Have the Tribs Reached saturation?

Gentlemen,
     After being up to the tribs a few times this year (much less then normal) I think maybe we should ask if the "fishing experience" on the Erie tribs has reached the saturation point.  When I first started fishing the tribs; admittedly right after they invented dirt, a person could have a decent day casting over numerous fish and maybe only have to share a hole with one other person, most times someone you asked to fish with you.  You got out, you walked and you discovered and you enjoyed.  There wasn't litter and trash along the creeks (other than the stuff washed down by floods) and the banks didn't look like an extension of I-79.
     Then it got to be that to get solitude you had to go up early in the year.  Then the "word" got out and that became crowded.
     Then weekday fishing became the way to "get away" and I started taking vacations to fish during the week.  Then that got written up and the weekdays became crowded.
     The last vestage was late season fishing.  Fish during cold weather.  Now there are almost more folks fishing for steel than hunting for deer, and finding any stretch to be alone or with a friend on has become almost impossible.  If you go for the fishing and not for the beauty you will probably be disappointed.
     ALmost everywhere I go I'm finding more and more people. And like living conditions when people get crowded I think it brings out the worst in them.
     Now I'm not asking for any Name-calling, or finger pointing.  I'm simply asking my friends if they feel the same way.  I'll still keep trying to fish for steel, but much of the adventure has gone from it.  It's seemed to become less of a recreation and more of a competition.
   

Jack, it seems now (all times during the season) it's like a new device going on sale @ Best Buy, lines & progressions. I hope there never comes a time when you have to take a ticket to get a spot. Although solitude can be found (if not for a little while) once in a while. You're right, the progression - the word is out, the fish are there, warm clothes are for sale, and less of us working (weekday fishing). Ain't nothin Sacred???? I've learned to roll with the punches and get a drift when I can. And realized, "Nothing is as it was"   Dave

Don't think you're alone. I call it "melancholia". but not to the state the dictionary defines. I mean what would we tell our kids on how it used to be?? If everything was the same now. Now that's a 1/2 full glass if I ever saw one. AND - sometimes I actually believe myself !!  Dave

Tex,
    As far as the line thing goes I believe it's because some people want to see just how light they cano and wind up breaking of way too much.  Here's a hint: nothing smallerthan 6#;nd nothing smaller than 6# tippett.  Last year I hooked a steelie and it had over 8 feet of line hooked to it's dorsal fin.

I am going to start fishing the cleveland area tribs soon....I gotta believe there's less pressure there......

I wholeheartedly agree that the steelheading experience has changed significantly over the past few years, and that if you are looking for solitude, unpressured water, or even just the freedom to roam a bit, the changes are not for the better.
 
Personally, I think all those things are still available, but they are harder and harder to find. 

And I hate to say more about it than that, because if I do, they will just be that much harder to find in the future.
 
I think there is a time honored tradition among fisherman, that wise fisherman respect in others and treasure themselves, and that is that we all have our "secrets".

ORIGINAL: chartist

I am going to start fishing the cleveland area tribs soon....I gotta believe there's less pressure there......

There is less pressure because the water is much bigger and there's  less than 1/2 the amount of fish.
Most who are used to Pa trib fishing will find a whole 'nother world in  Ohio.
Sight fishing isn't the norm and there are miles of dead water.
No place in Pa will you walk for miles and not trip over fish.
However, the known holes/spots on Ohio tribs   all get regular pressure.

Indi, I noticed the explosion of angers started around '00-'01.
The numbers of fish stocked and the returns from '00 to about '05 were nothing short of phenomenal.
Elk was "saturated" with FISH.
The angler explosion was no coincidence and tied directly to amount of fish and easy pickin's
(imHo of coarse) 

Has the luster of Pa trib fishing diminished for me?
Not really, I generally fish alone more often than not, so I've never found it terribly difficult to find a few fish to call my own
 or slip into a spot that's more "popular" with the would-be trout gawds.
I do fish Ohio tribs more than Pa though.
Mostly cause they're the closest to me


..L.T.A.

Indi, I agree with many of the comments that have been stated on this post. I started out coming to Erie to fish for the Cohos! You never saw  anyone. Then that program was replaced by the Steelhead program. At first there was plenty of room for everyone to fish. As the years have gone by, the streams have become more and more crowded! It is hard sometimes to find your spot on the stream to fish at times! We have resorted to having buddies hold holes for us so we had a place to fish. Look at how much of the stream frontage has been posted in the last five years. This is in response to the over crowded conditions at times. Land owners no longer want to put up the inconsiderate fisherman. With more and more people reading about steelhead alley in various publications and how good it is it was bound to happen. The good old days have long been gone. It is a nice shot in the arm of the Erie economy to have all these people come in and spend money. Almost 10 million dollars worth annually! Hard to turn that down. But the down side to this is the streams can only support so many anglers per day! We are currently at that breaking point right now. We had a good thing and still do! But where does the influx of humanity stop? Until we can find a solution we will have more posted property and unhappy fisherman! Good post and something we must begin to talk about more!

It all comes down to priorities if solitude is number one on your list, there is still a ton of water in this state that is completely un-pressured and isolated if you are happy fishing for winter/fall trout. If 10lb steelhead is #1, well the you have to deal with the crowds.

forelle.. Well said..

indy, the fear of combat fishing has kept me away.  i still plan to get up once or twice, but i think it will be some nice day in march.  i like people, especially fishing people, but i refuse to get into a war of words with other anglers.

But you are SuperFisherMan, Joe.
 
Everyone isn't as skilled as you.
 
Did you fish a whole hour
or just 1/2?
 
 
BTW, some might take offense at the way you started that post.

There has been an evolution in steelhead fishing.  The number of fisherman has grown exponentially over the years.  While we who have been fishing the streams for years may lament the loss of solitude and low fishing pressure, we must learn to adapt to the changes. 
 
There have been a number improvements in equipment and tackle over the years.  Many classic fly patterns are still effective, but over the years people have introduced many new patterns that are catching fish.  Spey and switch rods have appeared on the scene as well as centerpin reels and float rods.  The noodle rod to has evolved as well as tippet material, line, floats, etc...
 
The one thing that has not changed for me is the thrill of feeling a steelie grab a fly and shake its head once it has realized it was hooked.  That moment is as special as it every was and has not changed no matter how many people may be fishing around me.  As long as I still enjoy that, I will be steelhead fishing on the tribs in PA.

ORIGINAL: joebaker79

Get your balls wet more and everything is a little more tolerable. .02

 
If your balls are wet, then you're standing where you should be fishing.
 
just sayin...

So, now you are not only super fisherman, but mr. macho man,
and everyone who doesn't agree with you deserves to be ridiculed and insulted?
 
Maybe you should get a clue.