F.A.Q.
The following are some frequently asked questions that you may find helpful:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1 Where is PA Steelhead fishing done and what streams do you guide on?
Lake Erie Steelhead run in over a dozen streams in Erie County from just east of the Ohio border to just a mile west of the New York border. I have caught fish out of most of them. I guide mainly on the larger tributaries; Elk, Walnut, and 20 Mile Creek. Large runs can occur in many of the other smaller streams and I will guide on these streams when conditions and runs of fish are appropriate. Many of my best days on the water have been on the smaller "Mile" streams. Some days will call for being on one stream the entire time, other days may include stops at 4 or 5 of them.
Q.2 How long are steelhead in the streams?
Steelhead can be found in the Pennsylvania tributaries from late August to early May, however fishable numbers are generally in from mid September to mid April. Fish have actually been caught in Erie streams every month of the year.
Q.3 Are the streams crowded?
In short, yes. Mainly during the Fall runs the streams can be crowded especially in the lower sections near the lake. The crowds thin out greatly in the Winter when some of the best fishing can be had. Even the Spring sees less pressure than the Fall. When fish have spread out through the entire stream systems it is easy to get away from the crowds and find groups of fish with little or no other angling activity around. Early on in the season crowds become something we all have to deal with to catch fish and we will sacrifice seclusion for good concentrations of fish. I assure you that when you are catching more than most other anglers around you will forget anyone is there. The way I fish has proven to catch fish all year whether there are 100 fishermen around or 0. Erie fishermen are mostly kind and friendly people always willing to help net a fish or get out of the way when a fish is on. Other times ample time can be spent fishing in quieter areas upstream with plenty of fish. When I am able to find good numbers of fish in this type of environment I will always take fishermen to that spot. This can change day to day as the season progresses. I will cater to the type of fishing you are after whenever possible. Whether its long hikes along the streams to find groups of fish far from the crowds around each bend or at easier access points where more fishing can be done and less walking I will do the best I can to accommodate. The bottom line is I want to see you catch fish!
Q.4 Do you catch and release or keep fish? Can I keep fish on guided trips with you?
I advocate the catch and release and selective harvest philosophies. As long as you are within the legal limits you are welcome to keep fish to take home. Generally the best eating fish are silver fresh run fish that have not darkened from the sun or hard winter yet, and are 20-25 inches, or up to 6 lbs. After that the bigger fish are best to be photographed and released, but many anglers will want to keep a larger fish for a mount. I enjoy keeping a few myself and will be happy to provide recipes for the grill or smoker once you get home. I will always answer email requests for recipes or any questions you have before and after we fish.
Q.5 What is the limit?
There is a 3 fish per day limit and a 15" minimum size, although fish are rarely caught below 20". Here is a link to the Pennyslvania fishing regulations: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/regs_fish.htm
Q.6 How long is a day of fishing?
My guided trips will last around 8 hours from sunrise or arrival at the first stream. Later start times can be accommodated and even recommended in the winter but I generally want to have people fishing by sunrise to get the best fishing in. Fish become less active in the late afternoon generally due to fishing pressure. With that said sundown fishing can be great if fishing away from the crowds. There may be times the fishing is so good I may continue to fish after our time is over and you can happily stay along and continue to fish with me. I also will never end the day in the middle of great fishing.
Q.7 Is a deposit needed? What form of payment is accepted?
$100 deposit must be paid to reserve the date within 2 weeks of contacting me. Once I confirm a date is open I will hold it for 2 weeks. If no deposit is received I will open it to other anglers. Remaining balance is due at the end of the fishing day and must be paid in cash only. I cannot accept credit cards at this time. Deposit can be mailed by personal check or certified funds only (money order, cashiers check) to this address:
Erie Steelhead Experience
C/O Joe Baker
210 North Ave
Washington, PA 15301Q.8 What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellations must be made 2 weeks prior to reserved date to receive deposit back. In case of inclement weather or extreme conditions (very high muddy water, creeks freeze overnight, etc) where fishing is not possible deposit will be refunded completely unless you still decide you want to fish or reschedule for another date. In extreme conditions I will make every effort to get you into fish by fishing smaller waters that clear faster. I will make all efforts to inform you of these types of conditions prior to the day of fishing. When looking into dates for trips I will be completely honest about conditions, recent trips and reports, and what you can really expect when you want to come. Keep in mind that with conditions changing daily it really can be completely different fishing one day to the next.
Q.9 Are you insured and do you have First Aid/CPR training?
I am fully insured and certified in First Aid, CPR, and AED usage. An inherant risk form must be signed prior to start of fishing. Any children under 18 are required to have parental signature.
Q.10 Do you guide more than 3 anglers?
Unfortunately I do not. I am not able to provide the kind of detailed attention necessary for every fisherman to have a productive, fun, and fish catching day.
Q.11 Do you guide fly-fishermen or fly-fishing trips?
