Fishing mainly the tributaries of Lake Michigan, Capt. Tyler Yunk and his partner Tim Maher—co-owners at Habitual Guide Service—take clients up streams full of streaking steelhead and busting with trophy brown trout for a unique fishing experience. Capt. Lee Haasch describes a recent exciting outing with them.

With higher-than-normal water levels the previous fall, rivers had filled with fish, providing an excellent fall fishery and exceptional winter ice fishing for brown trout. But in spring, as ice leaves the river, the large amount of wintering fish will be joined by even more strains of steelhead entering the tributaries to fulfill their spawning ritual.

As we neared the S-shaped bends in the stream, Tyler motioned me to take the upstream portion, while he took the lower side. The stream had, over time, eroded a fairly deep hole alongside the far bank as the current worked its way back and forth as it wound through the wooded terrain.

“Remember to cast upstream, lay the float along the far side of the current break and let it track right into the hole,” Tyler instructed. “Your first cast is the best, so make it a good one,” he added with a big grin. He adjusted my float to about 3 feet in depth and I laid it right over the swift current to the far edge. As the float neared the hole, it disappeared, and all hell broke loose as the water exploded. I reared back on the 9-foot custom rod, and a giant steelhead shot out of the water and shook its head, attempting to throw the hook and spawn sac back at me. I kept pressure on him and downstream he headed; as if being towed, I followed.

Mindful of snags, I attempted to steer the powerful steelhead away from the branches; not an easy task, but luck was on my side. Waiting downstream was Tim Maher, Tyler’s partner. Tim skillfully slid the net under the beautiful buck steelhead. Carefully, we positioned for a couple pictures, before I slid the colorful male back into the stream to continue its journey and complete its spawning run.

Not to be outdone, it was Tyler’s turn next and he wasted no time tying into a big female. It was fun watching someone with so much experience masterfully handle that large fish with his center-pin reel. Much like a fly reel, it looks similar—only larger.

Tyler reared back on the large female and kept her away from snags as he tired her out, and after an epic battle, Tim slid her into his net. Tyler showed me the hook-up, “See how she hit the slider hook?” he exclaimed. “This bright orange bead on top of a small red hook, sliding above the weights. Sometimes they miss the spawn sac and see this single bead, think it’s a loose egg and grab it.” Another dandy steelhead, photographed, revived and released.

I returned to my spot and laid into another dandy. I battled my tail dancer, taking me right into a downed tree branch. This one didn’t end so well. I managed about a ten-minute battle before feeling my bent pole go limp from the broken line. The powerful fish, the current, the light tackle—trying to manage all the aspects is not as easy as it seems. But the fight, well, spectacular just doesn’t quite say it all. Now I had to re-tie and start again. Attention to details is the key to success here.

Tim and Tyler spend countless hours between trips doing just that, paying attention to details. They use custom made and tied rods and gather fresh spawn and cure it themselves to ensure the best and freshest bait. Soaking fresh, hand-tied spawn sacs on rigs with brightly colored beads, drifted along bank cuts and deep-water pools, attracts vicious strikes from powerful steelhead.

Even a seasoned pro fisherman can enjoy new types of fishing experiences. You’ll find lots of suggestions for new fishing encounters in every issue of MidWest Outdoors, available the first full week of each month at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.