When it's over

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catchinfish
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2008/02/15 15:43:46 (permalink)

When it's over

When do the steelhead usually leave the creeks and head back to the lake.  I'm not really sure.  I've heard guys say March and others say you'll catch them into mid April.  Anyone know?

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#1

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    krott243
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 15:47:23 (permalink)
    There is usually fish scattered on the streams to mid-april.  You will see a few fish into may also, just not as many and not in the upper parts. Lower Elk is fun during in may, a few holdovers mixed in with smallies.

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    #2
    Bughawk
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 16:24:24 (permalink)
    Actually there are a few steelies in the creeks year round, but the numbers are extremely low in the summer.  March can be a good month, but by April the numbers thin out and the fish are on the move.  You can have some great days and go back to the same spot the next day and the fish are gone.  Spring steelies are hit or miss, a lot like the early season in the fall.  If you find the fish, you will catch them.  Finding them is the issue.
     
    As Krott said, fishing the streams in the spring you can be treated to some good smallie fishing.  The best days are the ones when you land steelies, smallies and stockies.  That is a great fun.

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    #3
    erieboogieman
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 17:45:25 (permalink)
    I caught my bigest steely the first week of trout season . Almost 13 lbs
    #4
    woodnickle
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 18:30:41 (permalink)
    March is good early , then comes sucker season.

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    Noplacelikehome
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 19:24:14 (permalink)
    I have had GREAT days as late as the second week of May. As Hawk said if you can find the Steelys they will hit. The bonus is I have caught some 5 lb Smallys right next to the Steelhead, not to mention carp,big suckers,and stockies! All this on ultralight tackle with 4 lb test, can you say FUN! Last year in an eastside stream near the mouth I saw a nice steelhead(about 23 inches). The crazy thing was it was June 22nd!!!
    #6
    lfosburg
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 20:54:32 (permalink)
    Do they usually stick in pools?

    #7
    indsguiz
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 20:59:34 (permalink)
    ifosburg,
          No, they are really streamlined and don't stick to much of anything. LOL   Sorry I had to do that.  The fish will hold in pools but when they are moving they can be found almost anywhere.  Like Bughawk said here today, gone tomorrow.  But if you can find any streams that might have some spring run fish in them then they will be going both ways.  Usually the Connie.

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    #8
    ShutUpNFish
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 21:03:01 (permalink)
    I'd imagine that the steel are still in the creeks in mid April, but by then, I'm typically gearing up for Port Clinton walleye or PI smallies.  I'm really looking forward to some weekend trips to Port Clinton this spring...If you've never tried it, you gotta get out there!
     
    Come to think of it, we did hit a nice spring run of jacks in mid March last year and that was fun.  I actually had one jump out of the water like ten times! 
    post edited by ShutUpNFish - 2008/02/15 21:04:57

    #9
    avidangler
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 21:58:43 (permalink)
    The old man and me hit the smallies around the first to second week of trout, which is rite around may.  When the waters rite the jacks can be caught.  Some of the upper holes will hold some fish.  I've never seen a hole with any amount of fish, just a handful maybe a dozen and generally faced with clear water conditions.  Last year we fished in may and I saw one steelie all day, but we did catch a variety of other fish that day...

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    #10
    Kokanee Killer
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 23:02:55 (permalink)
    I remember back in 94 or 95 catching a couple of drop backs in early may up near follys with some jigs

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    #11
    FLATFISH4F
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/15 23:20:09 (permalink)
    I remember a couple years ago fishing in the spring time. It was saturday and I was fishing 20 mile from route 5 to the lake. Fished all day saturday landed steelhead all day so we were going to stay and fish sunday. The next day came (sunday) the steelhead ALL moved out and the sucker were moving in.
     
          FLATFISH ....
    #12
    jon_e_si
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/16 04:49:54 (permalink)
    Trout need cold water (55* or below) - when water warms they can't survive-hence leave!
    #13
    spoonchucker
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    RE: When it's over 2008/02/16 13:01:39 (permalink)
    Jon,
     
    Trout don't require temps. that low. They have a preferred range, but can easily survive well into the 60's, and above.

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