The area on the southern shore of Lake Erie extending just west of Cleveland, Ohio to Buffalo, New York is commonly referred to as “Steelhead Alley” and for good reason. This region contains some of the most productive steelhead tributary streams and rivers in the Great Lakes region.
If you are looking for the best places to fish in Steelhead Alley, you’re in luck. We’ve put together this interactive map of the best steelhead rivers in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York to help you explore the area. Click on the map markers for information on stream access and to get directions.
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Steelhead Alley Fishing Map
Get Directions to the Fishing Access Points shown above with the DIY Fly Fishing Map
Steelhead Alley Featured Destinations
Steelhead Alley includes tributaries to Lake Erie in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York that receive two major runs of steelhead in the Spring and Fall.
Reel Action Fly Fishing shows us what fishing in Steelhead Alley is all about. Ready to go?
Best Steelhead Fishing in Ohio, New York and Pennsylvania
Rivers in each state that receive steelhead runs are listed below. Click on the links provided for more information about each river including maps detailing stream access, stream flow charts and steelhead fishing reports.
Ohio Steelhead Fishing
Ohio’s primary steelhead rivers are Chagrin River, Conneaut Creek, Grand River, Rocky River and Vermilion River. Several other rivers including Arcola Creek, Ashtabula River, Beaver Creek, Black River, Cold Creek, Cowles Creek, Cuyahoga River, Euclid Creek, French Creek, Huron River, Turkey Creek, Wheeler Creek get runs of stray steelhead.
- Arcola Creek
- Ashtabula River
- Black River
- Cahoon Creek
- Chagrin River
- Conneaut Creek
- Cowles Creek
- Cuyahoga River
- Euclid Creek
- Grand River
- Huron River
- Indian Creek
- Mckinley Creek
- Porter Creek
- Red Brook
- Rocky River
- Turkey Creek
- Vermilion River
- Wheeler Creek
- Wittman’s Creek
Pennslyvania Steelhead Fishing
- Brady Run
- Cascade Creek
- Conneaut Creek
- Crooked Creek
- Elk Creek
- Godfrey Run
- Peck Run
- Raccoon Creek
- Trout Run
- Turkey Creek
- Fourmile Creek
- Sevenmile Creek
- Twelvemile Creek
- Sixteenmile Creek
- Twentymile Creek
- Walnut Creek
New York Steelhead Fishing
- Beaver Creek
- Big Sister Creek
- Buffalo Creek
- Canadaway Creek
- Cattaraugus Creek
- Cayuga Creek
- Cazenovia Creek
- Chautauqua Creek
- Delaware Creek
- Eighteen-Mile Creek
- Little Sister Creek
- Muddy Creek
- Silver Creek
- Twenty-Mile Creek
- Walnut Creek
Steelhead Alley Fly Fishing Tips
New Fly Fisher host Colin McKeown joins expert steelhead angler Jeff Blood to learn some excellent nymphing techniques for Lake Erie steelhead.
Best Flies for Steelhead Alley
The most effective flies for fishing the tributaries of Lake Erie include egg patterns, basic nymphs and streamers. Fly patterns that mimic two of Steelhead Alley’s most fed-upon bait fish – the Emerald Shiner and Gizzard Shad, are very popular when fishing on the swing. The fish are not too picky, especially when they first enter the stream, so your favorites patterns will work just fine.
Steelhead Alley Fishing Gear
You can make steelhead fishing as complicated as you like or keep it pretty simple.
There are a number of rod-and-reel setups that are typical of Steelhead anglers, including spinning, noodle, fly, spey and center-pin setups.
If you’re fly fishing, a single-handed, 9-ft or 10-ft, 7- or 8-wt rod and large arbor reel with a good drag and floating line is an excellent choice. This setup is great for fishing tandem nymph rigs which is a popular method in Steelhead Alley.
Looking for more places to fish? Check our DIY Guide to the Best Fly Fishing Destinations in the U.S.
