trout fanatic

Just got back from my trip to Ohio fishing lake erie tribs for steelhead. The river we intended to fish was blown the entire trip so we set about finding tributaries. None of us had ever fished the tribs before so it was like taking baby steps but on the first day I had a beautiful 26 inch male slurp a blue vibrax spinner bait and the fun began. That was the only fish of the day for us but it was only Sunday-my vacation didn't really start until Monday and the skunk was already off so I was happy! Monday found us fishing in a steady rain all day. Even the small tribs were on the rise and we all wore a skunk for the day. Bummin heavy. Tuesday everything was blown so we used the time to search for more water. Wednesday-tribs are on the way down so we put our gear on and headed in different directions looking for suitable holes. I caught a 26 inch male and a 26 and a half inch pig (this thing really had some girth to it) both on spinner baits. My brother also scored a nice fish but my nephew has yet to join the fun. On Thursday I caught a puny 15 incher on a jig and maggot. Smallest steelie I have ever caught but it fought like the dickens. My nephew finally scored a bright chrome 25 inch or so hen (his first ever) and decided to keep it to take home. That night we made up some egg sacks (this was new territory for me as I had never used sacks before) and Friday found us in the same trib ready to do battle. I scored 3 fish for the day-2 25 inch males and a 26 inch hen. My nephew went nuts on us and landed 5 and lost several others. An interesting sidenote occurred when I met a young local who was also fishing egg sacks. This guy just flat killed them pulling 10 fish out of one hole then moving down and catching 9 out of another! It was an education I tell you and I was watching intently. That ended our trip and it was back on the road for me. Had a great time-fished some new water-and met some incredibly gifted fishermen. Can't wait for next year!!

Leaving at 4 AM tomorrow morning. Bad weather has forced all of the rivers out of their banks (the river I like to fish the most fishes well at between 500 and 750 cfs and is presently at approx 4600 cfs). Anticipation is still very high, will most likely fish smaller tribs till the rivers become manageable-then GAME ON. Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving will post reports and pics (have to wait till my pics come back though) when I return. Cheers Dale

I have been fly fishing off and on (mostly off) since I was 12. I am now 59 and fly fishing comprises about 80 per cent of my fishin time. I usually fish the crappie spawn with spinning rods and reels (but still manage to catch some on the fly). I have my days when the fish love me and its great. Other times I don't do as well and its still great. Could I catch more fish than I do with other tackle? Maybe, but I doubt if I would enjoy it nearly as much as I do. Standing knee deep in a pristine pool fooling trout on a fly that you tied.............priceless

Tried to edit my post but it went flyin off into never never land. JJ, I am sure you are probably aware of this but just in case, check out classictrout.com Lots of classic wets (and dries too for that matter)

I too, have been toying with the idea of fishing classic wets, although the concept just took hold last year. A duck hunting friend is supposed to supply me with a few matched sets of duck wings and i will start tyin em up. I find soft hackles fun and incredibly effective (not to mention easy as pie to tie). Lookin forward to the future....

I am originally from Painesville, Ohio so its mostly erie tribs that I fish. Be stayin with my brother who lives in Fairport Harbor (Harbor as in he is right on Lake Erie). Yes sir, don't know what I would do without family. LOL

Oh yeah, a week from saturday and I leave for my annual steelhead trip up to the erie tribs. So stoked, I can't stand it. Fly rod and noodle rod all ready, flies tied. Who would have thought that standing in the middle of a raging river with snot frozen to yer face could be so much fun. Hope y'all have a Happy Thanksgiving. I'll be thinkin of ya. Dale

I noticed the fish I caught at Bennet the other day were colored up a lot more than normal-not THAT colored up though (that thang is purdy)

I haven't had much occasion to fish BSSP in the winter because I've always worked on weekends. Now with monday fishing allowed, that may change. But I don't see why soft hacks wouldn't work, after all the spring will keep the water temps fairly stable. Looks like I may get a chance to let you know because I love to fish them

Well, finally made it down to BSSP. Water was lower than normal as was flow and crystal clear. Very few anglers out which is a good thing. Wrist not entirely healed. I lost my first 5 hook-ups because I was dropping my rod tip in response to the pain. Finally sucked it up and dealt with it and did much better. Ended with 8 trout-non were huge, and 1 huge sucker that ate a red zebra midge-he even got airborn (I have caught suckers on flies before but this is the first that broke water). Midges, soft hackles (partridge and olive-sz 16) and glo balls worked the best. Crisp clear morning good day to be out. Kudos to the folks who did all of the post flood work. Bennet looks great, lots of fishies-DGJ