I do not guide with fly-rods, however I will certainly allow fly-fishermen to bring their rods to use if they want to try landing a fish on one. Keep in mind many times the water conditions are low and clear with little drift. This is when a noodle rod with the presentations I describe on the "About the fishing" page really shines. I will always have my rods and reels ready to go. I do use many flies on a float setup and I feel this type of drift is actually better on Erie streams than with a fly rod. If we are catching a lot of fish and you want to put my noodle rod down and use your fly rod I will do my best to get you in the right drifts for this. I carry a nice selection of flies for Steelhead so you don't have to bring your own selection unless you want to. Please ask me in advance on suggested patterns and streamers. Likewise if you are using your fly rod and not hooking up I'll have the proper setups and presentations waiting for you to get into fish. Early in the year especially can frustrate the best of fly-fishermen while others with spinning gear and noodle rods are able to toss a variety of lures to fresh run fish who are willing to chase but not go after flies. With my equipment and noodle rods I can get almost any angler into the best fishing they will have on the Erie tributaries.
Q.12 Can I bring my own equipment?
I highly recommend taking a trip with my equipment but if you have a comparable setup I will certainly allow you to use it. I will have my equipment on backup for you to use. If you desire to use your own equipment if must be a light action noodle rod from 10-11.5 feet, a smooth drag spinning reel, and 6 lb test line of high quality. Please ask me in advance for line suggestions. This is all to ensure you are able to utilize the presentations we will be using properly. Jigging for fish cannot be done effectively with rods that are too short or long.
Q.13 What days are available and what months are you guiding in?
At this time I am guiding full time from September to April, any day of the week, weather permitting. Please keep in mind that the old adage of "fish on weekdays to avoid large crowds" no longer really applies for Erie Steelhead fishing. In the fall generally the streams are just as crowded every day of the week. In fact some weekends can actually be surprisingly less crowded than the weekdays due to many people avoiding them! Doing a weekend trip can also ensure that needless vacation days do not have to be taken from work to go fishing. Please keep that in mind as well as weekdays for a possible trip. Please use the contact form on the site or feel free to call or email me directly for a quick response about dates you are interested in.
Q.14 Do you do guided ice fishing trips for Steelhead if the creeks freeze over?
Yes! If the creeks are frozen over in the winter I will guide fishermen for Steelhead through the ice. This you would only want to book once you confirm with me what the Winter is like in Erie this year and if the creeks are frozen solid. The hope is always that there is a mild winter so the fishing remains good all 8 months of the season but in Erie it's likely at some point we will be fishing through the ice for Steelhead as they holdover in the creeks and wait for Spring to spawn.
Q.15 Are there any guided trips from boats?
All trips are stream wading. No boat of any type is involved. Not only are the Erie creeks too small for drift boats but also many run through private property. In Pennsylvania even the stream bed is owned by the property owner, preventing any watercraft from passing through. Many boats are used to troll the creek mouths in Lake Erie in the fall but fishing the shorelines with spoons and spinners is a much better and safer option. With the waves and winds changing at a moments notice it's easy to go away from the lake and fish in the streams instead of having to get the boat back to the marina and having the trip be a wash.
Q.16 How do we workout a meeting point and will I need a vehicle for the day?
All directions and meeting points will be discussed over the phone prior to fishing trip. For trips with 1 angler I can do all of the driving around the streams. For 2 or 3 anglers I ask that you have a vehicle to follow me to the access points. The hope is that every trip we will visit as few tributaries as possible to keep fishing time at a maximum.
Q.17 Will we be fishing private water?
No. I only guide on public water and privately owned water that is open to public access. Fortunately the best fishing is open to all anglers but we as ethical outdoorsmen need to be respectful of all land we fish on to keep it from being posted. The state works hard to purchase more land along the streams and use easements to keep land open each year to fishing.
Q.18 What skill levels do you expect from fishermen?
None! I specialize in instructing those who have never fished at all, experienced anglers new to Erie Steelhead fishing, and children who take a trip with a parent.
Q.19 Can you guide anglers who have fished for Erie Steelhead before? Will a guide benifit them?
Yes and Yes. I can show advanced anglers techniques they may not have tried or seen, and fine tune the presentation side of Steelhead fishing for more success on the streams. Fishing 3 seasons a year I am constantly on the biggest concentrations of fish as they move throughout the streams and I am able to show the best presentations for catching fish each month of the season. A trip may be worth it just to get more stream knowledge and learn new areas that hold fish throughout the season. Looking at a map and wondering if a spot will be productive can be difficult especially when factoring in the time of year and the limited time you may have to fish. My knowledge of each section of most Erie streams and its relation to the seasons and water flow is something I want to share on guided trips.
Q.20 What are the best reasons to get a guide?
To shorten the learning curve and gain years of knowledge and experience in one day! Many fishermen (even experienced) start Steelhead fishing with just a few tips from the local bait shops and 1 or 2 baits and/or lures. They get to the stream, find the fish, and may end up staring at them all day and watching others land fish. It seems like it is going to be easy. It is easy for anyone to find the fish. I can put you on fish and show you the methods of catching them in a variety of conditions. Once you learn the fish's behavior in each situation you will gain valuable knowledge and be able to apply it on future Erie trips with or without a guide.
