Tip's for Ohio Steelhead Fishing!



Here you will find tips on OHIO STEELHEAD Fishing
written by the OHIO FISHERMAN who fish for them.

Article #1= Tips on Lake Erie Steelhead Fishing

Written by JV



Joined OHF : 04 Oct 2005
Location: NE Ohio
Steelhead fishing Conneaut Ohio
I don't consider myself a steelhead expert, but I could give a few tips for
someone who wants to catch a few fish. If you never tried your luck for Central Basin Steelhead
you must know its FANTASTIC, the nick name "silver bullet" doesn't even justify the excitement
of hooking one.

Here is a fish caught casting a spoon inside the harbor
Here is one I caught walking the break wall with a spoon
It's you vs. the fish, and not on a 10 ft long sturdy Dipsy diver rod with steel wire line,
I'm talking with light tackle and finesse. Once you hook into one of these and it goes airborne for you,
you will be glad you made the trip no matter how far you came to catch one!
I'm not very much of a fly fisherman, and I use spinning tackle, therefore I stay out of the creek
and let the fly fishermen have their peace. I like to fish the harbor area, especially the break wall.

My wife caught this fish before dawn one morning as we trolled a little cleo out of the harbor
In the fall, when the nights cool, I would say mid to late September, The trophy steelhead return
from the depths of Lake Erie and get ready to run into Conneaut Creek, but they don't just go straight
in, they LINGER in the area, in the boat slips, near the docks, around the break wall inside and out,
and they will remain there until the creeks conditions are just right, and even then, when the creek gets
flooded out, or to muddy, or to hot etc, those fish will run back to the harbor & lake as needed.
In other words, the mouth of the creek, which is usually where the channel is, also usually the harbor,
is a DARN good place to hang out if your a steelhead fisherman. Fish will come and go in this area
when the conditions are right.
And I feel its the best bet for taking your trophy.

When fishing the harbor at Conneaut instead of parking in the boat ramp lot, drive past the ramps
and down the road towards the beach, the road will turn to sand and you know your going the right way.
At the bottom of the road, you will see Conneaut's WEST break wall .
You can park right there and fish on the "short wall" if you want, and they do catch some fish
there right at the beach. A lot of locals sit on the big flat stones in lawn chairs and cast spoons until twilight.
I however, am a little more adventurous. I drive past the short wall and around a part of the bay,
and park out on a sand flat, I choose a spot where the water is 5 inches deep and sand ,
and I walk out to the OUTER wall , the wall is usually marked with paint or sticks in the best places to cross.
You can cross here in places and wont get your ankle wet. Now your on the WEST WALL, and you have a
lot of space, you can fish in privacy, and its literally 2 country miles long. You have the option of fishing the
shallower water towards the beach, or the DEEP water out by the lighthouse.
When the steelhead are in the neighborhood, the fish are caught from the beach to the deep and
everywhere in between. The wall is as wide as a road, and mostly flat on top, and I have some tactics
for the wall. I start right where I wade across and climb up, usually in the shallower water, with a
little cleo casting spoon

I cast out and immediately retrieve the lure fast, keeping it high in the water.
The next cast, I let the spoon sink while I count to 1-2-3-4-5 then I begin the retrieve, next cast 10 count,
then 15 count, and so on until I reach the bottom. If I get no action I move further out on the wall ,
a few yards at a time and repeat the countdown process. Sometimes (overcast conditions)
the fish will take the spoon when its 2" under the surface with an explosive POP.
Or they will be down low near the bottom when they strike, I try to find out where they are so
I can key in on that area. If the conditions are right, and the Lake is being nice for you,
before you get out to the light house you should find some action.
Keep in mind that out towards the light house the water could be near 40" deep , and below lurks
boulders the size of your truck, Sometimes the fish will hold in between the boulder's and strike at will,
I saw charter boats hitting this area over and over, so I checked it out with my fish finder ,
I trolled the spoons over this area and saw the boulders and the marks of fish,
I picked up a tactic that worked a few times, when my boat is passing over the boulders,
I throw the trolling motor into neutral, and let those heavy spoons flutter back down to the depths,
after a few seconds I throw the motor back into gear and resume trolling, and when lucky within 5 seconds
the rods bent in half. When you troll spoons tight lines, the drag from your motor makes the spoon
come up HIGH in the water column, by giving a few seconds to let them sink, sometimes is the ticket.
My favorite little cleo colors are as follows
chrome / blue == chrome/ red == chrome / chart ==chrome /orange.

