Alaska steelhead fishing is one of the most sensual and gratifying fishing experiences in the world. It is a fishery for the dedicated, the patient. For the fishermen (and women) who enjoy the experience of the hunt as much as they do the catch. Those who are willing to put in a little more effort than most, and endure a little more cold than most, because, in the end, the payoff is second to none.Steelhead

are the sea-going siblings of Rainbow Trout. Their native range extends in the North, from the Susitna watershed in Southcentral Alaska, down the Pacific Coast of Canada and the US, to the Baja Peninsula of Mexico.Fishing for steelhead fills the senses. The sound of the running water as it ripples past logs, rushes over rocks, and laps against the bank. The fresh spring air in your face. The feeling of an occasional, remarkably warm, rebellious sunbeam breaking through the clouds. The sensation of the “tick-tick-tick” of your fly tapping the bottom as the steam rises off the water. The silence that settles around you when the rain quietly turns to snow. You’re cold, you’re wet. You’re ready for a break, you

to warm up and then, there it is! The take! The flash of chrome, you’ve got one on!

Steelhead (and Rainbows) are some of the feistiest, most exciting fish to catch. Ask any steelhead angler, and they’ll tell you the same thing, “Pound for pound they fight better than any other fish out there.” Steelhead take the claim to fame one step farther than their Rainbow siblings. During their years at sea, they generally grow bigger than Rainbows and thus when they return to their natal streams to spawn, these streamlined, “silver bullets” are

prize fish to catch.Once you have a hook-up, the real fun begins. Landing a steelhead takes patience, persistence, quick-thinking, finesse, and a healthy dose of luck. Their “feisty” reputation is well earned. They run, they jump, they flip, and wrap themselves around a log breaking off, all faster than you can register what just happened. It’s up to you, the angler, to try and keep the fish away from hazards, fight without horsing, and when she’s just about in, and you start to relax, not get your knuckles popped by the reel handle when she spots you and takes off again.

A unique quality among Alaskan steelheaders is that, even when we are allowed to bag a fish, we’re almost exclusively, catch-and-release anglers. We are blessed with native steelhead runs. Our rivers and streams are not stocked as many, if not most, of the runs in the Lower 48 are, and we take our stewardship to heart. Many Alaska steelhead fishing lodges are catch-and-release only, and Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge follows that tradition. For us, fishing for steelhead is about the experience of the hunt, the fun of the fight, and no matter how tasty they are, it’s not about the kill.

Releasing your fish after a good fight is a magical, transformative, experience. It is one of the only times that we, warm-blooded humans get to physically interact with fish as vibrant, living breathing animals in a truly tactile, sensual way. Cradling the fish in your hands, holding her nose up-stream so she can breathe easily. Letting her rest and regain her fins; feeling her energy return. Then, with gratitude for the opportunity to be here, in the fading light, cold and wet, letting her swim away to spawn, and spawn again.

Despite their voracity, durability, and resilience, Steelhead Trout are, without a doubt, Alaska's most high-maintenance fish. Fishing for these beauties is like spotting the hottest, most meticulous, intelligent, accomplished person around and deciding in advance, "That's who I'm going to take home." Steelhead fishing in Alaska takes prior planning, a proper approach, an excellent lure, attentiveness, and a quick wit.

You'll need to know where to look for Steelhead. Look for cut banks, deeper slots, and areas where willows overhang the river. These areas provide them with great protection from above. Finding these areas on an unfamiliar river can be difficult, especially if you have limited time to explore. This is where your expert guide from Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge comes in handy. Jay Mar has been guiding for the lodge for the past 17 years. He and his team know all the best places to fish.Steelhead love snaggy areas that provide protection. While smooth, snag-free bottoms, with open areas above, are nice for casting and bouncing the bottom, those typically aren't the areas you’ll find fish. Even when you cast and miss visible water hazards, you're bound to find snags you can’t see below the water. Plan on losing terminal tackle when you’re fishing Steelhead. There’s no way around it. So, take more than you think you’ll need and remember, “If you’re not getting hung-up every now and then, you’re not Steelhead fishing.”

Remember when you head toward the water that Steelhead love crystal clear water. Be sneaky, you’re on the hunt. If you go noisily bumbling up to the bank and into the water, they'll spook and be gone before you ever lay eyes on them. There’s no need to army crawl up to the river, but move slowly, stay low, be quiet, and follow your guide’s instructions. This will give you the best chance at not spooking the fish.Once you’ve reached or entered the river, look for the seam. The seam is where the water transitions from shallow to deep. In the daylight, you can often spot the seam where the water changes color. In low light, you can identify the seam by looking for the current changes on the water's surface. This is the magic zone where you want to fish.

