Great Lakes Brown Trout - FFI Magazine
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Great Lakes Brown Trout Brought to you by:
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THIS ARTICLE ON FFIMAGAZINE.COM Some anglers travel halfway around the world to catch giant brown
trout. Midwesterners can do just that right outside their backdoors.
By Rick Kustich | August 2021
G reat Lakes weather can be
unforgiving. Driving snow, howling
America, New Zealand, or Iceland
for this level of fishing results. But
of a top predator. Brown trout ex-
ceeding 10 pounds occur with
mid-December. Some lake-runs
spend the winter in tributaries that
don’t ice over or those that have
brown trout that spend the win-
ter in the lakes will nose their way
into the estuaries and lower ends
The autumn months tend to at-
tract the greatest angling pressure.
Lake-run brown trout go through
gusts, and brutal wind chills tempt runs of large brown trout have some regularity and fish exceed- deep enough pools to allow those of the rivers and streams to feed. the spawning process in October
even the most ardent anglers to made their way up some of the ing 20 pounds are possible. fish to ride out the cold months. The behavior of the brown trout in and November. While the fishery
put the rods away at times. But, the Great Lakes tributaries for near- During late winter and early spring the spring is largely impacted by is largely supported by annual
opportunity to pursue brown trout ly a half-century. The returning Lake-run brown trout begin mov- the browns that have wintered-over various bait migrations that occur hatchery plantings, there are some
that are truly measured in pounds adults are typically beautiful fish ing into Great Lakes rivers and begin dropping back to the lakes near the warming tributary waters. pockets of successful reproduction
as opposed to inches isn’t com- sporting golden-yellow hues streams in the fall, sometimes as but can linger, building up their Some fish can also be encountered on tributaries with sufficient water
monly found in many fisheries. adorned with pronounced black early as the first part of September body weight in the tributaries staging in the lake near the mouths quality. I steer clear of any active-
spots. Males sport deep jawlines with the highest densities of fish since the water warms much faster of the tributaries. ly spawning fish to focus on those
Anglers often venture to South that project the distinct image typically found in late October into than the lakes. During spring some that are on the move, upstream or
downstream. In some of my favor- the states of Michigan and Wiscon- brown trout throughout the Great quiring a searching and prospect- can attract. The crowd is usually a a certain mindset focused on find-
ite waters the best fishing begins sin supply Lake Michigan with fish. Lakes region run the gamut in ing approach. The northern rivers mixed lot of anglers employing a ing the positives of a social fishery
after the spawn is completed. Fish There is a limited stocking plan in terms of size, length, fishing pres- also offer the best opportunity for range of fly fishing or convention- while fitting in with other anglers.
that are no longer consumed with place for Lake Erie tributaries by sure, and overall surroundings. naturally reproducing lake-runs. al fishing techniques. Streamside
the biological desire to procreate the states of New York and Penn- Those located in remote areas manners vary widely amongst such In the more populated areas, fish-
now have feeding on their minds. sylvania. Most of the lake-runs can boast pristine environs and It’s only natural to expect that rivers a cross-section of individuals and ing the rivers and streams that
caught on Lake Erie tributaries are backdrops leading to a high qual- and streams receiving consistent actions not considered fit for your have some length will help spread
Most of the consistent lake-run a pleasant surprise by-catch while ity fishing experience. Most of the runs of trophy-sized brown trout lo- typical trout stream may be part out anglers. The shorter tributaries
brown trout fishing exists in the riv- steelhead fishing. Some migratory rivers and streams offering a more cated closer to population centers of the backdrop. But even in these that concentrate the fish receive
ers and streams feeding Lake On- brown trout fishing exists on a few isolated opportunity are found see a fair amount of fishing pres- higher fishing pressure situations, the heaviest pressure.
