Spring Steelhead

 

Days are getting longer, the winter snow & ice are melting away and the official start of spring is just days away.  Trout fishing is a month or so till it’s spring peak.  How do you shake off cabin fever and use some of the flies you spent all winter creating?  It’s the beginning of the short, but sweet, spring steelhead season.  Many of the tactics you know and use throughout the fall work great.  However there’s plenty of dropbacks returning to the lake looking for an easy meal and will aggressively strike flies passing by.  Spring is a great time of year to sight cast, swing flies and even take an aggressive fish on a skated or waking fly.  What an exciting way to bring in the new season.  I look forward to seeing you on the stream.

 It's October.  That can mean a lot of things.  Pumpkin Spice, Cooler Days, Butternut Squash Soup.  Here in Western New York we celebrate a lot of things fall, as a fly angler, one who really enjoys swinging flies with a two handed switch or spey rod, I cheer out loud every morning as the sun rises to the arrival of our lake run fish.  Primarily the steelhead (if your from the west rainbow trout) that enter the creeks feeding into Lake Erie.  Most of these fish are smolt that are released into the tributaries and find there way into the lake.  After their arrival into the lake they spend anywhere from three to five years foraging on all types of food sources, primarily baitfish, including emerald shiners and goby minnows.  Swinging fly patterns using marabou, rabbit strips and flash wrapped around various sized hooks, shanks or tubes work very well at fooling this fresh run fish into striking at what they think are the bait they are used to chasing in the lake.  What makes this type of fishing the most enjoyable is the "grab".  The grab is hard to explain in words as it's a feeling that can vary as the fish is taking the fly.  I think that if you every talk to anyone who is a "swing" enthusiast, it's a mutual agreement that the tug is the drug.  Don't hang up your waders this fall, keep your boots wet and try swinging flies for our lake run fish and I think you'll find yourself immersed in a new technique of fly fishing.  Tight Lines. 

Docs Cork Dry Fly

Here is a little step by step of tying a great summer dry fly that can be tied in a range of sizes, colors and will support the weight of a number of droppers.  I tie mine to imitate yellow sally stoneflies and crickets.  

Tie in a thread base and apply head cement.

Attach a thin piece of 2mm craft foam in segments.

Fold over remaining foam to form a wing and a head.

Behind the head tie in a wing using either elk or deer hair.  Then wrap 5-6 turns of dry fly hackle.

Three simple set ups to catch more Salmon and Steelhead

With Steelhead and Salmon season in full swing, how do you rig for a day on the water?  These three simple rigs are guaranteed to bring more fish to the net this fall.  Making adjustments to depth, weight, tippet size and flies will make these rigs catch more fish in just about any riffle, run, pool or tailout.  See you on the river and good luck this fall.

As the leaves change and the days get shorter.  There's one thing that comes to mind when you live and guide in the Great Lakes Region.  Steelhead, Salmon, Lake Trout and Lake Run Browns.  Living in Western New York we are blessed with Lake Erie and Lake Ontario Tributaries all within an hour drive.  These rivers and streams range in size from small pocket water creeks to huge rivers like the Niagara.  With so many options there's always a place to find fish.  I look forward to seeing you on the tributaries this fall/winter/spring season.

Looking to learn more about fly fishing?  Join Orvis in this educational trip to the West Branch Angler, where I’ll be helping, along with other endorsed guides and Orvis staff, teaching tips & techniques about fly fishing.  Sign up at any corporate store in Buffalo, Cleveland, Rochester, Westlake or Pittsburgh.

It's summer and the fun is just getting started.  There's so much fishing to do this time of year it's hard to pick.  Trout on hoppers?  Musky, Pike, Smallmouth Bass?  Carp on Dries?  Small Stream Brookies?  Big River Browns?  It doesn't matter the choice, it's going to be a great day on the water.  Each species and each techniques offers it's on challenge to be successful.  Lets do a quick bullet point on each to make your day on the water better.

• Hoppers, make sure they plop near overhanging structure and use a dropper nymph.
• Warm Water Species, use a streamer to imitate the natural forage fish of the river.
• Carp on Dries, treat a surface eating carp as a technical spring creek trout.
•  Brookies, use large dries so the little fish aren't able to be hooked. (Barbless)
•  Big River Browns, go on cloudy days early in the morning.

