There’s a big difference between Steelhead and Loopers. Both are rainbow trout, one is farm raised and used as put and take (loopers) the other spends its time in the big lake only to come to the rivers in the spring and fall to spawn. Loopers are stocked at the French and also milked to raise more to stock later. I may be wrong (it’s happened once or twice) but I think they stopped stocking Steelhead around 2005?????

Loopers will have clipped adipose fins, if it doesn’t have a clipped adipose it is a Steelhead and must be returned to the water. Loopers are there for us to eat, so take your limit, I think something like 92,000 yearlings are stoked annually.

We caught 8, none were steel……I’m heading up again this weekend and expect to find them now that the water has warmed up…..

Well, we made it up to the Brule on Wednesday and found some fish. Water was 37 degrees and flowing just under 200…….perfect! Here are some pictures……

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i thought you could keep clipped steal heads. thats what it says in the regulations.

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Like mentioned before, most of the clipped fish are going to be Loopers.

You’ll be able to cast off the Two Harbors breakwall with a spinning rod and some cleos, krocs, etc. Good chance at coho and the occasional laker swimming around. Be careful around the mouths of the rivers with krocs, cleos, etc. unless you are fishing single hooks (no trebles) inside the mouth. Good luck!

Make sure the steelhead go back in the river after a quick photo!

I don’t mind the high water as it tends to keep most people away, but when it is 250+ it makes it pretty difficult to cross and get to some of the spots we like. There are a few people heading up so when I get a first hand report I’ll post.