Loomis
Posts: 1610
Joined: 9/19/2005
From: Delmont, PA
Status: offline
|
Good question...
I look at our streams as guantlets for the little guys...but this is also dependent on the stream length. A fish that runs Elk sees a lot more bait, flies, and decorations before it makes it to McKean, as opposed to a fish that enters 12 mile during high water and gets stopped at the falls. You will see more freshmen mixed in with darker ones.
When they are in the upper reaches of the tributaries, they are in most cases, darker fish and looking to spawn. While fishing upper Elk on Sunday, I noticed a number of fish on the gravel and kicking redds out. These fish are now geared more towards spawning, and thus become a little less active to holding in faster runs and taking flies like a stripped or swung bunny streamer or intruder. Look to take fish in these upper reaches with dead drifted eggs and nymphs, but do not rule the streamers out entirely. Steelhead become very territorial when they are at this stage, and using something like an egg stealing sculpin or leech with some red in there to imitate the cheeks of a colored male can get them to turn on, depending on the water temperature. Look for more reaction strikes rather than wreckless abandon hits like they do when they are in the lower reaches....but you need precision drifts, usually bumping the nose.
It also depends on the amount of pressure these fish see. Running up the stream they see alot, but can be left un-molested for awhile if people do not walk to find these fish. You might find yourself a gold mine if you are willing to look.
_____________________________
http://www.laurelridgerods.com
"I am by no means the most logical and educated person about fly fishing, but I will share with you what I know"
|
Printable Version
conneaut creek - 
New Messages 
Hot Topic w/ New Messages 
Locked w/ New Messages
No New Messages 
Hot Topic w/o New Messages 
Locked w/o New Messages