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We consider every fly in this collection to be the best fly for steelhead, but if you want only a few, then choose the Meg A Egg Sucking Leech, Conehead Bunny Muddler, and Steelie Omelet. Your steelhead fly selection will likely depend on the season.
Steelhead do hit dry flies, depending on the conditions. Usually steelhead will look up when they’re suspended in the water versus holding to the bottom, typically in warmer water conditions. You have a better chance with dry flies in these circumstances, especially in spring when the hatches are on.
How you fish a steelhead fly rig depends on whether you’re swinging or nymphing. If you’re swinging flies, your main focus should be covering the water to find the fish. Cast your fly out, downstream and across, give it a little mend, keep your rod tip near the water, and wait for a pull as the line and fly swing across. Cast, swing, hang the fly, and then step down. For a nymphing rig, a 9- or 10-foot 8-weight single-hand rod will work in most situations, but an 11-foot or longer switch rod offers you extra versatility. Use a weight-forward line for the single-hand rod, and either a Skagit or Scandi line for the switch rod. Use a leader twice as long as the water is deep. These are the basics. The goal is to achieve a dead drift that essentially floats naturally downstream with the speed of the water. For more details, read our pro tips for nymphing and swinging for steelhead.
The best month for steelhead fishing depends on the location. Summer and fall months are best in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. In the Great Lakes, the best months are March–May and October–December; most Northeastern steelhead fishing is on the Great Lakes tributaries. The best steelhead fishing in California happens December–February.
To target steelhead, choose a 9- or 10-foot 8-weight single-hand rod, or use an 11-, 12- or 13-foot spey rod, in most cases, for Skagit or Scandi spey lines.
As with almost everything associated with steelhead fly fishing, the best kind of fly line depends on the conditions and the type of fly fishing you’re doing. Use a weight-forward line on a single-hand rod, and a Skagit or Scandi line on a spey rod. Floating lines are used most often, but if you need to get deeper into the water column, use a sinking line. If you aren’t sure, check with the local fishing shop for advice on the best fly line for steelhead where you’re fishing.
The Steelhead Fly-Fishing Collection at Orvis includes the right fly rods, clothing, and fly patterns for productive days targeting steelhead. Swinging to steelhead presents an exciting challenge for most anglers—that’s why our Steelhead Fly-Fishing Collection offers a comprehensive selection of products and performance fishing clothing to help you target this strong fighter. Whether you’re chasing summer steelhead or bundling up for icy rivers in winter, you’ll need the right fishing pants, waders, and wading boots. We developed our PRO line specifically to keep you on the water as long as you want to be, in any conditions. For colder days, layer up in our men’s and women’s PRO insulated hoodies, underwater pants, wading jackets, and convertible fishing mitts. In warmer temps, stay dry in our PRO waders paired with just a technical fishing shirt. In any season, our wading boots get you where you want to be with impressive traction and comfort. Our Helios 3D fly rods offer a fine-tuned combination of casting impressive distances without sacrificing power, with the accuracy to drop your fly precisely where you want it. We include the lightweight but powerful Mission fly rod for the two-handed angler, and the Clearwater two-handed fly rods for the budget-minded angler casting to steelhead. And you’ll find the fly patterns made for targeting this complex species in a single convenient collection, designed to attract the explosive strikes you’re looking for. Trust us, we understand the thrill of fly fishing for steelhead all too well. While we can’t give you the luck you’ll need to hook this elusive game fish, we can make sure you’ll have everything else.