DanesDad
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Are the creeks worth fishing in April
I was planning on fishing this weekend, but some other commitments have come up and, as it now stands, I'm not free for another two weeks. Ive never fished the creeks this time of year. All my fishing there has been in the fall. Is it worth fishing the creeks, say the first weekend in April? How is it different than in the fall? Should I plan some other activity in Erie for that weekend?
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psu_fish
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/19 15:46:07
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If you want to catch smolts, then April is time to fish..
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DanesDad
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/19 17:21:05
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BloodyHand
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/19 19:09:49
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It's a really good time to fish for steel. I like end of april cuz the stockies are in their too. Their are techniques to keep the smolt catching down to a minimum.
BH
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psu_fish
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/20 08:26:30
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DanesDad
Not really.
Then why ask, if you know so much?
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graveydavey
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/20 08:33:47
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Neshannock catch and release is a nice place to fish.
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gizmos
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/20 22:36:32
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☄ Helpfulby crappiefisher 2019/03/20 23:05:03
psu_fish
DanesDad
Not really.
Then why ask, if you know so much?
Geesh....
Eat what you catch,troll for cows.
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BeenThereDoneThat.
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/20 23:36:15
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☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2019/03/23 22:44:32
psu_fish
DanesDad
Not really.
Then why ask, if you know so much?
Might it be DanesDad is responding to your question the he "does not enjoy" catching smolts? Me thinks yinz need some time catching smolts yinzself PSU. Yinz is sounding a bit cranky. Cabin fever.....?
Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~  Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way. 
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EMitch
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 06:11:44
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I don't think it's cabin fever. Just that condescending attitude possessed by some. 
Never try to argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.
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Kokanee Killer
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 07:44:53
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Yes Emitch i agree very condescending attitude by some.. anyway i always enjoyed fishing this time of the year for steel.. back in the early 90s we had a spring run too of steel. those were manistee strain.. wich have been pretty much bred out of existence now,,there are still some fresn chrome now but not like the numbers back then,, plus with the drop backs of fall.. anyway i rambled enough lol lol YES its always worth goin in my book enjoy
I have become comfortably numb
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Porktown
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 07:58:42
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☄ Helpfulby DanesDad 2019/03/28 09:42:26
I am pretty sure the time frame you mentioned might be the prime time to be fishing the area in general. I have caught steelhead in April before, so there are some dumb ones around. They are attempting to spawn around that time, so if you see a bunch in shallower water splashing around, they aren’t interested in eating... Others that are done or getting ready to get their swerve on, might be hungry in the areas around there. Do some searches on here and the reports page. Don’t forget to check out the other type of fishing around (lake/PI). Pretty sure April-June has some other great options. I don’t know for sure, but I think that might be one of the best times for variety in the area. Obviously other activities in the area to keep you entertained and family happy too. Good luck if you head out. I always keep fishing as an option wherever I go!
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3mile
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 07:59:42
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Never know until you try. Come check it out and support the Erie economy.
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psu_fish
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 08:57:23
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I'd rather catch the smallmouths that enter Elk sometime in April over Steelhead any day of the week.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 09:31:41
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On the right spring days one can catch a nice 50/50 mix of Steelhead and SM Bass....a very nice combo.....along with some huge spawning suckers. Smolts are very aggressive in some areas consider crimping your barbed hooks as to lessen damage or using larger presentations .
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fisherofmen376
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 13:06:23
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☄ Helpfulby 350Z&Steelheads 2019/03/29 09:59:23
Man, a guy asks a simple question and you jump all over him Psu! First post in a month...and people wonder why it’s qiet around here!
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
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psu_fish
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 13:54:00
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fisherofmen376
Man, a guy asks a simple question and you jump all over him Psu! First post in a month...and people wonder why it’s qiet around here!
I gave a simple answer, and he responded with "nahh". Well if he knows so much, why bother posting? There is going to be a ton of smolts in the creek in April, but hey if you want to get your rocks off catching dinks, and taking hero shots, who am I to stop you?
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workcanwait....
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 13:54:39
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JM2
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 17:07:39
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psu_fish
fisherofmen376
Man, a guy asks a simple question and you jump all over him Psu! First post in a month...and people wonder why it’s qiet around here!
I gave a simple answer, and he responded with "nahh". Well if he knows so much, why bother posting? There is going to be a ton of smolts in the creek in April, but hey if you want to get your rocks off catching dinks, and taking hero shots, who am I to stop you?
