Well, here's the poop... I fished essentially all of Elk Creek over the past 10 days. There is a good number of fish in the system. The largest number of fish are still below route 20, though there are some scattered fish here and there throughout the system.
By the end of today, the water is getting stupid low. It's supposed to rain quite a bit next week and hopefully that happens. Personally, I would not rush up to Erie this weekend if you live far away. If you live closer and know where some of the deeper fast runs are, it's not a waste of time, but with the low water...they are getting fewer and fewer.
I just posted some tips on my outfitter FB page I thought I would share with you. Hopefully these will help with your early season trips. It's gonna be a fun season!
The early Fall steelhead season is upon us across Ohio and Pennsylvania. The weather and water is still warm and the fish are HOT! Here are a few tips to get them in your hand.
1. Back off that drag. Set the drag tight enough to keep your reel from backlashing. Keep it light and let them run. You can palm the reel when necessary or increase the drag if you feel it is necessary after the 1st couple of runs.
2. When the creeks are low and clear, look for fast deep runs for active fish. Sure, there are fish in those holes with no flow. And for the most part, you want to pass them by. If you must, strip a streamer through those pools a few times and then move on. The fish in those pools are very spooky. Your presence, shadows, and plopping your fly in the water will usually scatter them. You are not likely to catch those fish. Just move on.
When you find fast deep cuts, they will likely hold fish. The fish are less spooky because they feel concealed by the moving water and they are more likely to feed in moving water.
3. If you have ever wanted to try swinging flies...now is the time. These early fish are very aggressive and with the warmer water temperatures, they will chase a swung streamer a long way. And, you don't have to have a 2 handed rod to swing flies, it works just as well with single hand rods. Position yourself at the top of a fast run and cast your streamer (down stream) across the stream at about a 45 degree angle. Then just let the streamer swing across the flow. The early season conditions afford you your best chance to have a big day of multiple fish on the swing. Just be ready, because when they hit, they might pull your arms off. And of course you can catch them swinging flies during any season, this is just an exceptionally good time if you are new to swinging.
4. Streamers mimicking emerald shiners work exceptionally well in the early Fall. BUT, don't hesitate to downsize your offering when conditions are low and clear. Simple hare's ear and pheasant tail nymphs always work well. And steelhead are always suckers for single egg patterns, even when there are not any eggs around just yet.
5. Do not hesitate to downsize that tippet in the low and clear. 4x is a good choice and at times 5x is not out of the question if the fish are being stubborn. That being said, landing a juiced-up fresh steelhead on 5x can be tough.
