While I enjoy hard-water fishing and have pulled my share of fish through an ice hole, I would be fibbing if I said that I wasn’t looking forward to flowing water again. The thought of the year’s first open-water fish, and in most years for me that’s a Situk steelhead, gets me cranked up. Not only are these anadromous rainbows about the most beautiful fish swimming, but they are also one of the most athletic species we target, and usually not present in large numbers. Additionally, an average fish is well past six pounds, meaning that once hooked, you can expect a real fight.
While resident rainbows are spectacular in their own right, in my opinion, steelhead are just more amped up after returning from the sea. Since these fish are anadromous, and not present in comparable numbers to resident rainbows, timing, skill, and a bit of luck all come distinctly into play if you want to bring one to hand.
Returning Year After Year for the Best Steelhead Fishing
For the last 20 years I have been fishing for Situk steelhead with the crew at Yakutat Lodge. We’ve had some great days catching big numbers and big fish—and I mean slab-sided bruiser bucks well past 15 pounds—and have so many memories of jarring strikes, white-hot runs, and acrobatic fish that it makes my brain cells vibrate. I’ve caught them on fly gear, spinning gear, and baitcasting gear. Free drifting, side drifting, boondogging, bobberdogging, swinging, nymphing, casting and retrieving; there’s many ways to hook a Situk steelhead and plenty of water to do it in.
The last few years I have been focused on free-drifting jigs, and side-drifting aero-puffs when I target steelhead. These are two very effective techniques, and are very different from each other, which makes it more interesting. Also, they cover water differently, making it possible to use both techniques in a run to pull out more fish.
Tried and True Alaska Steelhead Techniques
Free drifting 1/4- and 3/8-ounce, lead-headed marabou jigs is about line management and presenting a free-drifted jig. If the jig pulls cross current its effectiveness drops. A benefit of this technique is that you can run long drifts and hook undisturbed fish well below you. Steelhead often like to lay along the brush line on the river’s edge, and a free-drifted jig is one of the techniques that will allow you to get the lure in front of the fish when they are tight to the wood. A good cast to place the jig and bobber close to the opposite bank, then proper line management so the bobber runs that line straight down river without pulling cross current, can sometimes result with a drowned bobber, frantic reeling to get tension, and another battle with a super-charged metalhead.
Side-drifting aero-puffs is a more active, cast-intensive technique, which really increases in effectiveness if an angler can throw the ‘puff into tight windows in the wood. A fair number of times when you are drifting through fishy water and you make a good cast right into the open slot, you are rewarded with a violent grab. You’ll be fishing with some heavy split shot to allow the ‘puff to sink right away, and get the lure immediately into the steelhead’s living room. Personally, I consider free-drifting jigs to be more civilized and elegant, while side-drifting puffs is more run-and-gun savage. They are both fun as hell.
Marcus with a slab of steel.
The Lodge Steelhead Anglers Trust in Alaska
Yakutat Lodge guides know the river and will help you catch more fish. I have fished with many of them over the years and just about always have a good day and catch solid steelhead. Yakutat Lodge can provide you with a package that includes meals, lodging, and guiding, and point you in the right direction if you want to rent a vehicle.
Just sitting here writing this and I can feel my blood pressure increase. I have loved catching trout for a long time, and steelhead trout are among the finest trout that exist. All the years of visiting Yakutat makes the place feel a little like home, and we always look forward to seeing familiar faces each spring. Being on the Situk River is a special experience. Twisting among old-growth rainforest, giant trees and a bewildering amount of wood line the river corridor, and in some spots, attempt to overrun it. In most, if not every year, trees create impassable log jams that must be cut open by the guides and locals who run the river. Floating down this fertile river, in its primordial landscape, leaves an impression.
Unmatched Steelhead Fishing
Every year it’s possible to hook a massive steelhead that might simply make your head explode. I’ve landed a few between 36- and 38 inches that made me wonder if I’d died and gone to heaven. I would consider a 20-pound wild steelhead, hooked, fought, and landed in the Situk’s intimate, lumber-choked flow, to be a top-level fishing experience. I’ve had my share of big fish, but no 20-pounders so far, so I’ll just have to keep trying. Poor me.
Marcus on the Situk with an early spring Steelhead.
Peak Alaska Steelhead Season
Steelhead season starts in early April and continues through early May. I prefer to get there on the front end of the run in early April and intercept fish just returning. Weather can be a factor, and I’ve had many very cold, snowy floats. The later into April and early May you go, the better the weather generally gets. The float has one put in and one take out, so if you decide to float it, you are in for a full-day, 14-mile journey. The river twists and turns, has lots of shallow spots, sweepers, tight corners, trees…You get my point, it’s a tough float and best done with a guide. Yakutat Lodge is your best choice for a guided steelhead trip on the Situk River.
There are no other rivers in Alaska that give you the opportunity to catch a lot of steelhead, and also the potential of hooking a really big one. Some may hold decent numbers of fish, some may hold big fish, but no other has both. It’s made the Situk an annual spring destination for many anglers, myself included.
Marcus Weiner is Founder and Publisher of Fish Alaska and Hunt Alaska magazines.
