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That’s what fish will take all winter long.  Flatfish have mostly gone out the window, and you can always pick up a fish or two on single eggs, flies, and egg sacks.  A recent day yielded 5-6 fish out of every pack of fish I found, all taking jigs.  You don’t have to have many of them or in any extreme colors, just whites, blues, greens, darks, and a few flashier ones on 1/64 oz to 1/16 oz.  Swim the jig in front of packs  of fish and if the first line of fish doesn’t like you might have fish coming from the back of the back to strike.  Often I use one color all day and never have to change.  White and blue are my favorites.  If the water picks up speed and color I’ll switch to skein or egg sacks.  That and a can of single eggs from Poor Richard’s in Erie are all you need to catch fish all winter in open water.  If it freezes….break out the auger.

On another note I may not guide again for quite some time with my twins being 6 weeks old.  My focus will always remain on them and fishing a distant second and when I am able to fish I’d like to actually fish for myself for a change and then get them into it.  I’ll keep this site up just in case I want to start back and might just keep it as a fishing blog with reports.  It may change into something else as I my devote any guiding time to charitable causes that get wounded veterants and disabled children out fishing.  I look forward to the years that come and someday I’ll have my 2 boys stomping around the Erie streams chasing Steelhead.  My worst fear is not that they won’t be into fishing, but that  they’ll be ten times the fisherman I ever was!  I can only hope.

-JB

Sorry for the lack of reports….my twin boys were born November 1 and I haven’t fished much since.  Got out a couple of times for short trips and caught some fish, but my priorities are with my family and fishing has and will always take a back seat…that is until my boys can fish and they can come out with me!  Finn Jeffrey and Dane Stephen were born at 7.5 lbs each…couple of football sized steelhead!  All are doing well including Mom.  Now if we can just get them to sleep a little longer!  I will get out fishing here and there and might be out Monday..if so I’ll post conditions and a full report.  Hope everyone is having a great season and keep on hitting those fish all winter when the streams are open as these Fall runs were much better than last year.  Many fish will be packed in holes through the winter.  Good luck and hope to see you on the streams in the near future.

-JB

Fished a large trib with Jim on Monday and fish are still everywhere to be found.  By far the best run since 2008.  Fish were hooked on Flatfish lures, jigs, and drifting some flies and egg sacs.  I landed a 30″ 11 lb fish and a 9 lb fish, and Jim’s biggest to the bank was a long 9 lb fish dime bright.  Water is low and clear and fish are a little spooky depending on what kind of water they are in.  Rain won’t hurt and it looks like it’s coming.  This winter will be amazing as long as the creeks are open.  Seems as though fish are still coming in and staging so if November sees further runs of fish the creeks will be jammed up with Steelhead through the spring.  Might do some trolling next week if the weather cooperates but my twins are due on November 1 so I might not see the water for a few weeks after that.  Of course it’s a great season!!!  Here’s some pics from yesterday.  -JB