Fishing Lake Superior Streams
By Scott E. Smith
Beginning in April, and like everywhere varying from year to
year due to prevailing weather conditions, steelhead begin to run
north-shore streams. In the beginning they mill around the mouths
of their nursery rivers, and slowly filter into the lower pools. The
season's length is dependent generally by water volume and
temperature. The ideal spring is a slow, gradual melt, interspersed
with spring rains, which keeps the rivers fairly high and cool. In
low-water years the run can be short-lived, especially if there is
a sudden warm spell that brings the water temperatures near the
fifty-degree mark. As described to me by one of the most ardent
steelheaders on the shore, the peak of the run culminates at the
point in time where no more snow exists in the high country. Once
this happens the water temperature in the streams increases markedly;
nature reminds the steelhead there is little time left before the rivers
drop to their summer levels. On some streams, such as the Jackpine,
an increase in water levels by ten-fold is not uncommon during the
height of spring runoff.
This factor presents a dilemma for the fervent steelheader: to be
present at the peak of the run, but not during flood conditions. During
the spring of 1996, the north-shore received an incredible runoff due
to record snow levels and relentless rain. When most rivers should
have been receiving the peak of the steelhead run, they were brown
and torrid, sweeping over their banks through the woods and washing
out bridges and highways. A scant week later they were fishing perfectly.
Generally the run begins to come into fruition in mid-April. Beginning first
with the tributaries in the lower latitudes at both ends of the lake near
Thunder Bay at the west end, and near Sault Ste. Marie at the east end.
As you move north from these points in either direction along the coast
you move north in latitude. The run's peak is naturally delayed accordingly
as you move north. This provides a fairly lengthy window of opportunity
for the angler who begins with the earliest rivers and follows the runs as
they move north, even though the run is generally less then one month long in
any given stream. In normal years the fishing lasts right into June, with the
Steel River being the final river to peak.
After the spawning run is complete, anglers should focus on larger rivers
such as the Steel, Nipigon and Michipicoten, which hold a decent number
of resident trout and steelhead due to their size and biological profile. River
mouths are much overlooked by fly anglers in this region. Lake trout, brook
trout, salmon and steelhead are attracted to the mouths of larger rivers and
take advantage of the inscects and baitfish that are being delivered to them
nicely by the river currents, particularly after a good rain. Surf-casting
(or flats fishing) is a viable method of working river mouths, but by far
float-tubing gives you the most mobility. As Murphy's Law dictates, the
fish are always out ten feet farther than you can cast; this problem is
eliminated with the employment of a float tube. Needless to say, you
must be wary of windy days on Superior.
Beginning in mid-August - dependent on water levels -
coaster brook trout move into their nursery streams, holding in
lower pools and estuaries. Although during any period of high
water throughout the summer, fishing reasonably sized streams will
produce both coasters and steelhead. Pink salmon are the next
species to enter streams in late August. Pinks are most prolific
during odd years (i.e. 97, 99), but also are found in respectable
numbers during even years in larger rivers. Coho salmon, which
average about four pounds in Superior streams, are encountered in
rivers as early as September 1, peaking somewhere around
the end of that month. These fish provide great sport on a fly rod
and are generally underutilized by anglers. Lake trout also enter
streams during late September. Look for lakers in slow pools in
lower sections of rivers. Chinook are found in many of the larger
rivers and are becoming more and more popular with fly anglers as
specialized techniques and fly patterns are developed for these
beasts. The operative month for Chinook is October for most
rivers. Accompanied by any of these runs of fish are steelhead.
Fall steelhead on Superior's north coast are usually smaller than
the steelhead found during the spring run, but these chrome dynamos
fight like a spring fish of twice their size. I have literally chased after
five-pound steelhead as they rocketed their way downstream after
feeling the steel, zipping from one holding pool to another trying
to escape the stumbling fool who has interrupted their autumn
voyage. These battles have left me gasping for breath, but pumped.
The embrace of a chrome fall steelhead makes for a glorious
"Kodak moment" set against the red and yellow foliage of autumn.
The best steelhead rivers are those that are large enough to provide
an over-wintering environment for steelhead. Many rivers receive false
runs of two-year-old steelhead that feed on nymphs and salmon eggs,
but the larger tributaries receive runs of fish that hold through the
winter in deep pools and spawn very early in the spring. A prime
example of this type of situation is the Steel River. The best timing
for steelheading on these hold-over rivers is in November, after the
salmon and trout have finished spawning. Although a six-pound fall
steelhead is considered a large fish during this period, some as large
as ten or eleven pounds are reported annually.
Freeze-up is usually late November or early December, depending on the
size of the river and the onset of winter-like temperatures. The Nipigon
River is one of the few rivers that does not freeze over completely
during the severity of January's cold spell. Subsequently, winter
fishing is only feasible during mid-winter thaws on the Nipigon and
a number of select spring creeks in the area.
Fly Patterns Next time! ~ Scott E. Smith
Excerpt from: Ontario
Blue-Ribbon Fly Fishing Guide
Published by: Frank Amato Publications, Inc.
P.O. Box 82112, Portland Oregon 97282 Phone: 503-653-8108,
email Frank Amato Publications
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