When spawn imitations won't produce fish, try other natural baits. A growing number of steelheaders are catching on that worms are key to taking post-spawn spring fish, but surprisingly few anglers use them in the fall. The mind-set is that spawn is more effective then. Besides, worms are easily obtained at any bait store and there's no preparation needed, as with spawn. My experience, however, is that worms become less effective once freezing temperatures start putting an early morning coat of slush on steelhead rivers.
Worms seem best for actively feeding fish in warmer water.
Less readily available, but often deadly on low-water steelhead, are maggots, wax worms, and insect nymphs. It's up to enterprising Ontario steelheaders to sift their own from lake or streambeds. This brings us to the option of artificial flies. Some of the traditional West Coast red and orange patterns that mimic spawn work here too. These include the Egg and I and the Skykomish Sunrise.