Hard Water Steelhead
By Judy Nugent
Remember those fish who snubbed their nose at your spawn sac in the fall or who snapped your line with a shake of its head? Well, some of those fish are still there, in the rivers, under the ice, daring you to try again. If you’re looking for an alternative to panfish, grab a strong ice rod with a reel and head for Lake Michigan tributaries.
Most fishermen in SE Wisconsin have at least fished the Pike or the Root at one time or another. Most come in the spring or fall, stand shoulder to shoulder, and cast for stacked up salmon. But for somefisherman, winter stream fishing can mean solitude and big fish. Two of the best species to target are the Steelhead strains and Brown trout. The Skamania can head to the rivers as early as July. These fish still have the wild instincts of their Pacific cousins who have to travel thousands of miles before they reach their spawning habitat. As a result, the Lake Michigan fish can start for the rivers whenever there is a large rain event even. They can start migrating in the summer even though their eggs won’t ripen until February. The Chambers Creek strainof Steelhead doesn’t have nearly the same urge to swim up the rivers early and come in later in the season starting around October and November.
When ice starts to form as early as December, these trout are already in the river waiting for their eggs to mature. During the low water levels of winter, these fish hold to deeper pools and wait for tidbits of food to float by. For the fisherman it can be a great time to fish. There is little competition and the fish have no where to go.
Another suggestion is to time your trip to coincide with a rise in water level. A warm January day could provide an excellent open water fishing opportunity in the river itself. Fish can hold in deep pockets at the ends of rapids. In this scenario, use the same tactics you would during the other parts of the season, a slow drift with a heavy sinker, bait, or a sinker and fly (egg fly, egg sucking leech, or wooly bugger).
For lake fishing try the Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee harbors when they first freeze up. Those large, 10 pound browns were likely stocked there and have spent the past few years bulking up on shad. Fish can be anywhere in the harbor including the inner stretches by the parking lot. Starting at the boat ramp gives you the easy option of pulling your equipment onto the ice and it will let you scan the ice for holes stained with blood. Fish are always on the move, but a hole with blood reaffirms the fact that the fish are there. In Racine the harbor is connected to the lower Root so it can also yield Steelhead waiting for a rise in water level. Milwaukee has the harbor plus the warm water discharge. Depending on the conditions you can chose open water or ice fishing.
It is always important to make sure the ice is safe. With undercurrents, metal docks, open holes, and changing weather, check the ice with every step. Wearing clamps on your boots will give you better footing on the slippery rocks and harbor ice.
Once you’re sure you are safe, look for clues to help you fish. I hate litter, especially on the ice, but frozen spawn sacs and other debris can give you information on tactics other fishermen have used. I firmly believe that 10% of the fishermen catch 90% of the fish, so think carefully about the clues you find. Stick with your own tactics the first and second time out, but if you’re unsuccessful, consider trying the other tactics you see. It might make all the difference.
Ice fishing for some fishermen means a lot of equipment. It doesn’t have to be that way when fishing for trout. Ice shelters are good for keeping out the wind, but in most situations it will not give you any added visibility underwater. These areas are generally turbid and this isn’t the type of situation where you sight fish. Drill holes in the ice that are large enough for you to extract a 10 pound fish and remove any ice chips that could cut your line during the fight. Use short, strong rods, 8 pound line, and a reel with a drag. Just like open water fishing, when these fish decide to run you have to give them line. Try using spawn, various worms, or freeze dried shad. Also, consider setting two tip ups with live bait, and then hold a rod and reel jigging a Swedish Pimple tipped with wax worms. This gives you three chances at a big one. Large holes and a handy gaff can help assure a good landing.
Many fishermen flood to these rivers for the fall salmon run and then quickly forget about them when the snow flies. Although those Chinook are probably dead, there are still plenty of brown trout and Steelhead to catch. With a spring spawning date, these fish are fresh and in the rivers. But be careful. Once you’ve had a 10 pound trout on the end of your ice fishing rod, that bluegill won’t seem as exciting and you might find yourself hooked on a new winter sport.