3/31/09
The New Solitude Fly Reel....the "Guides" Reel
3/30/09
Trip Preparation is the Key for Success on the "Steelhead Alley" Tributary Streams by John Nagy
The famous “steelhead alley” region of southern Lake Erie encompasses a group of steelhead tributary streams and rivers that stretch from New York, through Pennsylvania and into Ohio.
The potential to “hook-up” with steelhead on these unique tributaries is excellent, but for consistent success in steelhead alley, steelheaders need to do a good amount of trip preparation and planning.
This includes fly tackle considerations, fly selection, daily monitoring of weather reports and run-off conditions and having the right equipment (waders, clothing, accessories) to deal with varied weather and tributary water conditions.
Fly Tackle
Selecting the proper fly tackle would be at the top of the list for preparing a trip to steelhead alley. For dead-drift presentations, which are effective most of the time in the normally cold flows of the Lake Erie tributaries, longer fly rods in the 9-11 foot range, in medium to medium-fast actions and 6 to 7 line weights are very popular.
These rods are ideal for reaching out in the classic “high-stick” nymphing rod position with long leaders (up to 14 feet which minimizes floating fly line contact with the water) to achieve drag-free drifts along the stream bottom. The length and more moderate action of these fly rods also help to play larger steelhead on the lighter tippets which are often used when dead-drifting small egg patterns and bead-head nymphs to fussy, drag-conscious steelhead.
For swinging flies, stiffer/faster, single-handed rods, 9 to 10 foot long in 6 to 8 line weights are more appropriate for casting, shooting and mending both floating fly lines and various sinking systems.
Down-sized, double-handed rods (also known as “switch rods”) give the steelheader the ability to do standard single-handed casts or spey type casts (single-hand double haul, two-handed overhead and two-handed anchor point spey casts) for more distance, less casting fatigue and avoiding rear obstacles. High-stick nymphing and swing presentations are also easily done with switch rods as well. Switch rods typically come in 10 ½ to 11½ foot lengths and 5 to 8 line weights.
Typical sinking systems for swinging include a weight-forward floating fly line, “loop-to-loop” connected to either a custom made mini sink tip made from sinking shooting head material, a sinking leader or a longer interchangeable sink tip head. The loop-to-loop connection allows for various lengths and sink rates of sinking materials to be used depending on the flow and depth of the water as well as the size of the tributary.
For swinging flies the leader varies from 2 to 8 feet with the shorter lengths ideal to keep flies down near the stream bottom as tributary flows cool later in the fall. Tippets as heavy as 12 lb. test can be used since drag-free drifts are not a concern and steelhead normally will not see the tippet as the fly “swims” on the swing.
There are a super abundance of fly reels on the market but first pick a reel that balances the weight of the fly rod, including the fly line strung through the guides. This is an important consideration (especially when using a longer fly rod) since fly reels these days are being manufactured more and more lighter for the same line weights and capacities. You don’t want to cast a fly rod that is tip heavy all day due to too light of a fly reel. This can lead to both bad casting and casting fatigue.
The drag of the fly reel is very important for steelhead fishing. Look for a zero or slow start-up inertia (initial drag engagement) to protect tippets from sudden steelhead surges or runs, a good range of light end adjustment settings for tippet protection also and a drag that is sealed from grit and dirt as well from water which can freeze and lock drags up during winter steelheading. Large arbor reel designs increase line pickup speed dramatically and come in handy when a steelie is running right towards you after you hook him!
Fly Selection
A successful steelhead alley trip always starts at your fly tying vice or the fly bins of your local fly shop. For egg patterns the specific pattern is not as important as is varying the size, color and material density for the water conditions at hand. This means carrying a selection of eggs in sizes #6-#16, in bright neon colors with added flash from Flashabou or Estaz (for stained flows) and pastel/muted colors (for clearer flows). Densely tied egg patterns are great for murky water and sparsely tied eggs that have a translucent effect are best for clear water.
An assortment of bead-head nymphs in sizes #10-#16 (some with flash or rubber legs added) work great in tandem with an egg pattern especially when kept close together (less than 6 inches). If the steelhead does not take the egg pattern, which acts as an attractor in stained water, he will often take the bead-head nymph which is nearby.
For swinging flies, choose wooly bugger, streamer, soft hackle, spey and tube patterns that incorporate materials like marabou, rabbit fur strip, artic fox tail, T’s fur, schlappen, guinea and grouse feathers and soft, long fibered synthetic materials like polar fiber. These materials all impart irresistible movement to the fly as it is swung down-and-across in the current.
White or lightly colored flies work best on sunny days due to their ability to reflect light. Large, darker patterns are more easily spotted by a steelhead on overcast days and in stained water due to their large profile.
Pressured water (especially if it is low and clear) often requires multiple fly pattern changes to get hook-ups. Also, unique patterns (those off the wall, one-of-a-kind concoctions!) often get results in this type of water since the steelies have never seen them before.