Standing on the shallow side of the river, cast just beyond the seam. This will allow your choice of tackle to sink down and tap along the bottom, as it rides the current through the target area.

This type of fishing is done with a fly rod. Cast upstream and far enough across the seam to give your terminal tackle and monofilament leader time to sink to the bottom before reaching the target zone. Mend your line, so that the fly line is floating freely along the surface with no resistance. You need to feel the tick-tick-tick of your weight bouncing along the bottom of the river.

Estimate the depth of the water in the target zone, and set your float/strike indicator above your terminal tackle accordingly. (When fishing with one of our expert guides, they will set the gear for you and take out all the guess work.) Cast upstream and then mend your line. Make sure your float (or strike indicator) is floating freely on the surface, with no resistance. Your terminal tackle should be bouncing naturally with the current along the bottom of the river.

In most cases, Steelhead, do not strike hard. You must remain attentive of your line at all times or you will miss the strike, and your opportunity to set the hook. Fly fishing is by feel while fishing with a float/strike indicator is visual.

Steelhead have a very soft bite. They gently pick up your lure and move with it. You will feel a slight tug, or nothing at all, until you pick up your line and find that it tugs back. Occasionally, they will strike hard, but that’s not the norm.

. In this case, the strike is usually more pronounced, but still not a slam. The float disappears under the water, you tug to set the hook, and then hope it’s a fish and not a snag.

In all cases, set the hook with a short, quick tug. Don’t go overboard and yard on the fish, or you will tear the hook right out of the fish’s mouth.

Fighting to land a Steelhead takes patience and a quick-wit. In the warmer waters of late spring on Prince of Wales Island, Steelhead are generally more active than those in colder more northern or glacial-fed waters which makes the fight even more fun.To stay ahead of the fish, and keep it from wrapping around a log (or other foul) and breaking off, you must be aware of the terrain, and quick-witted. Be patient, keep tension on the line and your rod tip up, but don’t yard on the fish.

When fishing Steelhead with Alaska’s Boardwalk Lodge, you’re experiencing the opportunity to both enjoy and preserve one of Alaska’s amazing natural treasures. While it seems silly to have to say it, the goal of catch-and-release is to not just release the fish, but to do it in such a way that it survives to spawn again and again. It’s so sad to stand in a river and watch an injured fish float by, nearly dead, because it was not caught and/or released properly by someone upstream.So, while it sounds like an oxymoron, “Be patient, don’t yard on your fish, and land it as quickly as possible.” Steelhead are amazingly hearty fish and will withstand an amazing fight without sustaining any injury beyond a pierced lip, but even they have their limits. Once you’ve got a fish on, listen to your guide and use your best judgment so that you and your fish both have the opportunity to live another day.Once you do land your fish, have a pair of pliers or hemostats at the ready to remove the hook and do your best to keep the fish’s head in the water. Keep in mind that it’s technically illegal to remove from the water a fish that you intend to release. So, if you want to cheat and take a picture with the fish’s head above water, make sure that you’ve got your camera out and the shot set up before you bring her head out of the water.

When you’re ready to release your fish, remember that she’s exhausted. Even though you’re excited and ready to get back to fishing, be patient and savor this moment. Gently, but firmly, hold her upright in the water with her nose pointing upstream. This lets the water to run over her gills, with little to no effort on her part, allowing her to rest and catch her breath. You will feel her energy come back, sometimes only slowly at first. As she rests, she’ll become more active in your hands, but don’t let go yet. When she’s ready, she will swim away on her own.

If you have the opportunity to get out and practice a few things before your trip, work on placement and natural presentation

If you don’t have the time or a convenient river to practice these things ahead of time, don’t sweat it. Your friendly guide will help get you squared away. They’ll also help you battle the inevitable snags so you can get fishing again

If this all sounds like an uphill battle to catch the world's most high-maintenance girlfriend (or boyfriend) you're right. Steelhead are extremely picky, easy to spook, and difficult to please. The good news is that, unlike the girl (or guy) you set your sights on back home, when you come to Boardwalk Lodge, you'll be Steelhead fishing with a trusty, Orvis-endorsed guide, who will teach you exactly how to lure them in, make them happy, set the hook, and send you home glowing with the joy of success.Happy fishing!