Another popular bait on the break wall is a bobber and a hair jig tipped with minnows or maggots,
and they always keep it moving somewhat. Also spawn sac catches some fish, however I usually
stick to spoons. Its a lot easier to navigate the wall with 1 net (take a big one did I mention that?)
1 fishing rod and a small box of spoons in my pocket. If you plan on working the length of the wall,
a bobber & jig is going to slow you down. That's up to you.
My wife and I love the taste of trout, and I treat it as excellent table fare.
I like to broil it in the oven, or better yet smoke it outside in the smoker, either way,
if you like trout or salmon, its good stuff.

If your fishing in a boat,
Work the entire area inside the wall and out, also if no shipping activity, be sure to troll or cast
the ship channel, if you have a low windshield you could pass under the R&R bridge and enter the creek,
just don't bother the fly fishermen! If you never caught a steelhead, you must try it sometime.
If you have any questions or comments regarding Steelhead fishing,
please join us in the Fishing report & discussion forum.

Article #2= Crab



OHF Forum Moderator
OHF VIP Member
Joined OHF: 25 Jan 2006
Location: Ironton
I use a 1/32 ounce black hair jig for trout tipped with a meal or wax worm.
I use a small weighted float to help get the jig out there. I jig it back let it sit a while jig it more etc etc etc.
On windy days the waves will work the bait for you.

Article #3= Gotme1

Veteran OHF Member
Joined OHF: 08 Oct 2005
Location: Parma OHIO


This is what I like to use when fishing for steelhead in the winter.

My set up is a 13 ft St Croix float rod. My reel is a John Spahr centerpin reel.
The main line is 8 lb siglon monofilament floating line. I use a florocarbon tippet which is tied to
a micro swivel to the main line (reduces line twist). I use about a 3� ft section of 6 lb floro and about
another 2 ft section of 4 lb floro to the 6 using a Surgeon's knot. My float( bobber) I put on my main line
so if I get snagged up on something I don't lose my whole setup. When the water temp is below 40�

I tend to get better results using egg sacks or single eggs.

When it's above 45� I like to use flies like wooly buggers hex's and stone flies with a couple other.

The key is to keep your bait a couple of inches off the bottom.

Article #4
Written by On Erie


OHF Forum Moderator
OHF VIP Member
Joined OHF : 11 Oct 2005
Location: Columbiana Ohio NE Ohio Steelhead tips.
Ashtabula & Conneaut


I use this at Conneaut at the swing bridge, and one foot from the concrete wall.

Small float, small jig, best I've used is a green head, squirrel tail with red in it, about 1/16oz,
tipped with "LAKE" minnow. Note: hook the minnow upside down


When the Lake Minnows are not balled, and are hugging the concrete "up tight" and "against"
the wall, on a GOOD SUNNY day. Try this tip of hooking the minnow upside down.
The only thing I can figure is all the others are swimming normal, yours is not.
I use a Noodle rod, 6 lb. max line.

This also is killer at Ashtabula Power Plant, but you can't get to the sweet spot at the end of the slip
anymore (9-11-01). Still fair at the lake end. We used to catch Steelhead (best day 25 3 people)
Carp, Gar, and even Channel Cats with this rig.

Article #5=

NO MATTER WHAT FISHING OR BOATING ITEM YOUR LOOKING FOR
I FOUND IT HERE AT SOME OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE PRICES IN THE WORLD.
Watch for those last minute items listed in RED for the BEST DEALS.
No matter what your looking to purchase, chances are
if you look here first you will find the BEST DEAL out there.
Please take a minute to browse for YOUR favorite lure , tackle or gear
and see for yourself, You WILL find what your looking for and
most of the prices cant be beat.

Find the item YOU have been hunting for below.