Elk Creek, Erie County, 23Oct2007

[albatross]

Well, it finally rained in Erie, and I was there with JackM and his brother to experience it first hand. There was light rain overnight into Tuesday moring, and when we arrived on stream just after first light the water was still low but slightly off color and clearly rising. We parked near the mouth and so did a lot of other fishermen. This was combat fishing, but our fellow combatants were generally cooperative and in good spirits (plenty of fish will do that). The rising water triggered a massive run of fish that had been waiting a long time to enter the creeks.

We had action right away. There were fish that broke us off or just lost the hook. There were a few foul hooked fish that we either released or intentionally broke off (this was tough to aviod with so many fish in the water). We were a little disappointed to tally only one fairly hooked fish landed by the time we broke for lunch (congratulations to Jack's brother).

The water was rising all day and as the water rose, new holding areas for the steelhead would form. I discovered one of these newly formed areas after lunch behind a line of fishermen who were fishing the far bank. I was able to land 5 fair hooked fish (and lose a few more) in the shallow water behind these fishermen. I had a few good natured exchanges with these other fishermen about who was fishing the right spot (they were all catching fish too).

Jack and his brother each landed some fair hooked steel in the afternoon session, and had action with other fish that were either never landed or were foul hooked.

I think its fair to say we all had a good time. The rising water was probably a big part or our success. By the time we left at nightfall Elk was nearly blow out, but the fish were still piling in from the mouth of the stream.

 

[tomgamber]

sounds like you guys timed it perfectly...Pics to follow?

 

[albatross]

Tom,

It rained all day long. I didn't bring a camera and didn't want to risk getting my phone wet for a picture. I don't think we got any pics.

Here is a pic of my son posing with a fish last year.

 

[tomgamber]

Good thing I had a lot of work to do yesterday...were they hitting anything in particular or just about anything?

 

[albatross]

I had most of my luck on large single chartreuse eggs (bead head) and pink single eggs. I had hook-ups on green crystal meth and a copper john nymph.

I foul hooked and landed a fish that had one of Jack's sulpher wet flys embedded in its mouth. I removed Jack's fly before releasing the fish.

 

[tomgamber]

I hope you gave it back...he'll be panhandling for flies on the board again...

 

[JackM]

It was an outrageous outing really. I kind of knew that Erie is all about timing, but I have been putting off a trip for 3 weeks because of the low stream conditions and crowding at the mouths of the tribs (as reported). Finally, I could take no more and my brother Jim who has been bugging me to go fishing on the river had a day off Tuesday, so I convinced him to go Up-air with me. The forecast called for rains, but as the experience of the preceding weeks have shown, you cannot count on it. And, it turns out the forecasters were wrong again. It was supposed to rain lightly with maybe a short period of solid precip., ending by 100 PM. It rain steadily all night, even quite hard and the rains continued steadily until almost 500 PM.

Upon arrival, there was a slight stain to the water, but they were still low. The stain darkened and the waters rose maybe 6 inches between sun up and about 300 PM, then, the rising waters steadily increased. As we were making our way to the car, fishing a bit along the way, it seemes the creek rose another foot in 30 minutes until, as Greg said, it was looking to be a blow out as we finally wrenched ourselves off the creek.

Tom and the rest of the SWPA gang-- sorry that we didn't get word out about the trip so you could have joined us. It kind of came together quickly and was tentative until almost the last minute. I don't think Jim took any photos and I know I didn't either, but I wanted to share some notion of the situation we encountered, so I drew you a picture:

 

[JackM]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07298/828368-358.stm

 

[Stevie-B]

That's not crowded! Try fishing opening day of trout in Missouri. (And this is a light crowd.)

Steve

 

[scotto]

Honestly both of those crowds look silly! I believe I would rather go shopping with my wife.

Well I wouldn't really but you get my view on crowds!

 

[JackM]

The Erie picture is really not a bad crowd for up there at the mouth of Walnut. You can get areas of less crowds and once the fish spread out, I would look for those opportunities. Now, that said, if you are within reasonable range, I would urge you to give the experience a try. It is a bit surreal to be sure, but sometimes such adventures are worth the compromise to your normal routine. I usually seek solitude myself while fishing and I bet Albatross is the same way, but he and I and Jim really had a ball with the whole circus atmosphere on Tuesday. It isn't something I'd want to do weekly or even more than once, but don't underestimate the quantum of fun it could be just for the experience of it. My saying this won't convince you-- only doing it will.

 

[ryanh]

Scotto,
People will be where the fish are. Having said that it is amazing how they all fade away from your consciousness once you get one on the end of your line.

It is the same way in Alaska along the roads. People combat fishing as far as the eye can see. Only up there the sund don't go down so its a 24 hr gig.

Small price to pay in my view for catching big fish in little water on a flyrod.

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

chalk me up as one of those people that hate crowds and you will find me in the middle of no where on a small stream fishing because of it.
Steve-B,
u think thats bad? omg opening day here in pa has to be the worst. this year ill have to get a picture of lititz run...just outside of lititz on opening day. puts that picture to shame. :-D

 

[scotto]

I have fished the Erie Tribs. 1 time, the steelies are great the crowds are not. After an hour or so of the chaos I found some water where I did not have to compete, Ryann you are right, I found less people, but less fish. To me, it was worth the trade. :-D

 

[tomgamber]

Frankly, I hate standing in one place alone almost as much as I hate standing in one place with 50 other guys. If I have my choice of standing at a hole with 50 fish and 25 guys and finding a hole myself with 2 fish...I'll take the hole with less fish. Then I'll see if I can find another and another. Oh, I will partake in the pleasantries of shoulder to shoulder combat fishing for a period of time but at some point I'm gonna go find my own water to fish even if there is only one damn fish in it.

 

[MattBoyer]

Someone say combat fishing?

Boyer

 

[salvelinusfontinalis]

that photo made me throw up a little :lol:

 

[albatross]

I definitely seek out solitude when all things are equal. But this kind of fishing is just amazing. I landed about 6 fair hooked fish in the 4-6 pound range on Tuesday. If you count up the fish I foul hooked or lost, I was probably connected to 20 fish like this during the day.

When you set the hook on a fresh from the lake steelhead, its like a bomb going off. The initial run these fish make is explosive. I was concerned about getting my knuckles beat up on my reel when these fish took off.

Now this Tuesday was an exceptional day. I have been skunked more than once in Erie. If I land a steelhead I consider it a successful trip. The fish get spookey when the water is low and clear. The fish can't see your fly when the water turns to chocolate milk. Slightly high and discolored water is the key to catching these fish.

 

[scotto]

I would NEVER and I mean NEVER fish like that. If that is all that is available, I would give it up. It is funny to go out on the first day though. I go with my brother-in-law and his father. I do not take a rod as it would just be too frustrating. I go for the companionship, the hilarious and sometimes appalling sights you will see. I will say that I have never seen so much catch and release trout fishing on the first day as I saw this past season. Even many of the bait fisherman were using circle hooks and releasing the fish.

 

[Acristickid]

Good for you guys. I thought about heading up but the crowds made my mind up. Crowds are part of the game there and is ok for a day or two. You have to go on a weekday or it would be totally crazy. Glad you had a good time. Paul