Articles on Steelhead Alley

THE GRAND DADDY OF STEELHEAD ALLEY
by George Douglas

About five years ago, my friend Mark and I went on a quest for fish that started in Pulaski, NY. The Salmon River was low and we decided to head west to seek out some higher water flows. We ended up on the Cattaraugus in Western New York. This river had plenty of water. Actually, it had a bit too much with a chocolate tint. We exhaled in discouragement as we looked over the bridge.

Another angler walked up next to us with the same mission, although he was driving from the opposite direction. He was delivering products from Chicago to Albany, and had taken the opportunity to drive along the Great Lakes to check out the rivers along the way. He was tall, thin and a bit jumpy – a resemblance to the famous Major League Baseball pitcher, Randy Johnson. His hands shook with every inhale of his Parliament Cigarettes. I remember this because he kept referring to them as “parlies.” He spoke very fast, but with a low mumble and a high pitched laugh following every statement he made.

We told him that there is not much east of the Catt, and not to waste his time. He was disappointed and I could tell that he didn’t fully believe us. Perhaps he thought that we didn’t know what we were doing, and he would surely have success finding fish where we did not. He began to tell us some fish stories from his trip thus far.

“I wa’ standing on the bank, puffin’-a-parlie, wham”! Giggle. “I stuck her good.” Laugh. “12, 14 pounds, Ohio, past Erie – fish after-fish.” Giggle. “Steelhead.” Laugh.
Mark and I stood there looking at this nut as he spit out random words while looking down at his feet, kicking up clouds of dirt.

“Did you say Ohio?” I asked with a smirk of disbelief.

Mark loudly interrupted, “Alright, have a good one!” Walking back to the truck, Mark and I gave each other a quick look. We were thinking the same thing, that this guy was full of crap!
In the truck we went over our options. “No on Ohio?” Mark asked.

“Man, the guy was bent that we said there weren’t any fish. He just wants to send us on a wild goose chase through Ohio...Are you serious, Ohio?”
As it turns out, Randy Johnson was the man, and we just didn’t know it yet.

Years later I got my first glimpse of the rivers from the PA border to the Cleveland area. Wow! It’s not too often when you stumble upon a region that is teeming with fish, yet has very few anglers. You’d think that it would take a float plane or a long hike into the back-country in order to find such treasure. But, surprise, it’s right off of the I-90 corridor in northeastern Ohio.

As I said in this issue’s film, this is the “Steelhead Mecca of the Great Lakes.” Not to take anything away from the other fisheries, but think about this...Ohio only has steelhead, that’s it! There is no more salmon program and no more brown trout. Those species did not take, but steelhead did, and the state is keyed in on this species. They chose the Little Manistee strain out of Michigan, and what a good choice that was. Those Manistee’s have big shoulders and are powerhouses.

Ashtabula County features the upper Grand River and the Conneaut. More towards Cleveland you’ll find the lower Grand River, the Chagrin and Rocky River. These are all excellent choices and will usually provide good fishing opportunities through the spring and fall. Unfortunately, the clenches of winter will lock up these rivers barring a temporary thaw.

The Grand River is the largest, the grand-daddy of the region. The river features many twists and turns from the mouth of the river near Painesville, to the dam at Harpersfield. There are many stretches of slow moving water that can be great for pinning. I prefer the sections of pocket water and typical steelhead pools with fast runs at the top, spilling into a deep, luscious pool. These sections are perfect for drift and fly fishing. Steelhead are scattered through the river in abundance. Most of the fish are in the 10 lb range with an occasional 15 lb pig.

You have to understand that you will not find the conveniences of a typical fishery. Why? Well, for starters it is not fished compared to other popular rivers on the Great Lakes. It’s basically undiscovered and under-fished. Sport and fly shops are far and few between. There are a couple in Painesville and a small shop adjacent to the dam in Harpersfield. Joe Pniewski, the owner of the shop was nice enough to give me a ride in the morning down to the ramp below. Nice guy with a conveniently located shop. Fishing Licenses can be purchased at the Gander Mountain Sports in Mentor.

One warning: Don’t fish on private property. Fines are given like parking tickets here: a few hundred dollars a pop. Apparently, property owners own the land under the water that extends to either halfway across the river or in some cases, all the way across. Therefore, anglers cannot enter into a public fishing area, then hike into private waters. Due to these private property concerns, it is recommended to hire a guide or to do your homework on where and where not to fish.

Other than that, this region is ripe for the picking. Upon arriving in Ohio, check out the tributaries from the PA Border to the Rocky River. It won’t be too long before you are locked into a Manistee strain steelhead.

