Team SAA Friday Forecast 9/28/12

Team Steelhead Alley Angler “Friday Forecast 9/28/2012” 

 Rain from earlier this week has given some color and flow to the area streams in Steelhead Alley.  At first glance the USGS flow gauges point to a positive outlook regarding anglers chrome hunting adventures this weekend.  Spawn sacs as well as jig/maggot combos have been putting some fresh steelhead on the banks this week.  A lot of skippers are being reported as well as some medium sized fish thrown into the mix. 

Best opportunity for hooking into fish seems to be within the first 5 miles or so of stream.  As each period of rain rolls through the Northeast, the further fish will continue to migrate up the tributary systems.  If you are headed out this weekend, look to target lower waters for the best chance at some success.  Early morning and late evening seems to still be the best times to hookup.  Like a light switch, the fishing seems to turn off late morning and mid-day.  This is common for this time of year.  Depending on clarity, running a fluorocarbon leader this weekend will be a key to success if the water clears up quick.  

I would expect to see an increase of angler activity streamside this weekend.  With favorable weather and anglers getting the itch to find chrome, you are likely to have some company streamside.  It’s that time of season to strap on the head lamps and be standing in the water at daylight.  The early bird gets the worm per say. Team SAA will be spread throughout the alley area this weekend.  It is chrome hunting time!  Fresh King eggs in hand, we will be looking to land some fresh chrome.  If you have questions about gear, rigging and How-To questions, make sure to check out the Steelhead Alley Angler Facebook page.  There are a lot of anglers available there to answer all your questions.

Until Next Time…

Fish Hard…Fish Often…

Pautzke crosses into Canada

Pautzke Crosses Into Canadian Territories

As the days become shorter and the September nights cool the shores of the Great Lakes, anglers begin getting the itch to hunt Salmon and Steelhead in the Northeast.  Anglers become their own mini weathermen, looking at the weather conditions on a daily basis, checking the flow gauges and hoping for those first autumn rain showers to fill the rivers and creeks.  Team SAA takes our annual trip north of the border into the Ontario territories to seek out the King Salmon run. 

This annual trip to Ontario signifies the start of our salmon/steelhead fishing season.  This trip to Canada allows us to reconnect with resident Canadian friends and enjoy a few days of salmon fishing.  Harvesting a few females to restock the bait lab fridge with fresh roe is a bonus!

Tactics for King Salmon consists of using a 13’6” rod and a centerpin reel.  Running 16 pound monofilament hi-visibility main line, paired with a fluorocarbon leader and a size 6 egg hook.   Drift fishing the creeks and streams using a float are a common technique.  When salmon are running, the action can be hot!  The eggs this year were cured in Pautzke’s latest product Fire Brine.  I use a unique curing process that has been working great in Steelhead Alley this past year.  I throw a second stage cure of BorX O’ Fire on the eggs to kick it up a notch.  I then takes these cured loose eggs and tie them into spawn sacs of a variety of colors.

A friendly challenge was issued among all of us angling friends.  Your homebrew cure vs. my Pautzke cure.  I loaded up with over 300 spawn sacs in every color of the rainbow.  My cure of Brine/BorX O’ Fire combo was ready for the challenge.  It took me just a few drifts to hook into my first Chinook salmon.  Mind you the fish were in very thick and we were all hooking fish on a pretty consistent basis.  Where the cure began to shine was when the salmon would shutoff and get lockjaw.  I would hook on a fresh spawn sac.  

Anglers were amazed at the amount of scent that was being put into the water.  It looked like a jet trail commonly seen in the sky from a commercial plane. There was so much egg milking going on, the fish couldn’t resist.  I would notice fish moving towards my bait versus veering away.  It didn’t take long and I was filling containers with spawn sacs for a fellow angler to use as he wasn’t having luck with his presentation.    

Anglers that were not yet believers would quickly cast behind me to get into that scent trail though.  The challenge of homebrew cure over Pautzke was never officially settled among us friends, though by the end of the trip when I would get a fish on I would hear chants from my fellow angling friends of “Got it on the Pautzke baby.”  By the end of the trip we had eggs to cure prior to coming back to the states.  One angler decided to cure all of his roe with Pautzke BorX O’ Fire Natural with a dash of powdered krill.  He will be hammering fish in Steelhead Alley soon with his freshly cured eggs.

