TOPIC:

I have a younger guy that wants me to take him out this weekend,probably on the 19th from the weather report.
Not sure to be honest on the best way to get him on a fish or two,I have bunches of crank baits for walleyes and have some spring coho baits,brads,thin fins,coho crushers,little celo's,ko's,some stingers spoons etc.
Have inline boards and #30 jets and clip on weights if that would help any,also have 6 rods with good Lc reels to use,so if anybody could give me a little guidance on a basic staring point I would appreciate it,starting depth,speed etc.
Doesn't matter if I go out of Portage or MC even thou I have a year pass at Doyne's,I figured to start around either the mouth of the ditch or trail and go from there.

     Thanks....Greg

I can only share what has worked for us in the past, mostly out of MC and New Buffalo. Summer steelies are more common in July than in June, imo. You have all of the right equipment. I would run four planers and 2 divers.

Our summer steelhead hits tend to be in the upper column, only 15'-20' down, stealthy ( wide spread, long leads) at 2.5-2.8 mph.Starting depth varies with water temp but watch how deep the other boats are for a starting point.

A 5 color works well if you have one. And orange everything.

We like super slim spoons (mixed veggie, double orange crush) Michigan Stingers (Orange/chartreuse/ blue) or Mag lip plugs (orange, orange silver).

Try green dolphins too if things are slow. I would not bother with the casting spoons (KO's, Cleos). 

 

Some great info by Skamanaholic. I’m not the best at catching steelies (wish I was better), but most of mine usually come up high as stated and on the 6” spindoctors or Z dodgers with purple or black 2” slider flies when they are around. Don’t be afraid to run a little faster than you normally would. Some days they want it fast some days not. 

My favorite lures are a hot pink Wiggle Wart and the orange jointed Rapala. Don't be too discouraged if you lose as many as you catch - the Skamania are infamous for finding a way to get off. If they are hitting in close  it can go on all day. I started fishing at St Joe at high noon a few years back with my boss. It was 90 degrees out and we hooked up with 11 steelhead in front of the piers from noon until 4 pm. Only three of them made it into the cooler but it was a blast. 

Thanks Guys,I used to fish them in the creeks years ago but thats night and day from the lake.
Probably just head to the mouth of the ditch and start with greens and oranges and see what happens.

   Thanks Again........Greg

Let us know how it goes. I am planning on fishing for them next week for my sons first lake M fishing trip. Hes 2.5 yrs old so have to stay close. There should be some around, if not some drum at least to reel in.

Don't overlook the simple tactic of anchoring up on the mudline and using floats with nightcrawlers/shrimp

Many times the winner of skamania mania comes from someone doing that. 

Incidentally, it's skamania mania this weekend so expect quite a bit of angler traffic

Just want to thank everyone for the input. Thanks 

Hey guys what’s a correct bobber set up for steelhead? Dept of bobber, bait prefence flouro close to shore away from shore???? Thanks

EAGLE wrote:

Hey guys what’s a correct bobber set up for steelhead? Dept of bobber, bait prefence flouro close to shore away from shore???? Thanks.

 

If your on FB look up  Michigan city Salmon & Trout  they will help you out anyway they can,piers and streams are what they do.

       Greg