Lake Erie (PA) Steelhead Fishing

[Cold]

We're rapidly approaching the annual fall run of steelhead in the Great Lakes, and while I'm by no means an expert, I know enough to go up and catch a few fish in the small PA tribs.

I figured I'd post a few articles in my blog to help shorten the learning curve for anyone considering making the 2010-2011 steelhead season their first.

If you think fishing the PA tribs might be something you'd like to try, I'm going to be doing my best in this 3 article series to give you some of the information that you usually don't get until you figure it out for yourself, on the water. It's not the most glamorous look at GL steelhead, but as opinions go, its honest.

http://dharmaofthedrift.blogspot.com/

[Fishin Bill]

Hey Cold! My son and I did this last fall for the first time. I hooked into a big fish on an 8 wt, had it on the line for at least 20 minutes. About 3 feet from netting it, took another long run, went around a pile of shale and the line went slack. My son looked at me and said he was sorry I hadn't caught it. I told him that was more fun fishing than I'd had in a long time. It's frustrating at first but we were lucky to have gone with a local club that's affiliated with our high school. Some of these guys gave me tips that really allowed me to hook up one. What amazed me was that I'd tied a lot of flies in preparation, but every fish I saw caught had gone after small nymphs. You're right, there's a learning curve- but some great fishing!

[Cold]

I'm glad you enjoyed your experience!

A suggestion for landing the next one you hook: Like I said in my post, the streams are small and the fish don't have anywhere to run, when they're on the line, it means you aren't going to be able to play them to the point that they just give up. If you had your fish on for 20 minutes, it was on about 15 minutes too long. After a while, a hooked steelhead goes from 'insane mode' (if its a fresh fish), into 'flop mode' where they aren't really doing anything other than keeping you from getting them.

When you recognize this shift, its time to land the fish. Netting can work in wide open areas or confined, fast water. If you want to net the fish, it's best to have your net man (someone other than the guy with the fish on), waiting downstream. Get the fish to calm down a bit then the net guy can approach slowly from behind, trying not to spook the fish.

Most times, though, I'm alone on the stream, and really, a net of the size you really want for these fish will be too large to be toting around with you, so I'm usually netless. When I get a fish tired and on a short line, I just walk backward, away from the creek and kind of tow the fish up onto the shore (if its a typical area with a low shoreline) or into some really shallow water. Getting the fish out of the water makes it easy to walk up to it and grip it firmly around the base of the tail. From there, you can hold it securely while you remove your fly and then either steer it back into the deeper water, or cradle your other hand under its belly to either carry it back to the water, or to get your stringer ready.

A note on that: you might want to get one of the heavier nylon stringers (available at the local bait shops) for steelhead. I've never seen them break one of the light trout ones, but it wouldnt surprise me if I did. In the rest of the state, an entire day's limit of smaller trout doesnt have the weight of just one hefty steelhead.

[flybugpa]

Cold, thats a cool site, thanks for putting it up there! Maybe we will bump into each other out there dodging ice flows....

[roygpa]

One of these days I'm going to make the drive and give steelhead a shot.

Thanks for the site.

Roy

[Fishin Bill]

Thanks for the advice, Cold. I plan to get out enough times this year that I should have plenty of practice. I was caught without a net, and undoubtedly should have done what you said- get ot over to shore and grab it by the tail.

[Cold]

Just wanted to let my fellow FAOLers know that I just posted Part 2 of my Steelhead Fishing Primer. This one covers gear choices (and as such, is definitely more aimed at the newbie), but hopefully anyone will be able to learn at least a little bit. I decided to make this a 4 part series instead of 3, just for simplicity's sake. And Part 3 could go up as soon as this evening if I get the time & inspiration to do it.

Roy, where are you from? It seemed like Erie was really far away until I made the drive a few times.

Flybug, thanks for the kind words! It's entirely possible we could see each other...upper Elk and 20 are my favorite haunts.

[fishdog54]

Cold,

I've read Part 1 so far. Very good info. Haven't been sleelheading since 97'. Fished the tribs in the U.P. of Mich. flowing into Lake Mich. & Lake Superior. Also fished some tribs flowing into Lake Champlain in upstate New York back in the early 80's. Hope to fish some of the Erie tribs. I already have a ton of flies tied up. I'll be back to your site to finish up on your series soon.

Best regards, Dave S. (fishdog54)

[Cold]

I just wanted to let FAOL know that I've just posted Part 3 of my Steelhead Fishing Primer, and that anyone interested in hitting up the tribs should check it out. I made my first trip this past Saturday, and ended up catching 2 over the course of the day. My buddy has been trying for over 2 seasons, with little success. Saturday, something must have finally clicked and he hooked about 10. None landed, but he's really excited to return now. Maybe through tying out some of this, I was able to describe things in a sensible way to him. Either way, I'm glad to see his effort finally starting to pay off in results.

fishdog,

I'm glad you're enjoying the series. Hopefully, there's some good info in there for you to help you in your return to Erie. This third part should be especially useful to you, looking for places to fish.

[roygpa]

Sorry Cold, I just saw your question I live about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh. Looks like pasteelhead.com is having a steelhead fishing seminar locally on October 9th. I think i will go to it and learn a few tips.

Roy