Well it has been 2 months since I broke the right wrist, and since that time I have cussed and kicked every thing I have seen in my path. Finally, Doc says I can go fishin (trust me-that is better than a kitchen pass any day). Soooo, tuesday morning will find me tossing feathers at my finned friends at good ol BSSP. Got some new patterns I want to try out-as well as test out that plate thingy in my wrist. If any of you folks are down there would love to meet you, I'll probably park in zone 2 down from the bridge be wearing a camo wading jacket over a brown hoodie. Stop by and say hi

A friend of mine had the bright idea of buying a soft sided ice chest on wheels to store his fly tying stuff. It worked really well but was more expensive. He had the last laugh though when we went crappie fishing at night. He simply emptied his fly tying tote, dumped in some ice, added a case of beer and off we went. What a guy

I read something quite interesting in the missouri conservationist that may at least partially explain why there are so many more rainbows than browns in the trout parks. MDC believes that browns eat hellbenders and therefore makes them less desireable a species. If this is true (and I don't doubt it for a minute) it wouldn't surprise me to see even fewer browns in the future.

Didn't think I would have to mention this TH, but nights like this are SUPPOSED to happen to incredibly gifted anglers. Don't question it, just press on (and secretly hope for more).

Big Indians fan here. The grin on my mug says it all.

Don't even have to think about this one. Fishing for huge brookies in labrador with mice patterns. Oh yeah

Greg: That was jus me playin "Drama Queen". Didn't mean anything personal. The great lakes is a very unique system with its canal ties to the oceans, nearly every invasive species has been discharged into its waters from ocean going ballasts, yet politicians sit on their collective hands because "MONEY" is involved. They are bought and paid for and our resources are paying heavily. Zebra mussels, VHS, sea lamphreys and lord knows what else. Darn it, there I go again. Sorry

I too, originally hail from the greater Cleveland area (graduated in 66) and manage to make it back in the fall for Steelhead. I have not found a fisherperson who has to live with these critters that likes them (had to come to Missoura for that). Be careful what you wish for

I used to own a store in Clinton, Mo, and it was on the way to open it that I heard of the attacks. I quickly entered the store and turned on the news just in time to see the second plane hit the tower. I never had a customer the entire day. The business next to me didn't either (it was a restaurant). They went under the next month. I hope this nasty matter is over in as short a time as possible but I fear there is much pain to be had yet. Having said that, I am a retired vet (Air Force) and dam proud of it. I mourn for the loss of innocent lives but proudly watch my brothers and sisters serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. My chest swells when I think of them.

I too have a mid arbor III. Just got it today as a matter of fact (so no longetivity reports for awhile). Seems solid, well built and very smooth. For the record, my box also says made in Korea with no other indicators on the reel itself. Now waitin for my rio selective trout DT to get here and I'm good to go.

Took a header at work and broke my wrist. Not surprising really, I seem to be a source of amusement to all around me when I fish (I seem to take a lot of headers-Imean full out face forward-or backward-headers). Oh well, such is the life of the gifted huh?

Well with my right arm in a cast and another 6 weeks to go before it comes off, I decided to take the 4 wt to the back yard this morning for some exercise. Not too bad, distance was much better than i anticipated and as far as accuracy goes lets just say I was able to hit the lawn. It got me to thinking though of how many times I have been in situations where I wished I was left handed (but never had the guts to try a left handed cast). Guess I'll have to keep practicin. How about you guys, ever try to cast with the off hand?

For the past couple of months I too, have been in the market for a new reel. I have waffled back and forth between various makes and models and finally pulled the trigger this morning and ordered a Orvis mid-arbor 3. It will pull dual duties as the main reel for my TFO 5 wt and as a back up during steelhead season back home (where it will adorn my Clearwater classic 6 wt). Never enjoyed shoppin till I started fly fishin.lol

Well, after all of that, I feel like freezin up some single malt and makin myself a smooooothie

At this stage I don't think vicoden will help much lol. I suspect that in about 2 weeks my left hand is going to learn how to cast that little 4 wt though.