Monitoring Weather and Run-off Conditions
Another necessary element in trip preparation for steelhead alley would be monitoring weather reports and tributary run-off conditions in order to predict “prime” conditions (to be defined shortly) for a specific tributary or tributaries. Prime conditions are very important since the normal base flow of most Lake Erie tributaries is low and clear due to poor ground water flow. This obviously makes for extremely tough fishing.
Lake Erie tributaries require run-off from rain and/or snow-melt to get them up to fishable levels. These increased flows (you want to be there after peak run-off as the tributaries are dropping) allow for a number of things including: more effective execution of fly presentation techniques, increase steelhead holding and resting lies, initiation of fresh runs of steelhead in from the lake, push steelhead further up the tributaries toward spawning gravel and energize steelhead that have already been in the tributaries and have been stressed from low, clear water conditions and fishing pressure.
Most importantly, prime fishing conditions mean ideal water flow and clarity which makes for much more cooperative fly takers (especially for fresh run steelhead). For most Lake Erie steelheader’s prime water conditions are signaled by fishable and wadable tributary flows that have a characteristic olive green-tint coloration. This coloration allows steelhead some visibility in the water but at the same time allows the steelhead to feel secure and thereby maintain his sense of curiosity and experimentation to take flies.
The run-off rates of the steelhead alley tributaries vary from tributary to tributary due to differences in watershed sizes. Tributary run-off rate is the time it takes in hours, days and weeks for a tributary to run-off to prime conditions following a rain fall or snow-melt episode (see Steelhead Guide book by John Nagy for tributary run-off rate tables which are based on an “average” rain fall or snow-melt episode of an inch of rain or equivalent snow/ice melt occurring in a 24 hour period).
If you know the run-off rates of the tributaries and the ongoing and forecasted weather in relation to expected rain fall and/or snow-melt, you can predict when prime conditions will occur for tributary or tributaries over a several day period. This will enable you to target the “right” tributary or tributaries for the specific day(s) your fishing and should markedly increase your hook-up percentage.
Incoming weather systems to the Lake Erie region can be closely monitored by watching weekly weather reports and national/regional radar displays on the weather channel and internet weather sites. Precipitation from ongoing rain/snow events can be more precisely followed through local weather radar displays as well as local 24 hour rain fall precipitation amounts which are monitored by the National Weather Service and can be found at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ and also on local weather reports.
A limited number of Lake Erie tributaries have operating USGS river gages on them that measure real-time water flow in discharge (cubic feet per second) and stage (feet). This data is displayed 24/7 on the internet at http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html, http://steelheadsite.com and also http://www.fishusa.com/fisherie/ (the later 2 sites also provide fishing reports). Local tackle shops and local steelhead fisherman are also good sources for current water flow information (in terms of water levels and clarity) for tributaries in their area.
Waders, Clothing and Accessories
Steelheaders fishing the steelhead alley tributaries will encounter a myriad of weather and run-off conditions through the fall, winter and spring periods of a steelhead season.
To deal with the weather and tributary related conditions the well equipped steelheader should have the following items:
-waist length, breathable/waterproof, wading jacket.
-waist length, wind-resistant, fleece jacket (worn under wading jacket).
-wool or fleece shirt.
-Capeline underwear (medium and heavy types).
-fleece or wool fingerless gloves, ball cap (visor helps block sun), knit cap.
-breathable chest waders with felt or rubber bottom/studded wading boots (breathable or neoprene waders with boot foot designs keep feet warmer in winter ice water flows).
-disposable hand warmer packets or compact Zippo hand warmer.
-water hydration bladder, small flashlight, sun tan lotion, energy bars and a mini first aid kit.
Some important fly fishing related equipment accessories that steelheaders should carry include:
-collapsible steelhead-size landing net with vest net release or “Landing Hand” mesh mitten for hand gripping/tailing fish.
-stream thermometer.
- weighing scale (some nets have scales built into their handles).
-waterproof fly boxes.
-dropper fly rig box for carrying pre-tied tandem fly rigs.
-nippers, forceps, fresh tippet material, spare leaders and various sink tips (leader wallets are ideal for organizing these).
-split shot (including soft shot variety with smaller sizes).
-floating indicators in various sizes and colors.
-polarized sunglasses for spotting fish and reading water surface current breaks.
-compact/water resistant camera with waterproof carrying case.
-a large capacity vest with a shoulder suspension system to carry all this stuff!
More detailed information on preparing and planning for a steelhead alley fly fishing trip can be found in John Nagy’s book “Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead”.
