From: 11/11/2017
To: 11/11/2017
Type of Water: Freshwater
Species: Steelhead
I guided two great guys who also happen to be awesome fly anglers for Lake Erie Steelhead. Jim is from New Hampshire and was coming to Steelhead Alley for the first time. Rob hails from Massachusetts and it was his second trip to Erie with the first being the weekend before.
We had some good rain the previous week but the tribs were already on the way down and getting clear so we had our work cut out trying to find unpressured fish that were eager to bite. I picked a small local stream that I know of that holds it's flow a tad bit longer than the others and that's where we started and ultimately finished our day.
My truck thermometer read 14 degrees but we weren't gong to have time to worry about cold temps because the fishing was on fire from the start. Jim showed off his fly fis View more...I guided two great guys who also happen to be awesome fly anglers for Lake Erie Steelhead. Jim is from New Hampshire and was coming to Steelhead Alley for the first time. Rob hails from Massachusetts and it was his second trip to Erie with the first being the weekend before.
We had some good rain the previous week but the tribs were already on the way down and getting clear so we had our work cut out trying to find unpressured fish that were eager to bite. I picked a small local stream that I know of that holds it's flow a tad bit longer than the others and that's where we started and ultimately finished our day.
My truck thermometer read 14 degrees but we weren't gong to have time to worry about cold temps because the fishing was on fire from the start. Jim showed off his fly fishing skills by catching his first Lake Erie Chromer within minutes of starting. It wasn't long after and I was putting the net under another beautiful Steelhead that Jim caught. Next was Rob's turn with his own fish and I then was able to relax because both of my clients had caught fish.
But I'm never satisfied with just a few fish and we pressed downstream for more and more they got. We fished downstream roughly 2 miles or so before taking a lunch break along this gorgeous Lake Erie Tributary. After our lunch we started fishing our way back upstream and again the two caught fish. Jim was successful using the same fly, and I really mean the same exact fly. I had to retire the fly after the trip because it was so tattered from Steelhead teeth.
The fly that Jim used all day was a fire orange Nuke Egg that I tie with Eggstasy material for the egg and white veil material over top with a size 12 jig hook from Trutta Goods. Rob had luck on the same egg but he also caught fish on an assortment of other Steelhead flies.
We closed the stream at dark and I literally had to drag them both away from the water. Great day with some great guys!