SECOND-TIER STREAMS
Several smaller streams in southeast Wisconsin support good runs of steelhead, but they don't get as many fish or anglers as the "Big Three." The best of these are the Pike, Menomonee and Pigeon rivers. Most anglers also put the Manitowoc in this second group, because its flow and runs vary greatly.

The Pike River, which drains northern Kenosha and southern Racine counties, is the southernmost of Wisconsin's steelhead streams. A small tributary, the Pike suffers from dramatic fluctuations in flow. One good rain can put it over its banks and turn it into a muddy mess. Come back in two days, though, and you'll find it full of fish.

Private land restricts access to the Pike, but there is good access at the mouth in Alford Park and upstream at bridge crossings on county highways A and E. A dam on the Pike on the Kenosha Country Club golf course was removed two years ago, and now steelies can travel upstream as far as water allows them to go.

The Menomonee River, which flows from Menomonee Falls down to its confluence with the Milwaukee River, is another good second-level steelhead stream. The best stretch on the Menomonee runs for a couple of miles near Miller Park, with access from the Hank Aaron Trail. When fish can get above a mile-long concrete channel, there are good holding pools along the Menomonee River Parkway in Wauwatosa.

The Pigeon River in Sheboygan County usually has a good run early in the season, but a sandbar at its mouth often blocks the passage of fish until a good rain blows the sand out. The run here doesn't last long, however, and anglers quickly clean out the few good holes in the upstream stretches. Get on the river at Mill Road, at Jaycee and Evergreen parks, and on the grounds of Maywood Environmental Center, as well as at bridge crossings west of Sheboygan. You'll find the most fish from Maywood downstream to the mouth.

The Manitowoc River has good rock structure, and when there is enough water, there are plenty of fish. The lower river always has fish, but only a short stretch in town is wadeable. Too often, though, from Rapids Road upstream the river is one big boulder garden with hardly enough water to hide a steelhead. A good rain or adequate runoff will bring steelies all the way up to the dam at Clarks Mills. There is access there, and also downstream in Lower Cato Falls County Park, as well as at bridge crossings on several roads that go north off County Highway JJ.

GETTING HOOKED UP
Steelheaders are split about evenly between fly-fishers and bait-drifters, and both techniques will produce fish. You can also take steelhead on in-line spinners in deeper water.

Fly-rodders favor 9- to 10-foot rods in 7 or 8 weight with a large-arbor reel and floating or sink-tip line. A Furled leader with a loop at each end will allow you to replace tippet material easily. Fluorocarbon tippets in 3X to 5X will let you fish stained or clear water.

"A reel with a smooth drag will prevent fish from breaking off on light tippets," John Graba said.

Most fly-rodders use egg imitations and colorful attractor patterns when steelhead are on their spawning redds, and insect-imitating nymphs when the fish are in the deep holes. Some anglers rig two flies in tandem, tying an egg pattern on 18 inches of tippet to the bend of a nymph pattern. In low, clear water, Graba uses nymphs down to No. 18 and single egg imitations on light tippets.

In deep runs, fish flies across the current and downstream, letting them swing at the end of each drift. When sight-fishing steelhead on the redds, cast flies above the fish and let them drift down in front of their noses.