tario and Lake Michigan, and to a rivers along Lakes Superior and along the north shore of Lake On- sure. And a few of the tributaries when anglers exhibit some respect
lesser degree Lake Erie. The state Huron. tario and in northern Michigan that experience concentrated runs for one another, enjoyable fishing Even on the most heavily fished
of New York and province of On- and Wisconsin. Fish can be more of fish see the type of close-quarter can still be found. Enjoyment on waters there are strategies to coun-
tario both stock Lake Ontario, and The rivers and streams that host spread out on these tributaries, re- angling that only trophy-sized trout heavily pressured waters requires teract fishing pressure. On popular
tributaries I focus on the off-peak move and on the feed. fly for movement will be the best tion I have made over the years on tary. Often the best fishing oppor- ple migratory brown trout become times. Fishing pressure tends to approach. my home rivers is that migratory tunities occur as the water recedes active all at once creating a period wane in late November and often Focusing on slower pools, which brown trout tend to search out from a high water event. of opportunity. This often occurs corresponds with the end of the are often located low on the trib- Almost all of the Great Lakes trib- softer flows than steelhead. after an extended period of inac- spawn and an increase in brown utaries and into the estuaries, can utaries that receive runs of brown Persistence is the key to success tivity. Factors that could trigger this trout feeding. I also search out separate you from other anglers trout also experience runs of steel- Water flow is a key consideration when pursuing lake-run browns. change include an increase in wa- marginal weather and water con- while providing a tactical advan- head. In many rivers and streams on many Great Lakes tributaries, Both locating fish and having one ter temperature and variations in ditions. The type of conditions tage. Brown trout can search out steelhead numbers exceed brown particularly those that are spate in eat your fly can take some effort. daylight. that keep anglers at home create these deep, slow pools from fall trout numbers and in most cases nature and rely on rain and runoff. Sometimes success is found in a literal gold mine for those who through spring. Some of this low- both species occupy similar types An increase in water flow draws spending enough time on the wa- A wide range of techniques can be know where to find fish. Rainy, er water allows for a slow swing of water. But over time it is possible fish from the lake and redistributes ter to encounter an active period. used to entice Great Lakes brown snowy, blustery days with light fish- and strip, but often there is little to identify water that is more likely brown trout and steelhead that Over the years I have observed trout. The fish tend to be more ag- ing pressure puts lake-runs on the current—relying on stripping the to hold brown trout. One observa- have already ascended the tribu- numerous occasions when multi- gressive to the fly before and after
the spawning period. Dead-drift- on larger waters I prefer a switch mend assists in placing the fly low
ing nymphs and small egg patterns rod or full two-hander to employ in the water column. Maintain a
can be quite productive during pe- a variety of spey casts. I enjoy the slow, controlled swing by not al-
riods in the fall when the lake-runs rhythm and cadence of spey fish- lowing the line to form too large of
tend to be less aggressive. Twelve- ing and from an efficiency stand- a downstream belly. Soft mends re-
to 15-foot leaders with an indicator point this approach maximizes the position the line during the swing
and light tippet produce a natural time the fly is in the water. I have without impeding the swimming
drift that represents a plethora of also added one-hand spey rods to action of the fly. Be sure to focus
aquatic insects and drifting eggs. the repertoire for smaller waters. on the hang-down phase as the
Rods of 10 feet long or longer fly swings into soft water. Work the
are perfect for line control. Sev- The rig for swinging a fly for lake- fly back with slow strips, trying to
en-weight rods and lines match up run brown trout is fairly simple. I entice any fish that has followed
perfectly to the average size of a typically use a short head line with the fly or that might be holding
migratory brown. a sinking leader or sink-tip con- in those soft flows. The soft inside
nected to the head with a loop-to- seams can be quite effective when
Tight-line and Euro-nymphing is loop connection. The tippet of 10- the water temperatures run cold or
also very productive for lake-runs to 12 pound test monofilament is when flows are high.
