Fishing for Steelhead
Identification, habitat, techniques, and tackle—then find a captain who targets them.
Steelhead are the anadromous form of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) that spend part of their life at sea before returning to freshwater to spawn. Ocean-phase steelhead are silvery with a faint
Steelhead use a mix of saltwater, estuary and freshwater river habitat. They are found along Pacific coastal rivers from California to Alaska and in introduced inland systems where access to the sea
Effective methods depend on water type and run timing. In rivers, drifted roe, beads, cured eggs or small jigs fished on a short leader through seams and pool tails work well. Fly anglers fish swung
For fly fishing use 8 to 10 weight single-hand or 7 to 11 weight spey rods with sink-tip or aggressive shooting heads for large rivers. Bring stout leaders and 12 to 20 lb fluorocarbon or a 20 to 30
Ready to target steelhead? Connect with a local guide below or search all captains.
Captains Who Target Steelhead
No captains in our directory currently list steelhead as a species they target. Browse all captains to find someone who might target it, or check back later as our network grows.