Chrome chaser's in steelhead alley can avoid high/stained run-off conditions like these by monitoring weather patterns and tributary run-off rates
Successful steelheader's in the “steelhead alley” corridor
of Lake Erie (OH, PA and NY tributaries of Lake Erie )
have become fanatics about the weather. They realize that by diligently monitoring
both real-time weather conditions and projected weather patterns (pre-trip and
on the road via mobile smart phones or tablets) they can greatly increase their
hook-up success on the tributaries
More specifically, weather junkie steelheader's are keenly
aware of how rain fall and/or snow-melt episodes affect the run-off rates of
the steelhead alley tributaries
This scrutiny is critical, because
the normal state of the Lake Erie tributaries is low and clear (due to poor ground water
flow) and they are highly dependent on run-off
from precipitation to get them up to higher flows. Even the damned flows
of the Grand River in OH and the Cattaraugus in NY don’t provide much of a
minimal base flow.
When the tributaries do approach
(or reach) peak run-off levels (the result of a substantial rain fall and/or
snow-melt episode) most become a muddy torrent with few fishing opportunities.
As stream levels drop, the water clarity improves, eventually reaching the
coveted “prime” conditions sought after by steelheaders.
“Prime” run-off flows on the Lake Erie
tributaries have characteristic green-tinted water coloration (due to suspended
clay particles eroded from shale streambeds). In this type of water clarity
steelhead are easier to catch because their visibility is limited. They can see
your fly offering, but not too clearly. This ambiguity in their vision makes
them very cooperative fly takers.
These ideal conditions can be
short lived and vary in length from only several hours, a few days or as much
as a week or more depending on the amount of run-off received, ongoing weather
patterns, water table levels (current ground saturation) and the run-off
characteristics of that particular tributary watershed.
Higher tributary flows translate
into more fishable water to properly perform both indicating and swinging
presentations. It also means steelhead can locate into a greater number of
resting and holding locations during their upstream migration movements. This
gives steelheaders more fishing opportunities (unlike low and clear conditions
which can concentrate both steelhead and fisherman into “fish bowl”
conditions).
Run-off also initiates fresh runs
of steelhead into the tributaries from Lake Erie ,
“energizes” older fish already in the stream which have experienced daily
fishing pressure (and the stress of low water flows) and helps the movement of
steelhead upstream toward spawning gravel.
Since the watershed size of the Lake Erie
tributaries vary greatly, each tributary will run off to prime conditions depending
on its size. Knowing the “run-off rates” of the Lake Erie
tributaries is very important in predicting how fast a specific tributary will
run-off to prime conditions after receiving precipitation from rainfall and/or
snow-melt. The run-off rates of all the major Lake Erie
tributaries are summarized in John Nagy’s Steelhead Guide book. The
steelheadsite.com (under OH reports section/OH tribs ideal flow project) also
has ideal flow charts.
These run-off rates (in hours,
days and weeks) are generalizations and are based on an “average” run-off
episode of an inch of rain (or equivalent snow/ice melt) in less than a 24 hour
period for that particular watershed. The length of these run-off rates roughly
correspond to the size of each tributary watershed with bigger tribs like
Conneaut Creek, OH (3-4 days) encompassing large watersheds and smaller tribs
like 12 Mile creek (less than 1 day) draining smaller ones.
Steelheader's can also monitor the
weather and tributary run-off conditions in steelhead alley by accessing:
-Internet real time USGS tributary
flow data (http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html) graphs 24/7
water flow of many Lake Erie tributaries (in discharge/cfs and height/feet). Non-gaged
tributaries can be monitored if you know by experience how they run-off in
relation to a gaged river. Some gages include temperature and turbidity
measurements. Remember that most tributaries will begin to clear in their upper
reaches but some like the large Grand River in OH typically clear at the bottom
first (due to its long length). The Cattaraugus Creek in NY can still flow
turbid even at fishable levels.
-Short and long range weather
forecasts by the National Weather Service (http://www.erh.noaa.gov/).
