Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Decided to do something completely different this weekend, and I headed to the Lake Erie tributaries to fish with a NS guide and target steelhead and brown trout on the fly. Prior to the trip, I had very little experience fly fishing so I thought it would be a blast to give it a shot. The heavy rain/sleet/snow from Wednesday to Friday meant the larger rivers would be blown out and we would fish smaller creeks.

Saturday 12/3/16:

Arrived in the dark and walked down a steep hill to arrive at the first spot. We had to wsit for daylight to begin fishing, which was agonizing knowing there were fish sitting in the small pool at our feet and not being able to fish for them.

Once we had enough daylight, I began casting. It didnt take long, and I hooked a fish a few minutes later. The fish hugged the bottom and unfortunately the hooked pulled after a few seconds. No big deal. A few casts later I hooked up. The fish went nuts, bulldogging and tearing around the pool. A few minutes later, I landed my first steelhead on the fly: a pretty 10lb fish.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...psvm4uozpb.jpg

It didnt take long to hook up again and I quickly landed a feisty 5lber. I continued to fish the pool, and after a couple of casts I got hit and set the hook into a bigger fish. The steelhead immediately raced for the surface, jumping and thrashing and tearing around the small pool. In the midst of the fish's wild antics, the net was slipped under the beautiful 12lb steelhead.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...pssowwrrmi.jpg

The bite slowed, and with steelhead checked off the list we went on the search for a brown trout. Hit a few spots, but the water was still dirty from the rain and we only managed one more strike. Ended the day at the first spot, and hooked one more steelhead that pulled the hook.

Sunday 12/4/16:

I had planned on fishing a half day before the long drive home. We met up at the first spot we started at on Saturday, but there was already someone fishing that hole, so we made our way to another hole. Right off the bat I got tight to a steelhead, but the hook ended up pulling. The guy at the first spot had left, so we set up shop there. I hooked up in no time, and the fish shot out of the hole and ran downstream like it was shot out of a cannon. When the fish was netted, I was surprised how small it was. The fish was probably about 3lbs, but as chrome bright as they come.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...psxn0qlf4i.jpg

After I landed another about the same size and foul hooked a fish that pulled off in the same hole, the bite slowed again. The water clarity had improved, so we decided to resume the pursuit of a big brown trout.

We fished down a stretch of river without seeing much in the way of fish or hits. As time went on, it began to look like a brown on the fly would not be in the cards this trip. We got to the last area we were going to fish and began to work it over. All of a sudden, my indicator slipped beneath the surface, I set the hook, and the rod bent in half. A large brown trout in the 8lb range rolled and flashed it's side...and the hook pulled. My heart sank as I was convinced that was my only shot at a big brown this trip. It was almost 12 and we were going to have to call it quits soon. I continued to to fish while the proverbial hour glass was running out of sand. My indicator slipped below the surface again and I instinctively set the hook, half expecting to be snagged. The rod bent in half, and I felt movement on the other end...this was no snag! The fish rolled on top, and it's big broad tail broke the surface. It was another monster brown...even bigger than the first. The fight was tense, as the fish managed to deftly avoid the net. After a few minutes, the big brown was finally netted. The fish was a monster brown over 10lbs...easily my personal best and my first on a fly. After a quick picture, the fish swam away and disappeared back into the creek. We called it a day after the 11th hour monster brown.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...psp1ckcxtb.jpg

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Great trip man I'm jealous

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

That's considered a stream in other states? Hahaha! Nj fishing is great for variety, but damn I need to travel more!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Bucket list year, Justin. Very nice!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Beautiful fish! Catching all those fish this year, getting it done!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Beautiful work! Sounds like a blast!
I wanna work in my fly so I can get in up there. I'm more than a little jealous.

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Very Nice....

What are you doing for an encore?

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Great stuff

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

nice

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Awesome, you must have hit it right as the low clear water has made for tough fishing out there but that water is perfect for good action! Love the erie tribs lots and lots of fish. 10-12 lb fish arnt very common out there so definitely something to be very proud of!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Great descriptions and sweet results, good job!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

WOOOOW... Did I say WOOOW??? LOL I'm jealous as all hell, BEAUTIFUL fish, ALL OF THEM my friend, congrats, your one hell of a fisherman. Check your PM's.

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Justin nice steel and absolutely beautiful brown. There's usually a bit of a learning curve with a fly rod but that doesn't seem to be the case here! It's a bit of a ride to get to Ontario or Eerie BUT when it all comes together it's one of the best fishing experiences most of us will ever have. Hiring a guide to cut down on the learning curve, especially with changing conditions as you mentioned, in my opinion is a very good decision until becoming more familiar with holding patterns throughout the fall / winter. Nothing like the adrenaline rush you get with an indicator when it suddenly disappears below the surface! When you set up and realize it's not a snag and can feel every head shake with the fly rod throughout your entire body it just doesn't get any better! GREAT job again on some real trophy trout!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

No need to pay for them silly guides shoulda called me justin id gladly take your money😬 Nice fish dude

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

As with almost everything there's good guides who will provide you with much more than a day on the water. They'll share with you presentation, how to read the water, what equipment to use, seasonal holding patterns, different fly patterns etc. At the same time there are guides who will take your money and do the least possible. Point is if you're considering a trip like this for the first time either go with someone familiar with the fishery whose already gone through the learning curve or find a good guide. Do your homework. Twelve hours driving round trip from NJ to Eerie or the western Ontario tribs is a long way to drive to spend a day or two searching for productive water and fine tuning your presentation skills when you can go with or hire someone who knows the area and be fishing productive water from the start. It makes all the difference in the world.

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Congrats on a great trip.

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Steelhead on the fly, Doesnt get better!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

I see many pics of fly fishing from that area. I guess a Noodle rod and spinning reel would be acceptable also :confused:

Great fish !!!!!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Sweet looking fish Justin.

At least I know what I am into when I be there this weekend. Damn the snow.

Andre

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Andy.....most fly rods, spin outfits and or center pins are considered slow action because they flex over the length of the rod reducing the load on the line and allowing the angler to use lighter line which is essential most of the time when steel head fishing. Exception would be in stained water and or swinging flies but bottom bouncing and or nymph style fishing in clear water lighter line is critical. In the heart of the winter when water is crystal clear and fish have seen just about every fly or egg sac in existence, tippet / leader material is even more important.

Noodle rods are perfect for steel head for that reason. A steel head can take you down river, turn on a dime, head back up river and end up at your feet all in a few seconds. You need a reel with a good drag system and a rod that can absorb those fast runs. If you come tight and a steel head takes off with a fast action outfit you'll more than likely break it off. And if you try compensating with heavier line your chance of hooking up is greatly diminished.

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

For anyone wanting to fish the Erie tribs or anywhere for that matter and want to be guided either first time out or just someone to help refine your skills I'd recommend reaching out to these guys. No I am not one of them nor do I get anything for referrals.

http://www.steelheadjones.com/

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Nice fish!

Re: Steelhead and Brown Trout on the Fly (12/3/16 - 12/4/16)
 

Wow- those are nice fish and that brown trout is amazing! I started fly fishing for trout a few years ago, and most of my fishing is here in NJ. Like others who already posted, I really need to get out and travel. Congrats! I am jealous.