Spring Run - fact or fiction

I'm finishing up my third season of fishing for steelhead, and have been following these discussion boards for about that long.  Seems every spring, everyone wants to know if the spring run has happened in the PA tribs yet.  Seems every spring, it never happens, 'cept for some jacks mostly.  Last time I was in Erie was two weeks ago, between the big rain and big snow.  Had my best day in terms of hook-ups and fish landed, caught plenty of fish, but nothing at all fresh looking like you find in the fall, but not black and moldy either. 
 
So, in your opinion, is the spring run in PA fact or fiction (I know it's different in Ohio with the manistee strain)?  Just curious what y'all think.
 
Dave

It is fact. But it is also fact that it is much,much,much smaller than the numbers that come in the fall.  Mostly small jacks, coming in to the lower streams to play in the warmer creek water, with a few adult fish.

FICTION....   Been fishing the tribs for 4 yrs, and never seen a spring run..

Fact, but depends totaly on the weather that year.
 
I believe it was the spring of 2003, there was a big run of fish in late march, right after the ice cleared off of the streams. 
 
Keep in mind that during the fall of 2002 the streams were plagued with low water for most of the fall.  This caused the run to start later than normal, and also prevented alot of fish from running the streams in the fall.  Most of the fish that did run were stacked up on top of eachother ridiculously in the lower ends of the larger streams.  Some of the smaller streams seen no steelhead activity at all until mid to late october if I remember correctly. 
 
Now add that to the fact that the streams froze solid that year, and didn't open up until mid/late march, and that will explain why the spring run that year was good.
 
To answer the question about a spring run this year, well there won't be one.  The few fresh fish that you are seeing now are normal, and most are jacks. 
 
This fall the fish ran VERY early and we had a ton of rain all fall, this made it possible for the fish to run whenever they wanted to.  I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the PA strain fish ran by late November.
 
Fish on!
-Tim

I've always heard they only stock the "fall run" strain. Did the used to, or do they still, stock both?

ORIGINAL: fishrmn

Fact, but depends totaly on the weather that year.

I believe it was the spring of 2003, there was a big run of fish in late march, right after the ice cleared off of the streams. 

Keep in mind that during the fall of 2002 the streams were plagued with low water for most of the fall.  This caused the run to start later than normal, and also prevented alot of fish from running the streams in the fall.  Most of the fish that did run were stacked up on top of eachother ridiculously in the lower ends of the larger streams.  Some of the smaller streams seen no steelhead activity at all until mid to late october if I remember correctly. 

Now add that to the fact that the streams froze solid that year, and didn't open up until mid/late march, and that will explain why the spring run that year was good.

To answer the question about a spring run this year, well there won't be one.  The few fresh fish that you are seeing now are normal, and most are jacks. 

This fall the fish ran VERY early and we had a ton of rain all fall, this made it possible for the fish to run whenever they wanted to.  I'd be willing to bet that 90% of the PA strain fish ran by late November.

Fish on!
-Tim

yu donnt no enythinng abowt stelheds duud
yu jist starrted fshing forr theym lasst yeer
lYer

I have been fishing Elk for some 40 years and the only spring run is the pellethead fishermen in April

Gotta agree with Tim 100%
 
I think eggy is right on about the breeding.

N.Y. stocks several strains, none of which are "spring runners" although like Pa's a small percentage will run in the spring. They are also experimenting with Skamania strain, which is a summer run fish. Ohio stocks Manistee strain, which IS a spring run fish. Penna. stocked several strains also, but after years of harvesting their own eggs from Penna. waters brood stock, it has developed into its own strain. This is the information provided by PF&BC fisheries biologist, Chuck Murray at the PSA/Downriggers meeting tuesday night. As well as at previous presentations.

When I fished last week, a number of the larger females that i caught were dropping eggs.

ORIGINAL: spoonchucker

Many of the "fresh" fish folks catch in the spring, have actually been in the streams a while. They have finished their spawn, and are regaining their color as they slowly drop back to the lake.

I disagree, on my behalf, spoonchucker.  Not only were the fish we caught fresh looking, they were also fresh acting....unlike the ones which have been beat up in the streams for months.  I can also tell the difference between the the two since we got both.  Yes, the fish that have been there awhile are regaining their color, but they're not that pure silver color like just out of the lake....Also, these fish were definitely fresh out of the lake pure silver and not spent.  They were fighting like crazy....peeling drag and jumping an average of 5 times per catch.  Those fish have not been in the streams all winter, I'd be willing to bet on it.  Id also be willing to bet that the fish were one of the spring run strains that you mentioned, because most were in the 4 to 6 pound range. 

Smolt, most strains are primarily spring SPAWNERS, but they run into the streams in the fall.

The only run I have seen this year is myself running downstream to keep a big male from Spooling me.........
 
 
 
It didn't work

Skip,
 
Folks like us shouldn't run. We only have so many miles left, and should use them slowly.

I don't run unless there is gunfire, or a bear, and it has to be a big bear.