These are some basics that will help you get more hook ups on your next outing in Western New York and North Western Pennsylvania.  

May Hatches

The month of May brings all kinds if aquatic insects to the surface for trout to feed on. To name a few, caddis, March Browns and Sulphurs. As the month progresses start looking for most fish and insect activity more towards evening. Don't miss out, this is the best month for dry fly action!

Big April Fish on April Dries

Spring Hatches are here

Quill Gordon's, Hendricksons, Caddis and BWOs just to name a few of the great spring hatches that are taking place on our local streams and rivers. These insects are getting the big fish to the surface. Now through the first part of June us the perfect time to get into the dry fly action!

High water equals big streamers

The snow has melted and the April showers have begun. Warming water and high flows sometimes leaves you at home wishing you could fish. It doesn't have to be that way. A little planning, for safety, and a sense of adventure will put some of the largest trout you'll catch all season in the net.
It all starts with monitoring various levels of your local river. Watch how it reacts to various levels of CFS. Don't call it blown out if its muddy or stained. On certain streams this can be the best time to catch huge trout. The other thing to keep in mind is you'll need some kind if watercraft to maneuver in higher levels, as wading is generally unsafe or impossible. This is where knowing your river comes into play. Where to put in, where to take out, how long will it take, are there any dangerous obstructions that are impassable that are going to cause potential on river complications it worst yet serious injury. After your scouting is complete. The fishing part is easy. Streamers, streamers and streamers. Various colors and sizes then pound the banks for huge predators looking to ambush prey in every pocket, seem, and eddy. In my next post I'll talk about new lines and equipment that are new to the market that have been specifically designed to help with modern streamer techniques. Start scouting and I'll see you on the water!

Carp Fiesta.....

When the water drops and the trout stop rising to the hordes of mayflies this spring what should a fly angler do?
Find the warmest sluggish water in your area and practice your flats fishing skills on golden bones.
Carp fishing is exciting as bonefish and redfish combined. Add a paddle board and wadeable flats you transform your carping experience into a realm of freshwater/saltwater bliss. This summer when your looking to find exciting, reel screaming fun. Search out your local carp flats and give it a try.

Musky Crazy!

First of many days to come hitting the river for musky. Lots of casts and humbled dreams make you a little crazy.
If you live in NW PA or Western New York you already know about the phenomenal musky opportunities we have. If not come up and check out the rivers and lakes. You never know the next 50" Essox might end up on the end if your 10wt.

The new wave in inflatables are ready to hit the water this summer!

Whether you are floating a river, poling a flat or paddling a lake, inflatable SUPs are the sure thing to an all around fishing machine. Not only are they stable, you can configure them to fish just about any situation. Ok, want to just have fun, pop off your accessories and go for a paddle or surf some waves. SUPs just plain fun!

Not just fishing

When fishing anywhere it's some of the other things you experience that make the day more than the fish you catch. While poling the flats we encountered this group of spotted eagle rays, leopard rays, hard head catfish and sardines. Besides the calm winds and catching dozens if bones on a 5wt. We saw some amazing things that day, that's what make fly fishing!

Grand Slam

Searching the flats for the tres pescados.

Permit in Belize

Belize, one of many great destinations for Permit. However slams and super slams can occur at anytime while visiting the flats here. A few more days left in this yearly journey. If everything aligns bones, permit, tarpon and snook will show themselves for an intense and gratifying day. Check back soon for more flats fever.

All you can eat crab and shrimp buffet.

Heading south for a couple of weeks to take a break from all of the great winter trout and steelheading that's been going on. Do you think this box of Charlie's, Gotcha's and Merkin's will get the job done. Check back over the next few weeks to see the results.

Another excellent week of Steelheading

Steelhead Extreme

The steelhead season continues even with low water conditions and warm temperatures.  Lake Erie is finally below 50 degrees which will spark even more fish to run as the end of November approaches quickly.  With above average temps and plenty of rain in the forecast the season is going to continue to be excellent well into January. 
The Clarion river is still producing some great trout fishing for the drifting angler.  Great water levels and very cooperative trout is making this one of the best fall seasons yet!
I look forward to seeing you on the river.