Can you spot the steelhead in the image above? There are three fish, each over 20 inches…

There is a certain rush in the fall when the days get cooler, the leaves change, and 20 pound trout begin to show up where there was once only suckers and smallmouth. There is a culture, an industry, and a mythos that surrounds the lake run species from the UP of Michigan to New York State.

Often, the perception is that Lake Erie or Lake Michigan steelhead fishing means combat angling. That the only way to do it is to stand shoulder to shoulder, dodging weighted trebles and discarded egg cups. It can get that way. But it doesn’t have to be that way. It can be solitary. Yet it takes work. And then, of course, you have to trick animals that have been bombarded with flies, lures, and bait – and who have very little interest in actually eating – to get on the end of your line.

I haven’t perfected the Great Lakes steelhead game, but I think I’ve done it enough to offer up some principles that can make for a great day on the water.

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That is an excerpt from Great Lakes Steel (aka, Adfluvial Rainbows), the article I wrote for Trout & Feather in October.

Also I share two great fly tying videos from Trout & Feather. If you have the materials, you’ll be able to tie both very quickly. Plus, you’ll learn a lot about the techniques that underpin both patterns.

Watch the videos, and find a link to the article, below:

Head to “The Pursuit of Fish” on Trout & Feather to read my posts, including Great Lakes Steel (aka, Adfluvial Rainbows).

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Foam beetles are a great way for new tyers to not only build their confidence, but also to learn how to experiment. Once you learn these techniques, you can really get into a whole world of foam-bodied bugs. The beetle is one of the first flies I learned to tie, and it was one of the first flies I taught my kids to tie. In this video, Tim gives you the “how” and the “what” – but he also shares the “why.”

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Have you ever seen a beautiful, lifelike minnow pattern and thought either A) I am not going to spend $8 on a fly, or B) there is no way I can tie that? This pattern from The Fly Fishing Show’s Chuck Furimsky is an excellent baitfish imitation that is also a simple tie. Once you get the materials, all you need to do is assemble and tie a few knots. Then, you’re ready to fish! Another great thing about the Bugskin Shinetail is that it is customizable in countless ways – all you need is an array of Sharpie markers. You can make these in sizes that will catch little pond species up to the biggest things that swim in the ocean.

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Have any tying or fishing questions for Tim or me? Please leave a comment below.

Also be sure to visit Trout & Feather and subscribe to Tim’s newsletter.