When Is The Best Time To Fish For Steelhead?

From Thanksgiving until Easter steelhead dominate our time for good reason!

As the leaves continue to turn brilliant red, orange, and yellow, many anglers are wondering if it's "time" to head north in pursuit of steelhead.  These extraordinary fighting fish enter the tributaries of Lake Erie in the fall, and winter over before spawning and heading back for the big waters in April.  When it comes to steelhead, timing is everything:  whether that be timing of the run, planning a trip to follow periods of rain, or trying to get a day of fishing in without the insufferable scourge of the crowds.  That begs the question, when is the best time to fish for steelhead?

Few Things Match The Excitement of a caught steelhead!

Steelhead in the Pennsylvania tribs will begin to show up as soon as Labor Day and stick around until Easter.  With that being said, the best times to target chrome in the Keystone State is after Thanksgiving through January, weather permitting.   This is the peak of the run and sees great numbers of fish in the streams with lighter crowds thanks to harsh weather that often accompanies Erie in the winter.  Days of single digit temperatures with blasting wind and driving snow are commonplace, but it's well worth it when fish after fish is hooked! 

Ohio is a little different thanks to a different strain of fish.  These steelhead come into the streams and rivers later and feature fantastic fishing in February and March.  With larger watersheds and larger fish, the experience of steelheading in Ohio can be much different than that in PA.  Having the peak of the run happen at a different time of year means anglers can hit each successfully without feeling like they are missing out on either! 

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