Get in on the running action of browns, kings and steelhead
By Hannah Stonehouse Hudson
Want some of the strongest fighting fish with some of the fastest fishing action of the year? Try fishing for brown trout, king salmon and steelhead in the fall. Some of these fish are huge pigs, some are of the smaller variety – but all fight like crazy!
Where to find them
If you are lucky enough to live near a Great Lake or by one of its tributaries, you will be in for a treat of epic fishy proportions. The run of browns, kings and steelhead all happen around the same time all along the shores of those lakes – especially Superior and Michigan – and they can be absolutely huge fish. Some are huge thanks to being full of eggs and some are huge thanks to genetics.
All of the fishing is accessible by wading or from shore, so it is not necessary to have a boat to reach them, and there are ample places to walk-in. Most state DNR websites have maps on their websites of where to access fishing spots.
If you are not in the Great Lakes area, fall runs happen wherever there is a fish population needing to move from a larger body of water to their stream spawning grounds (though some also run in the spring as well). Check out your state’s DNR website for run information.
When to fish for them
The fall run for salmon in particular is very dependent on weather. They traditionally start in September, but warmer air temps and/or lack of rain will delay the run by a little bit, and cooler temps and/or increased water levels will start the run a bit earlier. The fish need fast running water and deeper levels of water to move up the tributaries into their preferred grounds.
Every year is slightly different, and many fishing groups keep each other updated online (especially on Facebook). Don’t be afraid to ask other anglers what they have seen. The fish will always be moving in September and October (even into November some places), but finding the big numbers of fish is all a matter of timing it right.
How to fish the fall run
Fishing in the fall can be a great time for some huge fish, but timing it to when they are actually interested in spoons, baits or skein can be a challenge. Most are not hungry – the majority of them are actually not interested in eating when they spawn. What causes them to bite is instinct. You want to either trigger their instinct to strike with a lure presentation that catches the fish’s attention – or you want to trigger their instinct to eat salmon spawn.
There are a few ways an angler can trigger these instincts, and the following is a general overview of two very specific fishing techniques. The fun and frustrating thing about fall fishing is that one technique will work, but then suddenly it will not. All of it depends on timing, temperature, fish behavior, spawning activity, water levels, barometric pressure, etc.
Skein In the current
Salmon or trout eggs are one of the most effective baits for enticing salmon, steelhead and trout to bite. These egg clusters are called skein. The skein you use for bait can be fresh, cured or it can be an artificial presentation that is purchased. Curing the skein allows you to store the eggs clusters in the refrigerator for a month or freezer for up to a year.
When spawning fish are active in the streams, rivers, shoreline or harbors, they will often ignore all other baits and lures. On either a fly or spinning combo, attach a small bag of skein with a sinker and either a bobber or strike indicator. Cast it at the top of the current, allow it to follow down with the current and move past you. This can trigger an instinctual bite as well as a territorial bite.
Casting spoons
Using a spoon like an Acme Little Cleo, cast to the top and a little above the running water current. Reel the lure in toward you so it follows with and across the current. This can trigger an instinctual bite when it flashes by them in the water.
These techniques can be done from shore or from a boat. I tend to prefer the shore or wading. Seeing those big browns up close as they go by you upstream is an incredible experience, especially when they unexpectedly hit your waders as they go by!
Hannah Stonehouse Hudson of Wisconsin is a photographer, writer and speaker with a love for dogs and fishing. Follow her on Facebook @HannahStonehouseHudson.
