creating twists in the leader and the fly line, this is not good.

A presentation that ticks bottom every 3 feet or so is just the right amount of weight for Steelheading.

Now that you have your weight ticking bottom every few feet. How do you know if the Steelhead has taken your fly if you can't see the fish? The answer is simple. If your drift stops, one of two things has happened. Either your fly is in the mouth of a fish, or it is caught on the bottom. Obviously the former is preferred. If your drift stops, set the hook first, ask questions later. Hopefully, a fish that has taken your presentation and the hook set will be followed by allot of fun. If it is a rock, it will followed by no fun, especially when the rock decides it wants to keep your fly.

Let's take a look at how to get the offering to the Steelhead. On most streams, I will position my self in the flow facing the stream with the flow from right to left or left to right as the case may be. I prefer the drift from my right side. I try to position myself so the prime holding area is directly in front of me or just to my left down stream. I prefer to cast upstream to 2 o'clock to begin the drift. The drift is started above the target area to allow the presentation to get down before it gets to the fish.

As the fly moves through the drift you want to follow the fly with your rod to achieve the longest possible drift. It is also important to follow the presentation at the same rate as the water flow to prevent drag on your fly.

I have found that when fishing this type of over and down presentation, the majority of all pick-ups are in the last 1/3 of your drift. This makes sense because the fly is at the correct depth for the longest time in this portion of the drift.

It is also important to note that many pick-ups will occur at the very end of your drift while Steelheading.

If you walk away with two tips from this section of the site, they should be get your fly down, and lots of pick-ups at the end of your drift.

Here is a tip that not many Steelheaders may know. I feel this tip will catch you more Steelhead.

Twitch your rod tip one or twice at the end of your drift. The twitch is a simple downstream pull of the rod tip only 4 to 6 inches each time. This added motion imparts a last action to the fly as it sweeps of the bottom and completes the drift. Fly fishers I have taught this method to are surprised at the increase of hook-ups that they experience at the end of the drift. Furthermore, the twitch can alert an angler to a Steelhead that is gumming the fly as it sweeps off the bottom. Without twitching the rod tip, the fish may not be noticed in many cases. I have found that this method is effective when fishing any patterns that are typically presented on the bottom.

The next time you are out Steelheading or trout fishing with nymph patterns try the aforementioned twitch, you just may pick-up a few more fish.

The down and across method is an effective downstream presentation for Steelhead. In this presentation the fly is swept across and down through holding fish.

A cast is thrown downstream and is then swept across the holding area with a long sweeping movement of the rod tip. Typically the Steelheader will draw the fly through the holding area slowly in front of the fish. This technique works well when the only presentation available is from upstream of the fish.

Generally you will need more weight for this type of a presentation than the over and down drift. This presentation must work against the strength of the current and the tension of the fly line, so more weight is needed to keep the fly down.This method can also be used with a drop back style of presentation that together are very effective ways to present fly to a Steelhead. In this combination the fly is swept in front of the fish as above, when it gets to the top of the holding area a few feet of line is released to allow the fly to drift down through the holding fish.

With a long leader, this method can be great for line shy or spooky fish. The fly line remains well upstream of the fish, and is never cast over them to make the presentation.

Like all other fishing, you have to pay your dues in Steelheading!

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