3/28/09
John Nagy Custom Lake Erie Steelhead Flies
Steelheader's Tips
-When using a floating indicator it is often necessary to "fine tune" the drift of the fly depending on the water conditions (flow, clarity, depth and temperature). This is accomplished by adjusting the amount of split-shot used, split-shot to fly distance, floating indicator to fly distance, tippet size and floating indicator size. These slight changes can keep your fly drifting naturally (at or just above the stream bottom) resulting in more steelhead hook-ups.
-Mid-day is the best time to fish for lethargic winter steelhead because the water temperatures are usually the warmest at this time.
-When dead-drifting flies, use your fly rod's length to your advantage by lifting as much line and leader as possible off the water. Mend, reach out and follow the drift with the tip of your fly rod.
-When you locate a good concentration of steelhead, your better off not leaving it to find "better" water. Usually, you will never find it that day.
-Reading the surface water (by looking for changes in the water surface texture) will help you locate subsurface current breaks and potential steelhead holding areas in stained tributary flows.
-A much heavier tippet can be used when swinging a fly since the steelhead will normally only see the fly on the downstream swing.
More Steelheader's Tips can be found in John Nagy’s book “Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead”.
Traditional Steelhead Guide Trips
Instructional Steelhead Guide Trips
3/27/09
Upcoming Magazine Articles I by John Nagy
Brown Trout Join the Frey in Steelhead Alley
by John Nagy
by John Nagy
Fly Fish America Magazine (March 2010/Gear Issue, available for free at your local fly shop)
Using Water Temperatures to Locate Tributary Steelhead
by John Nagy
Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide (October 2009, available for free at numerous PA, NY, MD, NJ, DE, VA and CT fly shops)
Cattaraugus Creek, NY
Fly Fisherman Magazine (December 2009 issue/available on newstands everywhere September 2009)
A proposed fish passage device installation on Cattaraugus Creek, NY (at the Springville Dam) makes the future very promising for this classic Great Lakes steelhead river. This project would futher develop the wild steelhead fishery on the river and also create new public fishing opportunites for steelhead above the dam where 34 miles of NY State Public Fishing Rights (PFR) lands already exist.
New Lake Erie Tributary Fishing Opportunities
by John Nagy
Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine (March/April 2009, available on newstands everywhere)
Steelhead Alley
by John Nagy
Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine (March/April 2009, available on newstands everywhere)
New Steelhead Equipment and Accessories
by John Nagy
Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide (March 2009, available for free at numerous PA, NY, MD, NJ, DE, VA and CT fly shops)
Public Fishing Access Issues on the Great Lakes Tributaries
by John Nagy
Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide (October 2008 Salmon-Steelhead-Saltwater issue/available for free at numerous PA, NY, MD, NJ, DE, VA and CT fly shops)
Swinging Flies for Steelhead
by John Nagy
Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide (November-December Destination Issue 2008/available for free at numerous PA, NY, MD, NJ, DE, VA and CT fly shops)
Blue and White Temple Dog Tube Fly
by John Nagy
Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine (September /October 2008 issue or November/December 2008 issue, available on newstands everywhere)
Stream Watch:
New Lake Erie Public Fishing Access on Pennsylvania's Lake Erie Tributary Streams
by John Nagy
Fly Fisherman Magazine (December 2008 issue/available on newstands everywhere October 2008)
Tips for Spring Steelheading on the Great Lakes Tributaries
by John Nagy
Fly Fish America Magazine (April 2008/available for free at your local fly shop)
Great Lakes Tube Flies
The Best New Tube Flies for Steelhead from Pulaski to Michigan
by John Nagy
Fly Fisherman Magazine (February 2008 issue/available on newstands everywhere December 2007)
Steelhead guide and author John Nagy talks about the hottest tube flies for steelhead in the Great Lakes. In the article he covers the advantages of using tube flies, plastic versus metal tubes, conventional and specialty tube designs and the innovative Scandinavian "Temple Dog" style. Included are 6 tube fly patterns (3 conventional and 3 specialty tube types) with recipes and comments by the tyers. Great steelhead color photography taken by John Nagy supplements the article as well.
Guide Flies/Scrambled Eggs
by John Nagy
Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine (November/December 2007 issue, available on newstands everywhere October 2007)
The Scrambled Eggs egg pattern is a simple fly to tie and is a killer for fishing high/stained Lake Erie tributary flows for steelhead.
The Steelhead of Lake Erie
by John Nagy
Mid Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide (October 2007 Salmon-Steelhead-Saltwater issue/available for free at numerous PA, NY, MD, NJ, DE, VA and CT fly shops in September 2007)
The steelhead of Lake Erie are truly a mixed bag with Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Michigan and Ontario contributing both hatchery based and naturally reproduced steelhead to the Lake Erie fishery. John Nagy explains gives some background on the Lake Erie steeflhead fishery and what we can expect for the future.
