A few honest questions about the steelhead anglers (not flaming)

[PaScoGi]

I have zero desire to fish steelhead but am curious why some anglers love it so much

1. Are steelhead basically rainbow trout that live in Lake Erie?

2. Do they stock the Erie streams or are all the fish caught just wild rainbows from the lake?

3. Are they coming into the rivers this time of year to spawn? If so, what are the "ethics" of targeting spawning steelhead compared to targeting a wild brown trout in other parts of PA?

4. Do they come back in March to spawn again? I see Erie guided services saying October & March are "best" times to book a trip. In other words, why cant someone go steelhead fishing in June?

5. Can you catch a steelhead on a dry fly? Do they "rise" and take say, BWOs or Midges if they are hatching? Or is it just drifting an egg pattern all day?

6. What is the difference between an Erie steelhead and a Washington state steelhead?

Thanks for any help. Again, Ill never steelhead fish but I am genuinly curious why some people love it so much. Not trying to start trouble I just never quite understood the craze about it.

 

[CRB]

1 yes but they are bigger and live in the Great lakes 2-3 years eating and growing much larger than an inland fish. They run 18"-24" long, with larger ones caught.
2 They are stocked in PA with very few wild fish. In New York and Ontario there is some wild fish reproduction much more than PA.
3 They run from early fall through late early spring they are stocked so in PA so with very limited reproduction ethics are in the late winter - spring leave the smolts alone.
4 those are the times the fall winterrun and the spring run take place the fish spawn in late winter early spring no matter when the fish run.
5 yes usually a bomber in fall in undisturbed waters
6 great lakes steelhead are freshwater and washington are salt but each are the same species. gl steelhead were introduced into the lakes in the 1880's by stocking west coast rainbow trout it was unknown to them that these fish would run into a larger body of water and return 2-3 years later.

I grew up and live very close to the tributaries of Lake Erie in Erie County. There are a few books that are excellent describing timing methods and gear to use for them. The Paf&bc have numerous public easements and access points on their website.

 

[Prospector]

I have zero desire to fish steelhead but am curious why some anglers love it so much

1. Are steelhead basically rainbow trout that live in Lake Erie?

2. Do they stock the Erie streams or are all the fish caught just wild rainbows from the lake?

3. Are they coming into the rivers this time of year to spawn? If so, what are the "ethics" of targeting spawning steelhead compared to targeting a wild brown trout in other parts of PA?

4. Do they come back in March to spawn again? I see Erie guided services saying October & March are "best" times to book a trip. In other words, why cant someone go steelhead fishing in June?

5. Can you catch a steelhead on a dry fly? Do they "rise" and take say, BWOs or Midges if they are hatching? Or is it just drifting an egg pattern all day?

6. What is the difference between an Erie steelhead and a Washington state steelhead?

Thanks for any help. Again, Ill never steelhead fish but I am genuinly curious why some people love it so much. Not trying to start trouble I just never quite understood the craze about it.

First off, CRB gave good guidance.

I would recommend giving it a try. If you go a few times you should catch some fish and the battles are epic. Good battles occur when water temps maybe 45 to 55 degrees. They will be more sluggish in colder water. Make sure you have your fly near the bottom to encourage takes without the fish traveling very far.

What may turn you off is the amount of anglers but I always find a spot to fish. Being mobile is helpful to get away from access points.

 

[PaScoGi]

Thanks, good stuff.

But still, if you are fishing steelead, you are techinically targeting a spawning fish, right? In other words, the only reason they leave the lakes (or ocean) is to spawn? So years ago, our ancestors figured this out and started this tradition? Otherwise these fish would be targeted other months of the year but simply are not in the streams apparently.

Just dont get the challenge of it. It reminds me of the salmon craze in new york where people only fish it certain time of the year.

To each their own I guess.

 

[Kyle]

steelhead fishing is great. give it a try. some anglers dont just want to strip in a 6" trout. some want the fly reel to actually use the drag.

salmon fishing in NY can be a nightmare. i hold off until the crowds thin and chase steelhead. its a great time.

there is a challenge to it. give it a try. make sure your knots are good.

 

[PaScoGi]

steelhead fishing is great. give it a try. some anglers dont just want to strip in a 6" trout. some want the fly reel to actually use the drag.

salmon fishing in NY can be a nightmare. i hold off until the crowds thin and chase steelhead. its a great time.

there is a challenge to it. give it a try. make sure your knots are good.

Just might have to, sounds like a good change of pace. If I do Ill leave my 6x tippet at home lol!

 

[Old Town]

What type of fishing do you like to do PaScoGi?

 

[dudemanspecial]

I go once a year just to remind myself why I don't get too excited about it.

What I like:
It is fun catching those hogs.

I respect the fact that there is a "scene" vibe to it all. Makes it fun and opens up traditions.


What I don't like:
It's not my kind of "scene". People everywhere, walking right beside you to fish the same hole even if there is nobody 50 yards in either direction. Centerpinners drifting through the hole you are fishing from almost too far for them to hear you tell them to **** off.

Skinny shale bottom water with very little character or enjoyable scenery.

There is something about the whole idea of them not being in water systems they belong. I don't even mean the whole native / stocked thing....more like they belong in saltwater and big rivers, not Lake Erie and shin deep water, and there is just something sad about seeing them stacked up in these little creeks. I get the feeling they know something isn't right about what they are trying to do. I just can't shake the manufactured fishery feeling.

And don't let anyone fool you, 50% of the time they are caught by snagging. Not saying its on purpose....sometimes it is, but even if you are fishing honest you are going to snag as many as you will get to bite.