The way I read it, was he was responding to your post as, "no I really don't want to catch a lot of smolt." You seem to have read it as, "no what you're saying is not true."
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BeenThereDoneThat.
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/21 18:12:53
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JM PSU's response is a good example of today's higher education. Absolutely no common sense and not capable of thinking for one's self.
Enjoy the spring catching guys.
Good times and tight lines.
Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you will feed him for a life time. ~Anne Isabella Thackeray Ritchie (1837–1919)~ Old fisherman never die; we just smell that way.
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Erie_flyfishing
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/22 23:41:22
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psu_fish
fisherofmen376
Man, a guy asks a simple question and you jump all over him Psu! First post in a month...and people wonder why it’s qiet around here!
I gave a simple answer, and he responded with "nahh". Well if he knows so much, why bother posting? There is going to be a ton of smolts in the creek in April, but hey if you want to get your rocks off catching dinks, and taking hero shots, who am I to stop you?
I'm actually going to agree with PSU here... He simply provided information to the question that was asked.. I think you guys are taking his comment wrong..
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dakotab
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/25 13:58:36
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☄ Helpfulby FiveMilePete 2019/04/01 23:08:06
Dansdad responded to "If you want to catch smolts" with "not really". What's wrong with that response? It's a shame the smart asses on here has made this place the dead sea. It used to be a place to look for some good info but look at the lack of action on this site. Sad. All started with "spot burning". If someone wants to tell you where they were fishing isn't a "fishing forum" the place to do it?
post edited by dakotab - 2019/03/25 14:00:33
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eyesandgillz
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/27 11:47:38
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PSU is PMSing...that is all.....
Danes, don't let his panty jam get you dahn....
Maybe PSU had too much Sandusky "magic" juice and it affected his comprehension....
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DanesDad
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/28 09:51:00
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OK, just to be clear, I'm not targeting smolts. Obviously, if I knew as much as some here believe that I do, I wouldn't have had to post a question in the first place. For future reference, if I come to a site I haven't posted on in months and ask a question, it can be assumed that I'm looking for a legitimate answer, not pulling someones chain or wasting time. I take no offense (whether it was intended or not) and I hope this clears things up.
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Porktown
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/28 10:37:12
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☄ Helpfulby crappiefisher 2019/03/28 11:29:01
For those that are targeting smolts. Single eggs, single maggots, wax worms, small chunks of night crawler on size 20 hook. I limited out in 10 minutes once. Great on a hot dog stick roasted over an open fire.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/28 11:21:26
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dakotab
Dansdad responded to "If you want to catch smolts" with "not really". What's wrong with that response? It's a shame the smart asses on here has made this place the dead sea. It used to be a place to look for some good info but look at the lack of action on this site. Sad. All started with "spot burning". If someone wants to tell you where they were fishing isn't a "fishing forum" the place to do it?
I agree 100% The Erie spot burning thing is a joke anymore ....it's all crowded and there are no secret spots and walk all you want, if someone believes all posted forums are accurate go fish there !...lol (sucker bait) Most smart guys don't over do it when posting info, but some basic info is nice to share if one wants to ....and just because Joe Camel caught 10 fish there today doesn't mean they will be there the next day .
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350Z&Steelheads
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/29 10:00:17
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fisherofmen376
Man, a guy asks a simple question and you jump all over him Psu! First post in a month...and people wonder why it’s qiet around here!
I do miss the productive conversations that used to be around here.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day. 
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cdcaddis
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/29 22:48:28
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psu_fish
I'd rather catch the smallmouths that enter Elk sometime in April over Steelhead any day of the week.
Hello, So when I come up in April would you be willing to mentor me relative to about how far up from the mouth of Elk the smallies generally run while spawning? I'd hate to be fishing above Girard only to learn they seldom travel up that far.
post edited by cdcaddis - 2019/03/29 22:58:15
Attached Image(s) 
Flyfisher for fifty-four years.
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CAPTAIN HOOK
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/30 09:12:43
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I would not venture more than 1 mile of creek from lake mouth for best results....timing is the secret plus water flow. Don't expect double digit catches, but it can be possible under right conditions . Smallies prefer the deeper holding areas so low water is a problem.
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workcanwait....
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/31 11:33:32
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If any of you really miss what this forum used to be just go on Facebook and join the local fishing and hunting groups.
Its all the bickering and wisecracks and reports you can handle plus its easy to download pics...Jus saying WCW
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fisherofmen376
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Re: Are the creeks worth fishing in April
2019/03/31 20:45:53
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"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19
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