Grand River, OH
An ancient and rugged river that is largely untouched by man
by John Nagy
Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine (May/June 2007 issue, available on newstands everywhere April 2007)
The Grand River in Northeast Ohio is an ancient and mostly remote river that is the cornerstone tributary of the Ohio steelhead fishery. Not only difficult to access, but normally not fishable due to high/stained flows, it can pay good dividends for the patient steelheader.
2009 Spring Steelhead Report and News by John Nagy
Lake run suckers also start showing up in the tributaries in March. To avoid catching suckers, try to concentrate on the mid-to-upper sections of the tributaries (they typically can't run that far) and also fish faster water (suckers usually prefer moderate to slow current flows).
Steelheaders should be aware that juvenille steelhead smolt plantings are typically done in the spring on the Lake Erie tributaries. Try to avoid these stocking areas on the tributaries. If you do catch a steelhead smolt, reel it in quickly and gently release it. If the fly is swallowed deep, cut the line and release fish to increase smolt survivability. These little guys represent future steelhead runs and need to be handled carefully.
Cattaraugus Creek in New York has been high and off colored this spring but the Grand River in Ohio has been fishable at times. Anticipate a good run of "Little Manistee" strain steelhead in the Ohio tributaries with the peak of the run in April (with good fishing into May).
The Lake shore temperatures on March 25, 2009 off Toledo (OH), Cleveland (OH) and Erie (PA) were 39, 37 and 38 degrees F respectively.
Ordering John Nagy's New Book the Steelheader's Journal
How to order John Nagy's Steelheader's Journal
3/26/09
John Nagy's New Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead
Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead
has been updated and expanded into a new 4th edition.
John Nagy's Steelhead Guide has long been considered the bible for steelheader's "chasing" chrome on Lake Erie's tributary streams as well as very useful to steelhead fisherman in other areas of the Great Lakes.
Expanded from 257 to 320 pages (including color insert), a major addition to the new 4th edition is 119 new and innovative steelhead fly patterns (replacing all previous 3rd edition patterns) contributed by guides by guides, fly tyers and steelhead fly fisherman from all over the Lake Erie region (44 tyers total). In addition to steelhead egg patterns, nymphs, soft hackles, streamers, wooly buggers, sculpins, leeches and spey flies, 28 hot tube flies (both conventional and Scandinavian tube designs) are also included.
It also includes a new Deadly Dozen list, additional Steelheader's Tips and a humorous "Steelheader's Quiz". An exciting new and detailed chapter on tube flies for Great Lakes steelhead discussing their history, benefits, construction and use has been added as well as tube tying materials sources, updated steelhead equipment recommendations and the latest Lake Erie region fishery news.
It also includes updated guide, tackle shop, lodging and dining lists, steelhead related web sites as well as current smolt stocking lists and recent fishery data and reports. New photos have been added to Steelhead Guide including an expanded color insert section of the new steelhead fly patterns as well as steelhead photography taken in the Lake Erie region. Some of the previous 3rd edition text (carried over into the new 4th edition) has also been revised and/or clarified as well.Both soft and hard cover editions (autographed copies) now include a custom steelhead fly tied by the author John Nagy when purchased through this website!
PayPal payments also accepted.
Pricing for hard cover 4th edition is $42.95 plus $5.00 shipping per order (PA residents add 7% state sales tax of $3.36). Follow payment instructions above for soft cover.
3/25/09
About John Nagy/Contact Information
His writing credits include Fly Fisherman, Wild Steelhead and Atlantic Salmon, Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide, Fly Fish America, Eastern Fly Fishing and Salmon, Trout, Steelheader.
In 2008 John Nagy updated and expanded his popular book Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead.
The new 4th edition includes 119 new and innovative steelhead fly patterns contributed by guides, fly tyers and steelhead fisherman from all over the Lake Erie region. An exciting addition to the book is a new chapter on Great Lakes steelhead tube flies (including 28 hot steelhead tube patterns) discussing their history, benefits, construction and use.
John Nagy has recently written numerous feature magazine articles on modern tube tying systems for Great Lakes steelhead (Fly Fisherman, Fly Fish America and Eastern Fly Fishing). The articles include discussion on conventional tube flies as well as the revolutionary Scnadinavian tube fly designs.
John Nagy has also recently completed some magazine pieces geared to public access on the Lake Erie tributaries and steelhead fishery management (Fly Fisherman, Eastern Fly Fishing and Mid-Atlantic Fly Fishing Guide). The articles cover the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's Lake Erie Improvement Access Program, Pennsylvania's Four Mile Creek, Ohio's Chagrin River and New York's Chautauqua, Cattaraugus Creeks and Oak Orchard River.
John Nagy's Steelhead Journal
Hello, welcome to the Steelhead Journal. My name is John Nagy, author of the popular book:
Look for timely fall, winter and spring Lake Erie steelhead tributary fishing reports and pictures posted on the Steelhead Journal as well as important news items concerning the Lake Erie tributary steelhead fishery.