and provide a more intimate con- then looped to the sinking leader
nection to the fly. The tight-line or sink-tip. Skagit heads and other Stripping streamers using an inte-
nymphing rods available today are similar short head designs provide grated sink-tip line or sinking lead- Wading along the lake shore can For streamers, Zonker-style flies Almost all my streamer patterns
built to handle larger fish and pro- great versatility when presenting er looped to the front of a floating be productive near some tributary work very well for migratory brown are weighted, which allows the fly
vide a challenging and fun way to large streamer style patterns. Long line can be effective in water with mouths, but a boat or kayak often trout. White, gray, and olive are my to drop through the water column
approach the fishery. Long leaders, leaders of 10 feet or more, fished little or no current. Either a sin- provides better access to prime favorite colors. The Bunny Spey quickly. Weight at the head of the
weighted flies, and a low-diameter off Scandi or hybrid style heads gle-hand rod or a switch rod can water both in the lake and estuary. tied on a tube is my first choice. fly also adds action during a strip
Euro nymphing line can attain the work well in low and clear water be paired with this technique. Fo- Muddler patterns in olive, brown, retrieve.
ultimate dead drift and sensitivity. I conditions. I typically combine this cus on the lower ends of tributar- Flies for lake-run brown trout can or purple, tied with a combination
prefer this approach over indicator rig with a weighted fly and a fluoro- ies and estuaries as well as where be as simple or complex as you de- of rabbit strip, marabou or other The Great Lakes region offers such
fishing due to the feeling of truly carbon tippet. The long leader rig a tributary flows into the lake. The sire. Glo Bugs or egg clusters, such soft-hackles, and a head of spun a wide range of potential expe-
fishing the fly as opposed to the provides an element of stealth. lake water can be productive in as Scrambled Eggs or the Car- deer hair or wool, are also quite riences. This includes rivers and
reliance on watching an indicator. fall and spring. However, I find that pet Fly, cover most of your needs effective. Streamers tied with craft streams from pristine to urban and
My preference is to search out agg Lake-run brown trout can be spring provides the best opportu- when dead-drifting egg patterns. fur or other synthetic materials everything in-between. Like most
spread out and occupy a range of nity for aggressively feeding brown Basic caddis larva, generic mayfly work well when more suggestive fisheries, the Great Lakes region
essive fish that react to larger holding water when present in the trout in the lake. The best condi- nymphs, such as the Hare’s Ear or patterns seem to be failing. Tying has its issues and imperfections.
streamer-style flies by covering tributaries. Spey fishing allows for tions exist when warmer, stained Pheasant Tail, or simple stonefly patterns to match natural bait is But it also hosts some of the best
as much water as possible. Both efficient coverage of various wa- flows dump into the lake from a nymphs can all be quite produc- an effective approach, too. A wing trophy-sized brown trout fishing
swinging and stripping flies can ter types. Focus on structure, such tributary, as trout often stage right tive under an indicator or while of Fin raccoon also creates a pro- in North America—the type of re-
be productive, but wherever there as ledges, drop-offs and log-jams along the transition from dirty tight-line nymphing. Beadhead or ductive fly that works well in clear sults that many anglers travel half a
is current I’ll use the swung fly ap- while paying particular attention to clearer water. A slow retrieve heavily weighted versions of these water. Long-time favorites, such world away to encounter.
proach. Single-hand rods can be to the soft flows on inside seams works best in cold water but vary nymph patterns work best when as the Egg Sucking Leech, Woolly
used on the smaller streams to and eddies. An across or slightly the speed and cadence in warmer using the tight line approach. Bugger, and Clouser Minnow, can
swing flies. But when swinging a fly downstream cast with an upstream flows to find the right trigger point. all be quite productive.
Great Lakes Brown Trout Rick Kustich lives in western New
Some anglers travel halfway around the world York and has been in the fly fishing
to catch giant brown trout. Midwesterners can industry for over 30 years. He is the
do just that right outside their backdoors. author of Advanced Fly Fishing for
Great Lakes Steelhead and Hunting
By Rick Kustich | August 2021 Musky with a Fly.
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