More important than the tackle you use and the lure you cast. Just because you wear waders does not mean you have to wade into the water. And hope that none of the other anglers step into the lake.

That time of the year again, time for steelhead to start stacking up at the Lake Erie tributary mouths. Let the excitement begin.

In some ways, this is the most exciting time to fish for steelhead, while steelhead are at the creek mouths. While most anglers hope for enough rain to bring steelhead into the creeks, some, myself included, hope for less rain so steelhead wait near the creek mouths for the rains which increase stream flows. This is the time to cast for steelhead from the beaches near the mouths.

A few steelhead have been swimming into the lower pools of Walnut Creek and Elk Creek, the larger west side creeks, during the night for the past couple of weeks. They were gone early in the morning. A few anglers managed to catch some, but that was the very beginning of the annual run, a poor time to drive far to get to the creeks.

Finally last weekend we has some cool weather. That should kick things up a notch.

Even though an increasing number of steelhead will be staying close to the creek mouths, the best time to fish usually is early morning, with evenings coming in second. As the sun rises higher into the sky, steelhead will stray away from shore into deeper water. Too much unnatural activity, or is excited behavior by steelhead fishers natural, chase them into deeper water.

When fishing pressure gets heavy, it becomes a contest to see who can wade farthest from shore. The logic goes, it seems, that wading allows anglers to cast farther into the lake so they reach more steelhead. Of course, the opposite is true.

Yes, wear waders if you have them. And wear a waterproof wading jacket, or a plain rain jacket. These will keep surf spray from soaking your clothes. I have found that fishing is better when there are waves, although heavy surf can make fishing impractical.

Always check the weather just before heading to the steelhead beaches. Waves more than about 2 feet make casting from the beach uncomfortable. Rain does not hurt, maybe it improves fishing. But never fish when lightening is nearby. A fishing rod acts as a lightening rod.

Rods are made specifically for this purpose. They typically are 8 feet to 9 feet in length, and rated for lures up to about 1/2-ounce. A long rod allows for longer casts, and it acts as a shock absorber for heavy steelhead on light line.

But your walleye rod will do just fine until you get serious enough about steelhead fishing to invest in a steelhead rod.

I prefer 6 pound-test monofilament line. You may be able to get away with line as heavy as 10 pound-test if there is some wave action. But when the water is calm steelhead will be line shy.

Carry a good selection of lures. I suggest mostly casting spoons, with some spinners and stick baits.

On sunny days you will want shiny lures. On heavily overcast days bright colors are generally better.

Be sure to include these color patterns: blue/silver, green/silver, red/gold, red/silver, orange/gold, fire tiger for the stick baits and some wilder color patters of your choosing. Steelhead probably are not as fussy about lure colors as most anglers believe they are, but play it safe. Who knows what goes on in the mood of a steelhead. Blue/silver and green/silver resemble their natural foods in the lake.

Spinners can twist line very badly. I rarely use them for steelhead. But if you do use a spinner, also use a ball bearing swiver, maybe two with one about 8 inches up the line.

Vary your retrieves in speed from as slow as possible without snagging bottom consistently to medium fast. Try stop and go, using rod sweeps for the go, then reel fast to pick up slack line.

Bait fishing can be very effective. For some reason this seems to be done mostly at the mouth of Trout Run and Godfrey Run. The more popular baits are shiners, egg sacks, egg skein and Berkley Power Bait. Usually baits are fished under bobbers. I suggest a slip bobber for better casting. Bottom fishing can be effective at times.

Fishing in the lake by creek mouths can be productive all through the annual steelhead run. It is typically best, though, at the start of the run.

Good luck.