-Local 24 hour precipitation
amounts by the National Weather Service to more precisely determine the
location and amount of precipitation that has fallen. The characteristics of a
weather system (speed, location, intensity) moving through can affect specific
tributary watersheds differently versus other areas of steelhead alley.
-Real-time weather radar by the
National Weather Service
-Internet fishing reports and
tributary conditions (www.fisherie.com or www.steelheadsite.com)
-Local tackle shops (reliable
reports are from shop owner or employees who actually visited a tributary or
tributaries that day).
-Local steelheader's (probably the
best report since they are most intimate with the local steelhead tribs and can
give up to the minute and projected water conditions.
-On location webcams which give a
real-time visual of some tributaries (for Elk Creek visit http://www.unclejohnselkcreekcamp.com/webcam/).
-For lakeshore steelheaders
(fishing at or near a tributary mouth) a Lake Erie
live webcam (http://www.greatlakesvista.com/
or www.lakevision.com) and a National Weather Forecast near shore marine forecast (which includes
near shore lake temperatures). Real-time and forecasted lake conditions can be
very helpful for determining best surf fishing fishing conditions (occurs when
the lake “flattens out” with a southerly wind) and to monitor steelhead near
shore staging movements (a 68 degrees F shoreline temperature initiates staging
steelhead near tributary mouths in late summer/early fall).
Snow or ice melting very quickly
due to rain and/or rapidly increasing air temperatures (occurring both during
the day and night) can cause tremendous run-off especially if heavy snow pack
and ice accumulations exist. This obviously spikes the river gages to extreme
levels and prolongs the run-off rates. Ideally you want a slow melt of snow and
ice during the winter months with moderating air temperatures during the day
(30’s and 40’s) to allow for a slow melt and sub-freezing temperatures at night
to keep the run-off in check. This type of melt run-off typically runs clear to
moderately stained as well as ice cold, keeping the tributaries fishable for
extended periods of time.
Being on a tributary during prime
conditions does not guarantee steelhead heaven though. A number of scenarios
can play havoc with your day on the water including early fall run-off which
can be very silty even at ideal levels due to summer silt accumulation, fall
leaf-drop which can clog the stream with leaves hindering drifts and obscuring
your fly, morning slush and ice flows which can make getting your fly on the
bottom a challenge, spring smolt stockings and sucker runs which can make it
impossible to hook a steelhead in some areas and unexpected run-off from bridge
or road construction that is often a muddy mess ruining downstream fishing.
Note: Great Lakes steelheader's
fishing outside the steelhead alley region often encounter power generating,
damned tributaries with controlled flow releases (such as the Lake Ontario’s
Oak Orchard and Salmon Rivers in NY).
Flow releases can vary daily, affecting both the wading and fishing
conditions. Major run-off events can have minimal effect (in the short term) on
these rivers due to the “buffering” effect of large impoundments above the
dams. Steelheader's are advised to monitor power company dam release flows on
the internet to target the best fishing conditions for flow, as well as for
safe wading. These rivers also are usually very fishable during the winter
months due to the power generating dam releases which are warm enough to
prevent freeze-over.
Also, in regards to winter
steelhead fishing, often the toughest aspect of winter steelheading is actually
getting to (and traveling back) from the steelhead alley tributaries. Local
steelheader's definitely have an advantage here. Anyone considering steelhead
fishing this time of the year (and traveling at a distance) should carefully
monitor the weather for lake effect snow and ice conditions as they impact the
interstates and state routes. No steelhead is worth being stranded on the
highway or getting into an accident for. Look for “windows” in the weather for
traveling to and from the tribs. If bad weather hits (after a day of fishing)
seriously consider spending the night at a local motel to avoid any problems.
More detailed information on fly fishing for Great Lakes Steelhead can be found in John Nagy's classic book "Steelhead Guide, Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead." John Nagy's "Steelheader's Journal" makes a great companion book to the Steelhead Guide. Please go to the sidebar for ordering information for these books.
