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What can anyone tell me about Lake Erie steelhead fishing in Ohio? Things like where, when, What to use, motels, restaraunts & saloons etc. Been to Lake Michigan & now lookin' for 'new water.' I'll be driving from Missouri. Any good info will be appreciated.
I've fished steelhead here in Pennsylvania, never in Ohio. It's been a tough season so far because of the lack of rain. It changes yours tactics as the fish are mostly unable to get up into the streams and I'd guess they're still in the lake (but I've never tried fishing for steelhead in Lake Erie itself). We're getting some rain right now, so it may help the situation. I can tell you that I was totally frustrated until I realized that the fish are normally deep in the water- make sure you have some weight on whatever you fish. The guys I've gone with have a lot of experience and have always told me to "go small" - that is using anything from sparkly estaz eggs to nymphs, but always go with a small hook size (14 or 16). I never ceases to amaze me that a 6 or 7 pound fish will willingly take a tiny hook. A lot of the streams seem to be bery rocky, too, filled with slate and shale, so it pays to land the fish as quickly as you can. Many of the people I know who are good at this also recommend using an indicator.
I know this doesn't answer the bulk of your question, but hope it helps in some way. Good Luck!
It's been almost a decade since I've fished for them (born in N.E. Ohio). The two rivers I fished were the Grand and the Chagrin in Painesville and Willoughby respectively.
As far as flies went, I narrowed my patterns down to #14 sucker spawns in chartreuse and some sort of earthy tone. #16 BH hair's ear nymphs in black and in natural. This was when the water levels were low to mid flow. Attach the nymphs to the sucker spawn with a foot and a half tippet. Use small indicators. 99% of the fish came on the nymph. 95% on black under chartreuse. In higher water, a wooly bugger in black or olive worked. If you can find the egg pattern where three eggs are attached to the hook by mono, buy it. They hammer that one.
In late fall and winter, drifting pools. In the early spring, sight casting to fish in shallow riffles.
Painesville Township Park has a lot of access to the Grand.
Unfortunately, as far as lodging and bars go, alot has changed up there in the past 10 years. So, I can't help you there. If you're in Painesville, Nemeth's lounge is a hole in wall bar with great service.
If you do go, please post pictures. I kinda miss those fish!
Try contacting Greg Senyo at http://www.steelheadalleyoutfitters.blogspot.com/. They have access to Elk Creek in PA. Good service and gre t group of guides. I fished with Tim Hess.
shortcaster, If you have some time before the trip I would recommend getting a hold of the book "Steelhead Guide; Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead" by John Nagy. Heck if you want to send me a PM I will mail you my copy to read if you promise to return it and more importantly post pictures. First I will let you know, I am not the best steelheader around, but I have read a lot and know some folks that are real good fishermen. In the greater Cleveland area there are 4 main rivers that get about 100,000 fish stocked a year by the ODNR, the Conneaut closest to and partially in PA also gets stocked by the PDNR. The Rocky on the west side of Cleveland has a bunch of public access through the Cleveland Metroparks. The Rocky is the most urban of the 4. Heading about 35-40 minutes east is the Chagrin. Public access available through the Lakemetroparks and Cleveland Metroparks and a few other places along the way. In recent years 2 low head dams have been removed by mother nature that have increased the fishable water upstream. Another 20 minutes or more depending on how far from the lake you choose is the Grand River. Again lots of public access in the Lake Metroparks. The park system has several nice parks that are right on the river. Lastly a bit farther east is the previously mentioned Conneaut. ODNR stocks the Manistee (from Michigan) strain of fish which are primarily a spring run fish, however the fish don't seem to know that because folks are in the streams from late September til late April catching fish as long as there are rain events to keep the flows up and the rivers don't freeze over. If the flows on the rivers happen to be running too high at the time you are in the area the are some smaller tributaries that feed the rivers that are fishable much sooner than the main river. As far as lodging and food, since you are in the Greater Cleveland area it is well developed, your options are almost unlimited. Heck you could stay at a 4 star hotel in downtown Cleveland, go the Rock and Roll Hall of fame for few hours and be fishing on one of the streams a half hour later. I have not fished the Rocky or the Conneaut, but have caught steelhead and smallmouth (my preferred fish) on both the Chagrin and Grand. I would recommend checking out the Cleveland Metroparks and Lake Metroparks websites to see the areas where you can easily access. I stick to the local parks since the laws in Ohio are that the water is public, but the bank and streambed are owned by the property owner. Some folks don't mind but there are definitely posted areas as well.
I hope I helped a little. Keep us posted on your trip.
Mike