From: 09/27/2018
To: 09/27/2018
Type of Water: Freshwater
Species: Steelhead
We started our scouting excursions for Steelhead this past week (end of September) This year has been one of the wettest in recent history everywhere but the Great Lakes area. So as usual we have been playing the waiting for rain game. We got a nice hard rain on Tuesday September 25 which blew up the tributaries for the day. Wednesday morning I was on the stream at the crack of dawn and was greeted with heavily stained above average water levels. But I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was going to get the optimal water conditions that I was looking for.
My goal for this trip was to find the leading edge of the Steelhead run. I knew there were most likely fish in the lower reaches of the stream closer to the Lake but I wanted to know how far upstream some of the fish had View more...We started our scouting excursions for Steelhead this past week (end of September) This year has been one of the wettest in recent history everywhere but the Great Lakes area. So as usual we have been playing the waiting for rain game. We got a nice hard rain on Tuesday September 25 which blew up the tributaries for the day. Wednesday morning I was on the stream at the crack of dawn and was greeted with heavily stained above average water levels. But I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was going to get the optimal water conditions that I was looking for.
My goal for this trip was to find the leading edge of the Steelhead run. I knew there were most likely fish in the lower reaches of the stream closer to the Lake but I wanted to know how far upstream some of the fish had made it. This is always hit or miss and sometimes amounts to a lot of wasted time but this information is vital for planning early season trips for our clients.
As the water started to recede, likely holding spots for the fish became more visible and I concentrated my efforts on those spots. One such spot was the backside of a brush pile that had a a deep pocket the I knew could hold fish. I flipped my streamer into the pocket and jigged it several times when a big chrome Steelhead hen came shooting out and inhaled my fly. I instantly set the hook and the fish reacted violently and tried to head back into it's wooden sanctuary. I was able to thwart her first attempt but this only enraged her more and the next run I was unable to stop her and I was quickly broke off.
I moved to a nice looking run with an undercut bank and started working the edge. As I got to the tailout I felt the sudden "thud" of strike and I set the hook. I was hooked up and the fight was on with a fresh Lake Erie Steelhead. The feisty hen put up a great battle but this time I had plenty water to work with and more importantly no brush piles!.
I worked my way downstream a few hundred yards to the next likely Steelhead holding area. I drifted my black Egg Sucking Leach pattern through the run at least a dozen times with no luck. Out of the blue a surface disturbance of a large feeding fish quickly got my attention. I cast several times in the direction of where I thought the fish was at but no bite. I decided to change flies and I chose a white crystal bugger. I cast to the same spot and dead drifted the fly down through the run when it was violently attacked. I set the hook and was suddenly in a battle with a male Steelhead. I got the fish into the net and was in awe of his mating colors and red cheeks. I got a couple quick pictures and I released the beauty back to continue his spawning duties.
I continued fishing for a few more hours and caught several more fish. What an awesome early season trip to Steelhead Alley. But, as much fun as I had on the stream it doesn't compare to the joy of netting fish for our clients. I'm very excited for the upcoming season and putting smiles on our clients faces.
