Lake Erie Area Steelhead Patterns

[WRN]

Having never fished this area for steelhead in late April I need some pattern names and best sizes for flies at this time of the year. Any info. or places to look would be helpful. Thanks in advance.WRN, Go NAVY!!

[fishingman62]

wrn check this website ...fisherie.com then go to fishing reports you will find lots of reports on steelhead in the lake erie tribs in the erie pa area.....also check poor richards bait and tackle i belive they have a web site and a number you could call ... the owners are very nice people and should be able to let you know what the conditions are and what the fish are hitting... i'm originally from the erie area.... the steel head are fun but fall is better as far as numbers of fish ....the spring fish are primarily what are still in the streams after the fall and winter run ...
goodluck dan

[WRN]

Many thanks Mr. Fishingman62

[MarkHansen]

Good comment. The fall is much better than the spring. The PA fish commission will start to stock smolts. They can be a pain in the butt to fish around trying to keep them alive after they have bee hooked. Weather is also better in the fall. Spring has many 'wash-out' days b/c of higher water. Folks will try to tell you that means more fish, but not really so. Most of the stock strain fish are fall run fish.

Elk Creek Sporting Goods (Dan) and Poor Richards (Gary and Dott) are the best people to get information. Lake Erie Angler (fly shop) is also another resource.

Each person can tell you a range of things. The message boards sometimes have a bunch of jerks making dumb comments b/c they are bored.

Eggs, sucker spwan, blood dots, crystal meth. Pink, orange, and white are primary colors. 6-8-10s

Any nymph - 12 to 14 if the water is higher with color. 16 to 18 if the water is clear. Prince, BHPTails, Stones.

Use flour leaders with a dropper.

Presentation is more important than the fly. Drag-free and getting the fly in front of their face.