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Fished West and East on Monday covering lower sections, mouths, and even a middle section of a larger stream finding a surprising amount of fish.  With the hot weather fish were not very active but using Flatfish lures drove a few fish crazy enough to strike out of anger.  A black leach fly on a beadhead also took some fish that couldn’t leave well enough alone.  Fish nearest the lake were the most aggressive.  You can bet with the upcoming rain Thursday through Saturday and colder temps that fish will come in from the lake to almost every stream.  Some will see a big run while others just a few fish, but it will happen.  Fish that are in will have a chance to move to the middle sections of the larger tributaries and hopefully the lower stretches see a new push.  Pick your poison this week and fish according to conditions.  Streams too high?  Fish the lake if it’s fishable.  Lake too rough but lower sections too crowded?  Go further up than everyone else and you’ll find fish.  They move in a hurry with good water.  Much farther than most give them credit for.  And if one trib is too high go to the smaller ones.  Shoreline fishing in the lake, fishing the lower sections for fresh fish, or going higher up for fish on the move that came in weeks ago, you’ll find fish in a lot of places in the next few days.  Enjoy.

-JB

Hit 5 streams all across Erie to throw hardware into the lake and Flatfish lures and jigs in the streams.  Many streams on the East side do not even have an opening for fish to get into yet as of yesterday.  Some fish are staging off the mouths but few hookups were had by myself and others.  The West side is seeing more fish in the streams and in the lake but still not the numbers we can have at this time of year.  I was able to get on a nice pack of fish in a larger trib and they went through periods of varied activity through the day.  I was able to land quite a few fish and miss a few others and it was a good day considering the slow start we are having.  I released a few nice fish and roped up a few chromers for some football games this season.  For me a smoked fish spread and some fish kabobs on the grill are perfect for Sundays.  All of my fish took Flatfish lures in various colors and sizes.  It was tough to do much else with the strong breeze.  Jigging and float fishing anything are tough with strong winds, but using these lures in wind is never a problem and at times a little chop on the water can help the bite.  I did lose 1 fish on a trout magnet, and it continues to amaze me how violently fish will dart at these lures.  Another angler next to me did well floating single eggs in the morning.  Hopefully a calm lake, cool temps, and some rain this week will bring in many more silver bullets.  I’d say the season has begun, and a new bottle of Macallan Cask Strengh Single Malt was opened last night.  Perfect end to each and every day of fishing in Erie.  Good luck and have fun on the streams this season, and take a kid with you!  -JB

I will be on the streams and lakeshore soon looking for early fish.  No doubt some are already around looking for a stream to enter at night or early morning and disappearing shortly after sunrise.  I will be on the streams on a limited basis this season as I have 2 twin boys on the way in late October or early November.  My wife and I have been blessed.  I will be on the streams as much as possible up to that point but even after they are born I will still be fishing.  I’m running the same pattern as always….September- spoons and spinners in the lake, Flatfish lures in the streams, and some jigs and single eggs if we have deep enough water to float to weary early runners.  October to freeze-up in the streams I will be fishing jigs, Flatfish lures in pools, runs, and drifts, and float fishing single eggs, sacs, skein, and various fly patterns from egg patterns to nymphs.  Bottom line is wherever I am fishing from the lake shoreline to the upper most sections of our streams, I am prepared to catch fish using the best presentation possible according to water conditions and fish behavior.  No situation is unfishable outside of a blown out river of mud.  Even low water fish can be caught.  I look forward to another season on the Erie tributaries and as always meeting new faces and fishing with old friends.  Hope to see you on the streams and if you’d like to spend a day with me learning water or technique, please give me a call.

Have fun and be safe this year,

Joe Baker

Erie Steelhead Experience