(WNY News Now) – With winter approaching, anglers across the Great Lakes region are gearing up for an exciting season of steelhead fishing in the cold, fast-moving tributaries of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.
Now is an excellent time and fishing opportunities await any angler wanting to try their hand at steelhead fishing. Steelhead is a migratory rainbow trout that feeds aggressively in the tributaries of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. But catching them is no easy feat! Between the acrobatic leaps, long drag-screaming runs, and rod-quaking head shakes, the fight of an early-run steelhead is a truly exhilarating experience. It is no wonder that this steelhead fishery draws anglers from across New York State, surrounding states, and Canada. The best time to fish is when water levels are high and temperatures are cold.
According to the DEC website, 29 state tributaries were stocked in 2023 (PDF) with steelhead raised among the 12 DEC hatcheries, which work to enhance recreational fishing and restore native species to waters they formerly occupied in the state. Fishing for returning adult steelhead is generally best on these stocked tributaries; however, steelhead can run any stream that flows into lakes Ontario and Erie.
If you go, don’t forget to dress in layers so that you can adjust to the temperature and activity level. Consider a base and middle layer of clothing that can be removed as needed, as well as waders, insulated trousers, hat, gloves, and thick, wool socks.
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