We returned to Ohio with fresh roe and are looking forward to targeting our home waters for steelhead trout this season.  We continue to perfect the curing process for eggs meant to be run in spawn sacs.  The Fire Brine and powder cures have been working great both here and abroad. 

Until Next Time…

Fish Hard…Fish Often…

The happenings of the Alley

Rivers Edge Floats AVAILABLE at Erie Outfitters.  Contact Craig Lewis for more information @  440-949-8934

As a fellow float turner myself, I know when I see a sexy custom float.  These would be a nice addition to your float collection this year!  Hand Made and Quality Craftsmanship!

 Saturday September 22nd: Chagrin River Outfitters Fall Shop Days. 8:30 am-4pm

All day events, seminars, fly tying, rigging, casting lessons and instruction from local fly fishing guides. Gear giveaways from simms, regal vises, sage and more. Great sales.

*Steelheading 101 8:30 am: Comprehensive overview of steelheading the great lakes tributaries and the rivers and streams of Northeast Ohio. Including proper gear, river flows, fly patterns, rigging, and more.

*Spey and Switch rods for great lakes steelhead 10:30am: Why two handed rods for the Great lakes tribs, what are the best choices and why, selecting flies, lines, and sink tips, casts you need to know.

Until Next Time...

Fish Hard...Fish Often...

SAA Photo Slide Show

Photo slide show of the salmon trip. Up next is some video editing. Enjoy! 

Until Next Time... 

Fish Hard...Fish Often...

CANADIAN INVASION 2012

CANADIAN INVASION 2012

Over 800 miles traveled and now back to Ohio.  Canadian Invasion 2012 comes to a close.  Everyone is now home safe and sound.  The memories will last a lifetime.  Stay tuned for the fish tales...

Fishing not Catching...

 

The weather this week has been beautiful so far in Steelhead Alley! Anticipation of steelhead after our most recent rain led me streamside. Armed with my Hardy 4” centerpin and St. Croix rod, my hopes for landing a chromer were hopeful. Figuring that my best option was within the first 5 miles of water. Upon arrival the stream was off color but certainly fishable. Met up with fellow SAA angler Bob and we hit a few spots and no luck. Back to the rigs and over to the next spot. No fish. Back to the rigs and to the next spot. No fish. Walked to another spot and again no fish. Early season fishing seems to be best at first light and last light. Neither of which was in the cards this day. The weather was great for working on that farmers tan though! 

Today I chose a new river with new high hopes. Long story short was no fish. Hopped, skipped and jumped around and still no fish. I guess that’s why they call it fishing and not catching. T-Minus 2 days and it is Canada bound for Team SAA. This trip should be epic! Time to finish the last of tying sacs, spooling line on reels, checking rods and re-checking gear. Then the journey north begins. 

Reports from those I have spoken with streamside have been there are a few fish here and there. Best action is at first light. Lets hope for mother nature to once again give us some more rain and cool nights. Every day we are inching closer to more chrome action. 

 Until Next Time…

 Fish Hard…Fish Often…

2012 Canadian Invasion 

 In T-Minus 5 days some SAA fellows begin their venture North to the land of OZ.  Custom floats in hand, the trip is sure to be one to remember.  Great friends, great fellowship, great fishing...

Until Next Time...

 Fish Hard...Fish Often...

Egg, Eggs, and more Eggs. The first video from SAA is how to tie a spawn sac for our new anglers in the sport. The second video in the list was inspired by the SAA trip to Canada in the next week as well as for helping out our fellow anglers, when it comes to skein fishing one of the most useful knots to learn is the egg loop knot. This allows you the ability to secure a chunk of skein to a hook with the additional benefit of a loop formed at the hooks eye. Another use for this loop is to secure a bead. There are several ways to secure a bead to your leader, but I find this method to be one that doesn't kink the leader as bad as some alternatives.

Until Next Time... 

Fish Hard...Fish Often...