Archive for April, 2010

I have landed fish on this lake from 5-8 lbs every year since 2005 and I have seen 2 fish that I thought were over the 10 lb mark. BUT I ABOUT FAINTED when I brought this fish to the net. 12 lbs on a certified scale, just 3 ounces shy of the West Virginia Largemouth Bass State Record! What an amazing fish. This old girl was so fat she couldn’t even get all the way out of the water when she tried to jump. This is a true American fish and one that’s a trophy anywhere, anytime. I can’t describe how it felt to get her to the net. Wished I had gotten some better pics of her and that I didn’t look like I just rolled out of bed but the fish is usually prettier than the fisherman that caught it in most fishing photos. I caught 2 bass today because of the chop and stained water. The first was a nice 3 lb fish, and then this beast! I spent much of the day unloading on jumbo perch to try to salvage the day before I hit one last tree where I caught this girl. What a monster! Enjoy the pics. -JB

Just thought I’d share a few pics from this past weekend. Took a trip to where I grew up, Philadelphia, for ocean fun stripers on the Delaware River with best friend and expert Striper fisherman Marc. Nasty weather ramped up the bite and the quality and quantity of fish was amazing as usual. I’ve hit the big numbers before but the sizes were outstanding. I broke my personal best each day from multiple 29″ fish on Friday to 30′s on Saturday and a 31″ pig on Sunday. Tons of keepers in the slot limit of 20-26″ and many more from 26-28. We caught fish up to around 15 lbs. Marc has gotten quite a few fish in the 30 lb and up class and up to 40″ and I know he will get his usual giant he gets each spring soon. I’m happy with besting my biggest each day but also reeling in fish after fish at times for hours. His knowledge of where to go and what to use is incredible.

All this within sight of the Philly skyline! Can’t wait for next April! I know the 35-40 inch beast was on my line at some point this weekend and I’ll be back every year to go after her! -JB

While the cold snap and rain next week may stir a few fresh fish into the streams I’m sorry to say that it’s just about done until September. Smolts are taking over the streams making it difficult to target adult fish. You can get away from them in some streams but the numbers of fish you’ll find don’t really merit the effort. I cancelled a trip for today because there isn’t much anyone can learn in the conditions we have, with the low numbers of fish in the streams.

The weather certainly is beautiful but it will call in the suckers from the lake to takeover the lower sections of the streams. Some springs can be incredible after late melts…this one was not. We did ok the last few weeks and had some fun but it’s time to move on to other fishing for the Spring and Summer. Steelhead fishing remains a wonderful privilege to have in my beloved state of Pennsylvania, but we have so many other opportunities besides the Steelhead.

Today I showed Frank from eastern PA most of our streams and he was able to get into fish with Flatfish lures, something he was quite familiar with. He spent 24 years in Alaska chasing Salmon and Steelhead. He didn’t need much help in the fishing department. I’m certain he would have figured it all out in just a few trips on his own. What he was able to learn quickly was the equipment we use on the Erie tribs, how we rig certain presentations, and where to fish when and why. Frank didn’t have to get a guide, but doing so saved him a lot of time on future trips guessing what will work and what streams and areas to visit.

Hearing his fishing stories from Alaska as well as what the culture was like living there so long was immensely enjoyable and fishing with Frank for the day reminded me of why I took up guiding. Days spent guiding some of the finest men I’ve ever met do as much for me as I am doing for them. While I’m instructing on fishing technique they are teaching me more about life than I ever learned in 6 years of sitting in an office.

I want to extend a sincere thank you to each and every person I have guided this season. I cannot explain how much fun I had every single day on the streams. I know it all starts over in September but looking back at the pictures from this season provides me enough rewards to carry me through a lifetime of bad days of fishing. A lot of good men, some fine sons and daughters, and great fish. What an amazing season.

Until September I’ll be fishing for big West Virginia largemouth, trophy trout on the Youghiogheny River in SW PA, flathead catfish on the 3 rivers, stalking carp on some local streams, smallmouth bass, and pretty much every other fish that swims in the 3 rivers and nearby lakes. The fishing never stops….it only continues. I’ll be adding some other fishing trips to my list of guided fishing opportunities this spring and summer. Until the Fall I invite anyone I’ve guided to call me anytime to do some fishing with me on unguided trips as I am always looking for fishing partners to test run a trip that I would like to add as a guiding experience.

Whether I have guided you this season or you are considering a trip next fall I look forward to being your guide for THE Erie Steelhead Experience you are after.

-Joe Baker, E.S.E.