Archive for March, 2010

We focused on a larger trib most of the morning and switched to a smaller trib and another larger trib in the afternoon with the overall fishing not really what we’d like to see right now.  The good news is that there is a ton of ice on the lake which may delay a spring run, but all we have now are mostly older fish that are spawning and drop back fish that are returning to the lake.  With the rain coming the next few days it will hopefully improve activity.  We hooked fish in fast water on Flatfish and a few on eggs.  Jigging at the end of the day in pools produced 1 fish but many are scattering in the low water.  I could understand a lot of guys hanging up the Steelhead gear for the season but history tells me that in years I didn’t think anything was going to happen something did, and there was still good fishing to be had in the tributaries for Steelhead.  High water the next couple of days would not be unwelcomed.  Here’s a nice male I picked up at the end of the day that called for a photo opp.  These are the type a fish a camera was made for. 

Bob and Kurt came up from the Pittsburgh area and did fairly well despite a lot of poor reports from other anglers on the tribs.  We started up high on a  larger trib early and fish were landed on Flatfish lures in fast water, and skein, single eggs, and nymphs in a pool.  In the afternoon we moved to a smaller trib with fish near the mouth.  None were fresh run fish but we did manage to land fish on jigs.  We are seeing more and more activity each day with fish on the move and some fish done spawning and dropping back, but very few fresh spring run fish are coming in. 

In between streams these guys pulled out a lunch fit for a King and it was the highlight of my season.  There was enough food to camp for days!  5 different kinds of sausage, onions and peppers, 2 different kinds of rolls, hot sticks, chips, pickles, cheese, and more.  Kurt even brought a small generator to power a skillet.  I didn’t have to eat the rest of the day.  Thank you gentlemen again for the best lunch I have ever eaten in Erie in 10 years.  This reminded me that not every minute of the entire day has to be spent with a line in the water to have a true Erie Steelhead Experience.  Fantastic day on the streams.  Here’s a few pics from the day. 

Had a couple of beautiful days on the tribs Tuesday and Wednesday.  The water was still fairly stained on Tuesday and started to clear nicely on Wednesday.  We managed to get fish on jigs, floating eggs and flies, and holding Flatfish lures in current.  Fish are just starting to move in fast and shallow water but mostly older fall and winter fish.  A few silver fish are near the mouths of some streams but not many yet.  It should get better each day until the end of the month.  I helped a guy dehook a large Quillback Carpsucker, a native fish of Lake Erie.  With its high dorsal fin and bright pink sides it was proof that fish that do not fall into the sportfish category can be just as stunning as the ones we are after.  It’s also a sure sign of spring coming.  Here are a few pics of a couple of gentlemen that made the trip the last few days.  It was a pleasure spending a day on the tribs with them.