the troller Loc: Downers Grove, il.

This one is a little long.....Hope you enjoy!

Their overwhelming size and unmatched fighting power draw Great Lakes Fisherman from near and far to sample the incredible action!

What’s faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound? Is it a “SUPER FISH”? No, it’s a Skamania Steelhead Trout, at least if you believe the press it has gotten over the years. Much of what has been published about this “Super Fish”, has been penned by writers who pulled into town, fished a day or two, and pronounced themselves experts…..In no way do I consider myself an expert either, but over the years I’ve learned a few lessons, a few tricks, and have come to some conclusions of what makes these fish tick and what it takes to put them in the boat.

For those of you that don’t know, a skamania steelhead is actually a strain of Rainbow Trout, also known as steelhead Trout. THEY ARE NOT A HYBIRD!
The Great Lakes has two strains of Steelhead – the Michigan winter one’s and the skamania.
Skamania are native to the skamania River in Washington State.
The skamania run the rivers in July, August and September. They stay in the rivers until spawning takes place in February. The Michigan winter strain runs the rivers during the winter months and spawn in March or April.

During normal years, skamania will show up at Michigan City and Portage in early July and stage in front of the creek mouths for a couple of weeks before heading upstream. If the rains wait until the beginning of August, the trolling action will remain hot. If the rains come too early, the skamania may shoot up the stream and the boat trollers (and pier fishermen) may not even see a fish!

Call a local bait shop in Michigan City for reports to find out if they are running, or get out there and give it a shot!

I can tell you this! I don’t know of any freshwater fish that fights harder! They make incredible jumps, take more runs and indeed often fight so hard that by netting time they have exhausted themselves!

I’ve used spoons, trolling flies and just about every type lure available on the market today. Most of the Skamania I have caught were taken on a floating J-9 Rapala in the color gold fl. red.

The largest skamania i’ve caught to date is a 23 pound, 39 inch beast back in July of 2007. I nailed it on a j-9 Gold Fl. Red Floating Rapala …..Just recently on June 27th of 2012, I brought home a 38″ incher that weighed just over twenty pounds. Again, caught on the same type lure pictured. The colors and lively action of the Jointed Rapala is more than a serious skamania can resist….. June and July are the top months to long line for this super Fish! Here is what I recommend:

Never use a leader of any kind. All trout are leader, snap and swivel shy(a small split ring is ok)A Rapala knot is recommended.....
Fast zig-zag trolling is best (always experiment w/speed)check lures along side of boat to make sure they are running straight.
Use no more than 10 lb low stretch mono line
Use 10-12 ft. light or ultra light rods
Use a gold fl. red floating J-9 Rapala for best results…..A gold fl. red J-11 is also a good bet.
Flat Long lining (when traffic allows) is usually best
Planer boards (when traffic allows)with less line out, also works well

When traffic allows, run out about 150- 200 yards of line…..Use level wind trolling reels loaded with at least four-hundred yards of 6-8 lb low stretch mono line…..Big skamania can take out hundreds of line on connection in a heartbeat. The long ultra lite rods are necessary to absorb the shock of a jumping skamania. When you hook up with one, you better be prepared for fast-paced action. They have a way of making a cool-headed fisherman act like a kid in a candy store! Here is a word to the wise: Never set the hook or try to horse in a good sized skamania, as they tend to barely hook themselves…..try not to let slack in the line, and lower your rod when they leap out of the water!

Certainly, you might even catch a big skamania with a broom stick with guides, loaded with fifty pound black braided line! I’m only saying what I know works! Anyway, what do you have to lose, besides a 30 lb skamania?

WASHINGTON PARK MARINA LAKE FRONT FACILITIES/BOAT LAUNCH & BEACH

Washington Park is located on the Northern end of Michigan City, directly on the shore of Lake Michigan. The public boat launch is located at the north side of the marina, close to the beach. Proximity allows fast access to Lake Michigan waters. The ramp here can hold 3 vehicles, and boats are allowed up to 38′ in length. A parking fee, and a launch fee apply, usually from early Spring thru late Fall. Season passes are available. Please park in designated areas for vehicles with trailers. Restroom facilities.

PARK HOURS: 6am to 10pm.
MC Port Authority: 219-872-1712
Make sure your vessel is properly registered and in compliance with Lake Michigan boating regulations.

This is my favorite place to fish for Skamania Trout on Lake Michigan….

At Michigan City, Trail Creek empties into Lake Michigan right at Washington Park. When the skamania first begin appearing at the end of June or early July, trollers often fish for them right in front of the pier head at the mouth of the creek. If the fishing action is slow there, they spread out along the beach to the east and west and pick up cruising skamania in the shallows.