 

[Old Town]

I do not drift flies, I swing wets, streamers and use dry flies. I sight fish and I almost never snag a fish. One fish ran into my streamer this year and the fly was on top of his dorsal fin. I let a little slack and he swam away. Drifting flies with weight and you will snag plenty! Try sight fishing with swinging flies and you too will not snag many.

 

[jifigz]

I've been up the Erie 3 times in my life for steelies. I've had my best success in March. There were way fewer anglers than in October and November. It was colder than a witch's teet, however, and the fish fought like they were logs.

 

[troutbert]

If you are interested in Erie steelhead fishing, just go do it, and see if you like it.

It's fun catching big fish. But it's very crowded.

 

[tjsingle]

I go once a year just to remind myself why I don't get too excited about it.

What I like:
It is fun catching those hogs.

I respect the fact that there is a "scene" vibe to it all. Makes it fun and opens up traditions.


What I don't like:
It's not my kind of "scene". People everywhere, walking right beside you to fish the same hole even if there is nobody 50 yards in either direction. Centerpinners drifting through the hole you are fishing from almost too far for them to hear you tell them to **** off.

Skinny shale bottom water with very little character or enjoyable scenery.

There is something about the whole idea of them not being in water systems they belong. I don't even mean the whole native / stocked thing....more like they belong in saltwater and big rivers, not Lake Erie and shin deep water, and there is just something sad about seeing them stacked up in these little creeks. I get the feeling they know something isn't right about what they are trying to do. I just can't shake the manufactured fishery feeling.

And don't let anyone fool you, 50% of the time they are caught by snagging. Not saying its on purpose....sometimes it is, but even if you are fishing honest you are going to snag as many as you will get to bite.

After fishing up on NY's Salmon River for a 5 years in a row for all the different pacific salmon, and early runs of steelhead/browns, your comments about the scene not being enjoyable are spot on. It's partially why I haven't gone up to Erie to fish for steelhead as it seems similar to some extent more so with crowds on other Great Lake tribs.

I think one of these days I'll make a trip up to do some steelheading, but its just not at the top of my list.

 

[PaScoGi]

What type of fishing do you like to do PaScoGi?

trout, panfish, bass (listed in order of preference)

dont have instagram & dont care about size of fish, which i guess is the allure of steelhead.

just like to have my feet in the water and a fly drifting by me hoping i can fool at least one fish

 

[Old Town]

I disagree that Erie steelhead fishing is like the Salmon river.
Yes many areas can get very crowded however go upstream a few miles further then the heavy crowds and you could find spots either all to yourself or just a hand full of anglers in a half mile of water. However do not expect to see 50 fish in every hole but if you fish hard you will catch fish, usually.
Also there is very little snagging or intentional lifting. However going to the lower areas of a stream, especially Walnut you will see very poor sportsmanship. Many of these guys have no idea of how to catch these fish and do not have the patience to learn.
I have fished for them for 52 years and seen a lot of changes. Yes only TCU stocked steelhead smolt during the Coho stockings in the 70s. My opinion was the problem is there are too many fish thus creating crowds and problems. Well smolt stocking has been reduced from what I have heard. Hopefully this will reduce the number of fishermen including the slobs that create most of the problems.
Even if you do not fish it is worth a trip to see the steelhead run in Trout Run. Stop at the fruit stands, enjoy the fall leave colors and so on. My point is stop and smell the roses. I sometimes forget to do that myself!

 

[troutbert]

Even if you do not fish it is worth a trip to see the steelhead run in Trout Run. Stop at the fruit stands, enjoy the fall leave colors and so on. My point is stop and smell the roses. I sometimes forget to do that myself!

I really loved seeing the lakeshore. Very scenic. I tried fishing off the beach partly because I liked the lakeshore so much, but didn't manage to catch anything that way. Maybe going there with a big spinning rod and heaving a spoon way out there would be fun.

 

[CRB]

I really loved seeing the lakeshore. Very scenic. I tried fishing off the beach partly because I liked the lakeshore so much, but didn't manage to catch anything that way. Maybe going there with a big spinning rod and heaving a spoon way out there would be fun.

It all depends on wind direction. Guy at work caught a few off the north pier on Saturday before the wind change.

 

[troutbert]

It all depends on wind direction. Guy at work caught a few off the north pier on Saturday before the wind change.

Which wind direction creates the best fishing?

Another point about the wind is that sometimes it's coming off the lake at high speed and the wind chill can be brutal.

 

[Cznymph]

Which wind direction creates the best fishing?

Another point about the wind is that sometimes it's coming off the lake at high speed and the wind chill can be brutal.

South winds are generally preferred, as they typically result in less wave height.

North winds and especially NE winds can really make the lake rough.

 

[CRB]

Which wind direction creates the best fishing?

Another point about the wind is that sometimes it's coming off the lake at high speed and the wind chill can be brutal.

Light south winds and westerly breezes with low wave hights.
NorthEast winds usually shuts the game down due to large wave hights.
In cases around the peninsula. Where the breezes create a current break, or eddy around a pier/dock or brakewall. The differences in depth around them and wind creates a holding area for fish. Emerald shiner schools will also attract them into the shallows. An emerald shiner pattern, a woolly bugger, or streamer are the flies of choice.
The "best" time to target the lake and bay is when the water temp is 59*F.
Bass and walleye are also fish to target. On the eastern Erie county, through New York, one could even get lucky catching a Lake Trout from shore. Same flies patterns above.