Fall Fishing on the Great Lakes: Why SteelShad Works

When summer ends and fall begins, the air temperature drops, water temperatures drop, and the days become shorter and shorter. This seasonal transition signals that winter is coming. Fish know that the next eight weeks or so are prime time to feed up before the ice covers the northern half of the United States.

For a broader look at locating bass as water temperatures change, check out our guide to how to find bass during the fall transition.On the Great Lakes, many things occur from October through ice-up. King Salmon are completing their annual fall migration into the shallows as they head toward the rivers and estuaries. Bass, walleye, and northern pike are searching the shallows for baitfish, while perch are starting to group up into massive schools in preparation for winter.

Besides cooler mornings, watch for the water temperature to start dipping into the low 60s to mid-50s. That initial drop often stuns all the fish for the first week or so. The bite slows down as fish adjust, but once they get accustomed to the cooler water, they’ll turn on the feeding frenzy, and you don’t want to miss that opportunity.

Over the past six seasons of guiding on the Eastern Basin of Lake Ontario, I’ve found myself reaching for the original SteelShad in the 3/8-ounce size. This lure is a multi-species fish-catching machine. Let’s review where, when, and how to fish it.

Where to Fish a SteelShad in Fall

At the start of fall, I’ve found the best depth for this lure is between 5 and 15 feet over submerged weed beds or rock-rubble areas with scattered weeds. As water temperatures drop into the 40s and below, the SteelShad performs well at depths of 25 to 50 feet around secondary points and offshore humps. If these areas have large chunk rock with some scattered vegetation, that’s even better.

How to Fish a SteelShad in Shallow Water

For a shallow-water presentation, I’ve found my clients do best with a simple cast-and-retrieve approach. Over countless days on the water with clients or fishing solo, I’ve learned that a steady retrieve works best. Ideally, you want to achieve a presentation that puts the lure slightly above the fish in the water column.

Two things are critical to achieving that placement: reel speed and line size. If you use a reel with a high-speed retrieve, it’s very easy to overwork the lure, which creates lift and makes it run too high in the water column. The importance of line size can’t be overstated. If your line diameter is super thin, as with braided line, it often forces you to reel too fast to keep the lure at the desired depth. And vice versa: if you use a large-diameter line, such as monofilament, it can cause the lure to climb higher in the water column, requiring a slower retrieve to keep the lure at the desired depth.

Both of those scenarios—using a reel that is too fast and choosing the wrong line size—took me a while to fish my way through until I found what works best for me. After several trips of trial and error, I finally settled on a 7.2:1 gear-ratio reel and 15 lb. braided line with a 15 lb. fluorocarbon leader.

Best Rod, Reel, and Line Setup for Shallow SteelShad Fishing

This combination of reel and line, paired with a 7- to 7.5-foot medium-heavy (MH), fast-action rod, has proven to be a real workhorse capable of landing anything I’m likely to encounter. It could be a 25-pound King Salmon, a 10-pound walleye, or a 6-pound smallmouth bass. Best of all, every one of those fish will absolutely crush a SteelShad lure in the cooler waters of fall.

The nice thing about the SteelShad is that it provides a great bite-to-hookup ratio due to its size and double treble hooks. Braided line also allows you to feel the vibration and see it as your rod tip dances back and forth on the retrieve. If the lure picks up a weed or other debris, you’ll immediately know because the vibration stops instantly. When that happens—and it will happen—just reel in, clean the lure off, and get back in action.

How to Fish a SteelShad in Deep Water: The Yo-Yo Retrieve

When targeting deep fish, the yo-yo retrieve seems to perform best. To use this retrieve, cast out and allow the lure to fall to the bottom. Reel in the slack line and begin a sharp, deliberate lift off the bottom. Then follow the lure back down to the bottom on semi-tight line, reel up the slack, and repeat.

For another cold-water application of blade baits, see our guide to blade bait fishing for cold-water walleye.

Best Rod, Reel, and Line Setup for Deep-Water SteelShad Fishing

For this deep-water presentation, I’ve found a 7- to 7.6-foot medium-power, fast-action rod, paired with the same reel and spooled with 10- or 12-pound braid, works great.

Ideally, you want to feel the violent vibration of the lure on every lift, and you want the lift to be no more than 18 to 24 inches off the bottom. As you lift the rod, you’ll feel the lure start to vibrate. In my experience, as soon as I feel the vibration, I stop and hold the rod in place for about a second, then follow the lure back down to the bottom on a controlled, semi-slack-line descent.

If you lift the lure and then throw slack in the line, allowing it to free-fall, the rear treble hook will often grab the line and foul the lure. After a few retrieves, if you believe you’ve got your timing correct and you follow the lure down on a semi-tight line but it continues to get fouled up, the odds are that your leader isn’t stiff enough to prevent the lure from hooking the line on the fall. You’ll likely want to increase your leader line by one size, and that ought to solve the problem.

Here’s a short video to illustrate the retrieve and give you a visual of what you just read.

SteelShad Fishing Tips for Fall: Final Takeaway

To recap, the SteelShad is a great multi-species lure that can be easily fished shallow or deep and provide reliable fish catches throughout the cool-water period.

What Is the Difference Between a SteelShad and a Lipless Crankbait?

SteelShad is a thin metal blade bait that produces strong vibration and sinks quickly, making it useful for controlled lift-and-fall presentations. Lipless crankbaits have a bulkier hard-bodied design and are commonly used with a steady retrieve to cover water, although both lures can be fished with a yo-yo technique.

Want to compare more hard baits? Read our guide to the differences between crankbaits, jerkbaits, and lipless crankbaits.

How Do You Choose the Right SteelShad Weight?

Choose a weight that allows you to reach the target depth while maintaining control of the lure. Deeper water and stronger current may call for a heavier model, while shallower areas may be better suited to a lighter option. The original 3/8-ounce SteelShad is a versatile starting point for fall fishing.

Can You Fish a SteelShad From Shore?

Yes. Look for accessible rocky banks, points, and weed edges where baitfish and predatory fish may gather. Make casts that follow the structure, and control the lure’s sink time so you can work through the desired water column without letting it spend too much time snagging on the bottom.

About the Author

Captain Burnie Haney is owner/operator of New York Fishing Adventures, Army veteran and retired Sergeant Major with a 38-year military career. A tournament bass angler since 1992, he has won five Angler of the Year titles, set the NYTBF five-fish weight record, and qualified for two National Championships. Burnie holds two International Game Fish Association (IGFA) New York State line class records (walleye and smallmouth bass) and the IGFA All Tackle Length World Record for Chain Pickerel. He is a lifetime member of B.A.S.S. and member of the New York State Outdoor Writers' Association. Haney was inducted into the New York State Outdoorsmen Hall of Fame in 2017. Today, Burnie focuses on multi-species seasonal fishing adventures.