Lake Erie Steelhead Report (11/2-3)

One things for sure . . . Lake Erie is a Steelhead factory that must be working 3 shifts, 7 days a week because WOW is ther a lot of Chrome pumping into those tribs.

Had a meeting with the producer of the TV show I'm involved in and instead of driving to Ottawa and sitting in an office, we hooked up down in Pennsylvania to talk shop while chasing some fresh Chrome.

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I didn't get down there and start fishing until around 11:00am on Thursday but that was all the time I needed to hooking to plenty of fresh Chrome. I brought my 6WT western Trout outfit along which consisted of a 10' rod and my trusty Islander trout reel. Using a tapered fluorocarbon leader that went down to 4X, I added bt more 5X and fished a mix of flies. Mainly small white Zonkers in size 8 and 10 and some various egg patters down to size 14. I also had great luck yesterday afternoon on some small black leech patterns.

Thursday the fish were being very aggressive and we hooked into a lot of fish. I guess as Erie trib fishing goes it was just OK but for Steelhead anywhere else it was a banner day and I had a great time. Between the 4 of us I'm guessing that we wrestled with over 50 fish yesterday. Biggest was right around 10-11lbs with most in that 4- 5lb range. What they lacked in size they more than made up for in strength : )

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The Lake effect snow machine was runnig hard Thursday afternoon and into the night. The roads were a huge mess with buses, tractor trailers, cars and trucks off the road everywhere. Could not help but laugh when the big SUV's would pass us on the Thruway going way too fast for conditions and then 5 minutes we would see them spun out off the road or wrapped around a guard rail. Our exit was bocked after dinner by tractor trailer that lost control and then got stuck on the exit ramp. Bad stuff.

Friday was a whole other ball game. No snow first thing but then it fired up hard and was snowing like mad when I left around 1pm. Fish were much tuffer this day even though there was lighter pressure this am. We worked hard and between the 3 of us I managed 3 fish. All wanted small streamers. Other anglers we talked to at several spots were all saying the same thing.

So, having had my fill of fish and knowing I was going to have to deal with the snow for several miles I headed home. This was the first chance I have had to chase Erie Steel in many years and it was a blast. Looking forward to getting back soon.

Nice to see you had a good time and welcome to Pennsylvania. You know the saying ( You have a friend in Pennsylvania). The steelhead program is working really well, maybe to good . A lot of big money is moving in and leasing the stream access, and if Penna Fish Commission isn't careful the average guy will be left out.

Ps (I still like that Hat)

Warm Regards
JaD

Thanks JAd
It's certainly an amazing fishery. I was a bit surprised by the cost of a 3 day non-resident license ($41.00) but I guess someone needs to pay for those 2,000,000 Steelhead that the State stocks : )

I was pleased to see that the problems we have on our Lake Ontario tribs with scumbags snagging fish intentionally was seeming not an issue in the area we fished. Seemed as though everyone was actually fishing for the fish and not trying to floss them.

Wonderful thing to read, this. I'm headed up there late Wednesday and this just stoked me up more!!

With all the snow they got and the warm temps now, the creeks will get a nice shot of runoff which should get the fish fired up for ya. Good luck!

Thanks a bunch! I grew up in Erie, PA, but never fished for steelhead. My old man loved to fish, but he was more of a "cast it and let it go" kinda guy... and he never really did the steelheading so I never did, either. This will be my first time so I'm looking very, very forward to it. Going to be fun!

Matt

I went today Tuesday and the fish were fantastic . Had to go by myself, 35.00 in gas but it was worth every penny . I caught fish all day long, lost count had to have been way over 40 or 50 . went to 5 x with blood dots and that did the trick. I will half to go tomorrow, get on them and stay on them as long as their moving.
Well time for bed
JaD

Ended up going three times this week . The Erie streams gave up 146 steelheads caught in 27 hours of fishing with three half hour breaks.

Unbelievable
JaD

Good for you JaD!!! :shock:
For those that have never experienced that fishery those numbers seem so far out there it's impossible to believe.

Those of you who have not fished any of the Erie tribs . . . JaD just gave you one heck of a reason to get your butt out there for a trip some day.

And that's not all the fantastic fishing that can be had within a hour or two either! Way too many other great fisheries to go into detail. Anyone guess why I live in western NY now :lol: