Elk Creek, Erie County, 08Nov2008

[albatross]

I caught this beast in the first 1/2 hour and I caught a Jack in the last half hour of the day. In between the fishing was rough, low and clear with only a few takes all day. It was a lovely day on the water with air temps around 50 all day and overcast skies.

I had the pleasure of meeting Squaretail and NoMoreCornChuckin today on the stream. They had a similarly rough time on the water today, but I believe they managed one fish in the morning.

My buddy had a scale that only went up to 8 pounds. This fish bottomed the scale.

 

[Fredrick]

Nice fish ! Did he end up on that stringer you were carring ?

 

[albatross]

Yes he did Fredrick. I just finished filleting him. My wife complains that I trow all my fish back for the most part. The whole family loves steelhead marinated in teriaky and grilled, so I try to bring a steelhead home with me 2 or 3 times a year. We'll probably get two meals out of this guy.

 

[Squaretail]

Was very nice meeting you Alby. Sorry I wasnt more enthusiastic, we were truly shot. We caught more and alot of action today that I'll post later.
For some reason I thought you were kinda a newcomer. Some of your casts were very fluent and didnt look like a newcomer to me.
Awesome fish.

 

[NoMoreCornChuckin]

Beautiful Fish, Alb. I too enjoyed meeting you and as Squaretail said, we WERE pooped so I'm sorry I didn't chat much. As Squaretail will attest, that is not like me to not be chatty. Hope you had a great time, we sure did! And Squaretail...Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU! I am definately "Hooked" on Erie now!

 

[Fredrick]

Did you check the stomach contents I wonder what a fish that size mainly feeds on . Yeah my family always nags on me to bring home some fish but when I do it always sits in the freezer for to long I have to throw it out . :-?

 

[albatross]

When did I finally run into you guys, 3:30? I'd been up 11 hours and fishing for 5 or more hours by then myself. I was a little tired too and not as chatty as I might usually be. I assume you didn't do real well Saturday after I saw you. What was the difference Sunday?

 

[albatross]

Fred,

I didn't think to open the stomach, but now that you mention it I'm curious.

 

[Acristickid]

Nice!

 

[pcray1231]

They don't eat much once in the stream. But they grow up in the lake, eating lots of baitfish. Emerald Shiners make up a large part, as do other random baitfish and young gamefish.

But from the stream I be willing to bet you'd turn up waxworms, commercial salmon eggs, egg sacks (netting and all), fathead minnows, and power bait, mixed in with dirt, sticks, stones, and leaves.

 

[tomgamber]

Last December I brought one home. Been in the creek a while from the looks of it. Nothing but minnows. Silver and about 1 1/2 inches long. Probably 50 or so...

 

[NoMoreCornChuckin]

Funny you should ask that, Alby. I opened the stomachs of every fish I brought home, expecting to see gobs of eggs, worms, power bait etc. Guess what I found.....absolutely nothing, totally empty. Makes me wonder if they just strike out of instinct or aggresion and not really trying to eat. However, Squaretail did think he saw some Steelies actually taking something off the top. Who knows?