Lake Erie Steelhead Run Traffic Jam
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:33 pmLake Erie Steelhead Run Traffic Jam
Lake Erie Steelhead migrated into the shallows, and anglers from around the country are ready for the October fishing action to begin. Unfortunately, the expected dry September weather has now become an unexpected dry and hot beginning to October. The upstream migration is on hold until wet weather arrives.
Erie Tributaries trickling into the lake are forcing the fish to stack up in shallow pools where the streams and lake meet. Anglers must fish for spooked fish in a "barrel."
Frustrated anglers can only hope for a weather shift and wait. Fishing vacation plans made 12-months ago are now at risk of turning into a bust, but not all is lost if you are willing to adjust your plans and techniques.
With the fish in close to shore, shoreline angling works fine as long as there are favorable winds - south or southwest, and light. You should plan to fish late afternoon, at night, or the morning hours for the best chances for success. Presentation is limited to lures, egg sacs, minnows, and good old PowerBait. Put the fly rod in its case and get out the spinning tackle.
Boats trolling the shallows have a captive audience of fish. I don't know much about the "how to", but watching from shore, I saw "flat lining" success and “planer board” hookups. You could hear the guys shouting from boat to boat about black stingers working just after daybreak, then a change to red later in the morning as the best choices.
The "wall" at the Walnut Creek Marina and the Elk Creek boat launch are good places to fish until the rain arrives later this month. You will have plenty of company at these locations.
I just returned from Erie after several days and managed to catch one or two Steelhead each day. I was using pink egg sacs and fishing in the lake from the shore, or from the wall at Walnut Creek Marina.
Anglers walking back from the Walnut Creek project holes and Manchester hole had fish on stringers. At Elk Creek and Trout Run, you could see fish on stringers and occasionally one hooked and landed at nearly all the standard spots.
If you want to see more stream condition images and video, then give this link a look. http://www.storytrax.com/node/790. The link was updated on October 3, 2007.
Lake Erie Steelhead migrated into the shallows, and anglers from around the country are ready for the October fishing action to begin. Unfortunately, the expected dry September weather has now become an unexpected dry and hot beginning to October. The upstream migration is on hold until wet weather arrives.
Erie Tributaries trickling into the lake are forcing the fish to stack up in shallow pools where the streams and lake meet. Anglers must fish for spooked fish in a "barrel."
Frustrated anglers can only hope for a weather shift and wait. Fishing vacation plans made 12-months ago are now at risk of turning into a bust, but not all is lost if you are willing to adjust your plans and techniques.
With the fish in close to shore, shoreline angling works fine as long as there are favorable winds - south or southwest, and light. You should plan to fish late afternoon, at night, or the morning hours for the best chances for success. Presentation is limited to lures, egg sacs, minnows, and good old PowerBait. Put the fly rod in its case and get out the spinning tackle.
Boats trolling the shallows have a captive audience of fish. I don't know much about the "how to", but watching from shore, I saw "flat lining" success and “planer board” hookups. You could hear the guys shouting from boat to boat about black stingers working just after daybreak, then a change to red later in the morning as the best choices.
The "wall" at the Walnut Creek Marina and the Elk Creek boat launch are good places to fish until the rain arrives later this month. You will have plenty of company at these locations.
I just returned from Erie after several days and managed to catch one or two Steelhead each day. I was using pink egg sacs and fishing in the lake from the shore, or from the wall at Walnut Creek Marina.
Anglers walking back from the Walnut Creek project holes and Manchester hole had fish on stringers. At Elk Creek and Trout Run, you could see fish on stringers and occasionally one hooked and landed at nearly all the standard spots.
If you want to see more stream condition images and video, then give this link a look. http://www.storytrax.com/node/790. The link was updated on October 3, 2007.