I can only think of 6 off the top of my head

Washington
Oregon
California
Indiana (St. Joe River)
Idaho
Alaska

Ak

akkings

You must have been typing as I was editing

Here's a few more LT:

New York
Michigan
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota

I think the Illinois state record steelie is bigger than ours. They get fat in that big lake.

Wow that is a lot more then I thought.

Washington
Oregon
California
Indiana (St. Joe River)
Idaho
Alaska
New York
Michigan
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Wisconsin
Minnesota

How about countries?

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dan S.: They get fat in that big lake.

Along the same thread in looking at pictures of the Great Lakes Steelhead they look kinda of fat and flabby. Has anyone caught both? Pacifc Steelhead get chased by seals and Killer whales, so more of workout?

Regards

IB

lb,

I've caught a few Great Lakes steelhead........but only out of Lake Michigan, and not the rivers.

They were scrappy fighters, and very acrobatic.

I've caught both. I don't think there is any difference. The ones I've caught trolling in L. Michigan were weak though. That was summer though and the water was warm. The winter runs are just like here. They used stock from here in WA to establish the steelhead in the Great Lakes.

Q: What state has the most lighthouses?


A: Michigan

Seastrike is correct, those are Skamania's that were planted out there so they know how to put up a fight.

I wasn't aware there were steelies in Minnesota?? Trying to think of where they are. I've fished the Racine in Wisconsin for them, not quite like the experience you get here. It's within a mile or so of some serious 'hood area. And if you ever saw the Trail, it is nothing more than a big ditch. Lake Michigan is phenomenal for Steelies and Salmon. They get more reliable runs out there than we do here, without the nets. One can only imagine how that would be...

Don't forget our 51st state. Canada!

The Saint Joseph River in Michigan and Indiana is a world class steelhead fishery. Many Skamania steelhead are caught here every year over the 20lb mark.

Great Lakes steelhead don't have to fight their way long distances agianst heavy current as they do here. The rivers are shorter and easier flowing. The fish look "rounder" because they return more of their body mass.

I'm not absolutely sure about Minnesota. The Duluth area borders Lake Superior so I assumed that there were probably some steelhead in some of the rivers and creeks in the area?

Does the same river run through both states?

Sort of on the same topic...

Television fishing shows that feature steelhead seem to be VERY different in the West vs. the great lakes. They all C&R fish, but the midwester TV fishers (that I've seen, I'm sure its not generally true) have little to no knowledge of how to treat steelhead and properly release one. In the few shows that have featured midwest steelhead, they all seemed to pick up fish by the gill plate, let them flop around in their boat, handle much too long, and then toss them back in the water. I'm not sure if their techniques come from fishing for bass and walleye that can take that kind of treatment or if that's just how they do things.... Just struck me as odd.

Yes the Saint Joseph River runs through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. There are only steelhead in the 50 miles of river from lake Michigan. The fish go through 3 fish ladders at dam sites and then to a wier at a hatchery in Mishawaka Indiana. Almost all of our Skamania are planted by the Indiana DNR.
Hardly any fish are released here especially those caught in Lake Michigan.

The dailly limit here is three steelies. When the summer run Skamania are staging at the rivermouths and pierheads it is not uncommon to have boats take 15 to 20 fish a day.