Elk Creek, Erie County, 03/14/2009 (Pi Day)

[albatross]

JackM and I made the trip up from the burgh together yesterday. A nice sunny day with air temps peaking in the low forties. The water had a little slush in it in the morning, but warmed some during the day perhaps getting into the high 30s. The water was neither high nor low and had a milky greeen color. Both of us picked up fish here and there during the day. Most of our success came on blue eggs/spawn, I caught 1 on an orange egg and 1 on chartreuse crystal meth and Jack caught a nice one on a black bugger.

We had the pleasure of seeing Squaretail and NoMoreCornChuckin on the stream (we knew they were in the area), and the unexpected pleasure of seeing David on the stream with his entourage (wife and two daughters). I also bumped into the gentleman who took me on my first steelhead trip about 6 years ago.

Here's a pic of one of my fish and my steelhead mentor posing with his fish.

 

[JackM]

I will add that I thought the water conditions were about near perfect in terms of flow and color. There were some stoneflies and midges present and I saw at least one steelie rise to take something off the surface. This was likely my last trip before the new run in the Fall, and though I would have liked to land more trout, I hooked up with a few and was fortunate to land this heavy male and to have Albatross nearby to snap a few shots. Nice meeting Squaretail, NoMoreCornChuckin', and nice seeing Dave again and as always, sharing expeses and fishing with Albatross.

 

[Acristickid]

Looks like you guys had a good day. Shoulda went fishing- played some horrible golf.

Jack- nice one.

alby- nice fitting in the math reference.

 

[David]

It was nice to run into Albie and Jack & it was just as I was getting there, so some good timing was involved.
We had a pretty successful day and 1/2. We fished tandems of eggs and nymphs, but most takes were on small nymphs...then my youngest fell in. So we went back to the car, got her changed and drove around to warm her up. We ended up at Walnut for the evening where the fish were more interested in small yellow eggs. Lots of space to fish in the chutes and above.
Sunday we went back to elk to find the water with just a tint of green. Did well in the morning on nymphs then it slowed down in the afternoon so we left for some food. Came back in the evening and there was only one other couple on the whole strech of Elk.
Caught good numbers of fish without a single smolt the whole weekend. There was a mix of fresh and seasoned fish, but the older ones were pretty visible with the water conditions. Like Jack said, stoneflies and midges, but I didn't see any risers...probably just because I want a steelhead on a dry so badly.

First fish had some battle scars (not my biggest of the trip, but the best fight of the trip) It is 30" from my fighting butt to the first wraps.
My wife with her biggest fish.
Big fat hen from Walnut.

 

[albatross]

David,

Glad you had some success. I love the shot with your wife and daughter!

I was fishing small nymphs early on Saturday without success and got away from it in favor of buggers or large stonefly nymphs in tandem with my egg pattern. Looks like I should have come back to smaller nymphs again as the day progressed.

 

[Acristickid]

Good to hear, glad it is still fishing well. Hopefully some of the crowds on Spring Creek might consider going there.

Jack- forgot to mention earlier- your get the most out of the smoke. hah

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

I love the photo with your daughter too ;-) nice fish all and glad you guys are having fun. Isnt PA fishing, in general, great!

 

[Squaretail]

Sorry I couldn't hook up with you two longer. Man there were some people out there sat. Jack, that is one sweet buck.
Sunday got better and monday was like when I was at 16 mile with Alby. Well, you'll just have to wait for the report and I'm still too beat to post one.
And Sal....how long till you quit reading these Erie reports and live one? What, do I gotta rent a limo?
David, I too absolutley love that shot of the lady and little one.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

a limo would help ;-)

 

[albatross]

Did anyone notice Jack's hat? Those moderators are always advertising the site!

Squaretail, can't wait to see your pics. I'm glad you were able to rest up and enjoy your fishing Sun/Mon. You looked like death warmed over late Saturday when I saw you...

 

[Maurice]

albatross wrote:
Did anyone notice Jack's hat? Those moderators are always advertising the site!...

Come on Greg, that reminds me of a big bossumed ladie pointing two fingers at her eyes saying I'm up here!....do you see the size of that fish? Nice hat Jack! :-o

 

[JackM]

I thought "Did anyone notice...." was going to be followed by comments about the cigarette hanging from my mouth. The ash was at the filter. Best part of that was a picture Greg took when I was fighting (my avatar), the fish and I had half a smoke left. That was the longest fights I ever had on a steelhead. I love my hat, even if once in a while you might hear calls from the woods: "paflyfishsucks!"

 

[tomgamber]

JackM wrote:
The ash was at the filter. Best part of that was a picture Greg took when I was fighting (my avatar), the fish and I had half a smoke left. That was the longest fights I ever had on a steelhead. /quote]

That's exactly what I was thinking...I didn't realize the Avatar was the same fish or I would have mentioned it.

 

[albatross]

Here is the detail of the hat with the cleavage removed for Maurice's benefit!

 

[David]

I'd rather see Jacks cleavage!

Not only is that a big buck, but great color to him as well. I meant to ask you Jack, did you get him on a swing, strip, or dead drift with the bugger? I've had no luck with any streamers on steelhead.

 

[JackM]

It would have been as much a dead drift as a non-nymphing angler like myself could achieve.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

Jack that is a really nice fish. How was the fight? Did he leap out of the water or just run you? One of these times i got to get to Erie as Squaretail suggests. Im sure my 3wt couldnt handle it. I need a bigger rod for those amazing fish.

 

[JackM]

I picked up a 7-weight for this season and I think it is more enjoyable than the 6-weight I used to use. I'm hoping it will double as a bass rod as well. I don't recall this fish leaving the water, but he wasn't the typical late season exhausted wet coat either. He ran shook and rolled for half a cigarette at least based upon the photographic evidence.

 

[Maurice]

It is likely that if your steelheads are jumping you have them hooked outside the mouth. Or at least that is what I have found. When hooked in the mouth they usually put their head down when upstream or pick their head up when downstream and try to shake the fly loose. Or the big ones try to get on the bottom in the deeper faster runs where they are harder to turn and sulk because they don't feel as much pressure from the fly.

You can always tell when someone get a fish in the pectoral fin. The fish will take off and rocket out of the water several times right away. As well when you see a guy with a fish downstream that is taking line and he cannot turn it, they usually have it by the hind legs and are just fouling up the hole. I hate it when I have to wait on these fights to end. Takes too long. I waited while this guy fought a foul hooked fish in front of me for like 10 minutes and stayed quiet until he commented on how great the fish was fighting and I said thats cuz he's foul hooked. He said no and the fight went on and on....and he landed the fish below me, tail first. took several pics and said lets keep it and his buddy said na, he was foul hooked.

 

[bjkaledas]

Maurice is right. When I have accidentally hooked a steelie in the dorsal fin they sometimes don't notice at first. When they feel that pull up there they freak out and bolt. I mean bolt too. Usually at this point they break you off or pull it off.

You get them in the mouth they will pull you down or shake their heads out of the water. Sometimes they come out and dance like flipper. I love when they do that!