STEELHEAD ALLEY
by Mike Steiner

The Great Lakes tributaries has some awesome fishing opportunities, some of the best in this country and Canada. There is a region off of Lake Erie known as “Steelhead Alley.” Nicknames can often be deceiving. In this case, however, it is very appropriate.

The Lake Erie tributaries is an excellent fishery, however, it can be tricky due to the rough weather which creates fluctuating water conditions and various adversaries. It's typical to start your day on a low and clear stream and by the afternoon be fishing a high, fast and stained stream. Having said that, and as an avid fly fisherman, my goal is to inform you of some tips and techniques that will help you prepare for anything Erie's "steelhead alley" has to throw your way.

First of all, you must know multiple techniques to catch fish—depending on the conditions.

When I approach the river I consider the water level, clarity, and speed, and  formulate my plan. What type of water will I fish? Which fly to begin with? What size leader will I use, and how much weight will be needed to target the fish? All these aspects must be adjusted to compensate for the conditions at hand.

If I am looking at low and clear water conditions with light flow, I will go with a light presentation. For example, I may use size #14 single egg as my point fly, tied on 4X tippet, and a size #16 nymph tied on 5X as my dropper fly. I would use as little weight as possible with no indicator, using a standard high sticking technique so I can detect subtle strikes.

Also you may want to increase your tippet diameter. I suggest fishing with the heaviest tippet that conditions permit. Steelhead are big and strong, so use every advantage you can. I’d also increase the amount of weight to get my flies to the desired depth. You want your flies in the strike zone as long as possible, and the correct amount of weight will make that happen.

Another good technique in moderate flow is to use a strike indicator. This not only helps detect subtle strikes, but also allows you to control the depth of your flies. Once again, keep your flies in the strike zone as long as possible, that way your entire drift is effective.

My personal favorite steelhead technique is fishing streamers, when conditions are right. When the water is a little high and stained a B.H. Woolly Bugger can do amazing things. I fish them in many different colors, my favorite being white, then black, then olive, in that order. When fished properly under the right conditions, there's no telling how many hook-ups you may have. I have caught more steel on this fly than any other in my box.

Although this fly can be fished in any water conditions, adjusting your presentation to the conditions is important. For moderate water conditions, I like to dead drift just like a nymph. Because of the size, color and materials used for this fly, its natural presentation is effective. In low water I like to strip the fly in traditional fashion. This will make up for lack of flow, and usually triggers strikes from your bigger, more aggressive fish. When the water is fast, I like to slow-twitch this fly during the dead drift, adding extra movement which entices the fish nicely. I also have good success fishing buggers on the swing. The extra speed you achieve at the end of the drift, triggers very aggressive strikes. If you don't fish buggers often, try it! You won't be disappointed; this is a great weapon to add to your steelhead arsenal.

Another tip, is to make sure you have a good fly selection. Be prepared for the different conditions you may encounter. Egg patterns and Crystal Meth flies work great, but think outside of the box. Throw some different patterns in the mix—try black Hares Ears, Copper Johns, in any color wire you can find. Maybe even try the Steelhead Hammer. (Great pattern! Look it up online!) There are a ton of good patterns out there via the world wide web, use the information at your finger tips.

 Now for a couple tips for fishing the Erie tributaries...The first and most important tip, "don't get stuck with the crowds." If there are a lot of people, that‘s a good indication of pressured fish, who often get lockjaw. Make sure you stay mobile and leave your options open. If you’re willing to walk, you’ll find and catch fish!     

Remember to fish the river thoroughly, even cover water the other anglers pass up. Just because you can't see fish or there's not a group of people fishing that area, does not mean there are no fish holding in that location. Take your time and make a few casts and you might be surprised. Fish the pocket water and the riffs, if it looks like it could hold a fish, try it!    

One of my last tips is for high muddy water, which can be a horrible sight for anglers arriving to the river, especially if you have driven hours to get there—give it a chance. Stay on the bank and look to fish the slack water. Steelhead will move up-river in short bursts, then will duck out of the current to rest. Metalheads will often hang close to the banks and will use anything that will break the current for relief. Fish behind any structures that are visible and close to the bank. Use large, bright, highly visible flies. This might save the day and help you get some steel on the line.

There are many good tributaries stretching from Ohio across Pennsylvania and into New York State, and up through Canada. As you make your way around the lake, be willing to try different techniques. You don't know what's going to work until you try. Adjusting to conditions and overcoming the obstacles thrown at you by Mother Nature, will make you a better steelheader.