The best trolling action can take place a little farther offshore of the pier head. Boaters working off the mouth can expect good action, right near the surface . Experimentation goes a long way when it comes to finding actively feeding Skamanians…..Most of my fish have been caught in about forty feet of water just in front of the beach. Wind direction is all important here, with most of my luck coming when there are light North or Northeast winds.

Pier-fishing at Washington Park for shoreline fisherman is always popular. Trail Creek flows past the pier on the west side, and many fishermen fish right there in the muddy current. Bobbers of all sizes are used to suspend the baits and keep them in the strike zone.

Although many pier-anglers cast the “old reliable” fluorescent orange spinners and spoons, live-bait fishing is also quite productive. Spawn sacs, night crawlers and small minnows also catch good numbers of skamania each summer season.

Thanks for looking.....Good Luck!
www.fishingfacts.net

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

Sounds great, I hope to have the opportunity sometime.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Troller - my wife is from Michigan City and grew up on Trail Creek. We married over fifty years ago and I do not recall hearing of folks fishing for steelhead anywhere around there. Are they a recently introduced species?

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

The Steelhead was introduced to the Great Lakes region, including Michigan, as far back as the late 1800’s. The initial stocks were from Oregon, then Washington and some from California.
The Skamania strain of Steelhead refers to fish that share genetics with fish that developed their characteristics on the Washougal River in SW Washington. I believe that Wisconsin was the first state to introduce the Skamania strain in somewhere around the 1960’s. Wisconsin then started Sharing this superior strain to other states in the region through their hatchery program.
The Washougal is a relatively short free flowing river that flows into the Columbia River which flows into the Pacific Ocean. The Washougal River flows through Clark County but originates in Skamania County. The Skamania name comes from the Skamania Hatchery in Skamania County, Washington.
I am fortunate to have my home on the banks of the Washougal and fish for these magnificent fish whenever the conditions allow. I have entertained some relatives from Wisconsin on occasion who enjoyed visiting the Skamania Hatchery and catching a Skamania strain steelhead in their natal stream, along with the one’s that they had caught in Wisconsin.
Let me know if you come this way and I would be happy to show you around and help you try to tie into a Skamania Steelie. Our run is usually May through July.

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

I enjoyed your description of methods used in your fishery. There are some similarities to how we approach these fish in the Pacific Northwest.
I am hoping to get by that way and give your region a try someday.

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

If I am ever heading up that way I will certainly let you know. Thanks for the invitation. I would love to go on a steelhead hunt.

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

Just PM me when the time comes.

brewertoo Loc: houston

great input on the sakamina steelhead.

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

There’s another strain of Rainbow trout that we got eggs from and raised out here at the hatchery I worked at. We weren’t allowed to take eggs from our fish, we had to but fresh eggs every year. I can’t remember the name of that strain but I think it’s name began with an “O”.
Any ideas ?

brewertoo Loc: houston

Oyfoi trout?

brewertoo Loc: houston

i'm sorry i'm dumb didn't do my research.

Fishinmaniac Loc: SW Washington

Michigan used and I believe still uses a strain of eggs from Oregon. Their program started in the 1890’s but like most of the initial starts they didn’t really get rolling until the 1960’s.
Remember that by the end of the 1950’s the Great Lakes were all but devoid of the native Lake Trout and Whitefish. Salmon had been introduced into Lake Michigan in 1873 but the efforts failed. In an effort to bring a viable fishery back to Lake Michigan an effort was made by Howard Tanner with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in 1966 to acquire surplus Coho salmon eggs from Oregon and release the smolts into the Platte River, and Bear Creek, both of which are tributaries of Lake Michigan. The Salmon program took off across the region as other states noted the immediate result of large returns of mature salmon back to Platte Bay by Labor Day of 1967. This also led to the almost immediate introduction of Chinook Salmon to the entire region as well.
Since 2000 Lake Michigan has received the largest number of Coho plants while Lake Huron has received the most Chinook..
As for Steelhead, they were actually the fish of choice for introduction because they are a “Trout” and the State and Federal Governments wanted to introduce a trout to supplement their efforts to bring a Lake Trout fishery back to Lake Michigan and the other Great Lakes.
Michigan and Wisconsin spearheaded most of the early efforts in the mid 1960’s. I believe Wisconsin uses three strains, all of which originated in Oregon and Washington. They are Skamania from Indiana, and the Chambers Creek and Ganaraska strains from Lake Ontario.
Indiana was a late comer to the game but has become an important producer of Skamania strain fish since they got things going successfully around 1982.
So, the only fish that I know of with an “O” origin name would be in reference to Oregon. But which hatchery? I do not know. It’s probably impossible to track where some of the surplus eggs came from back in the early days.
Perhaps someone who actually worked in the hatchery programs in Oregon or Washington at that time could comment with more accurate/complete information than what I have been able to provide from my limited interest in the topic.

brewertoo Loc: houston

thanks for the info.