Eastern Tribs/Food for Thought

I have to say I have been extremely disappointed in the eastern tribs this year. 4 mile has little to no fish, 7 mile ditto, 12 mile has a few here and there, 16 mile a few here and there, and 20 mile has some but they are in pods of 3 or 4 and here and there. I walked miles on 20 mile this year and places they should normally be, they are not. The western tribs have fish but they also have the crowds too. I make the 3 hour trek on a weekly basis and have been fishing the western tribs since november. I tried 20 mile, 16 mile, 12 mile, 7 mile, and 4 mile last week after the thaw and was disappoined again. Did really well on Elk when I was able to walk away from the crowds. Was amazed when I came upon a pod of about 30 to 40 fish in a nice stretch and NO ONE around. Needless to say, had a field day floating skein to them (water was a bit discolored after the rain and snow melt).

I have to agree w/ most and say that the fish commission is not stocking as many smolt as they used to b/c the numbers have been going down the past 3 or 4 years (besides the great spring run of 2009). I don't agree w/ the walleye predator theory b/c there have been walleye in Lake Erie well before steelies were being stocked. There have also been commercial fisherman in Lake Erie well before the steelies were being stocked.

A theory that has to be looked into is the brown trout stockings. It has been proven that brown trout do indeed eat other trout! I am not a proponent of the fish commission trying to introduce the brown trout into the tribs. We have a great Steelhead thing going and I understand the effort to introduce another great species. However, at what price?

I love catching brown trout but to do that I go to Oak Orchard or 18 mile in New York (Lake Ontario tribs).

Bottom line is the numbers are down and there are all kinds of reasons/theories. Hopefully next year will be a better year and we will get some big runs in the eastern tribs to spread out some of the fisherman.

Another thing that would help greatly would be to reduce the daily creel limit to 1 or 2 or even increase the minimum size to 25 inches. It really sickens me to watch people walk out w/ 3 steelies or watch people walk out w/ a jack. However, it is legal and there is nothing legally wrong w/ it. But people have to realize doing this is also reducing the numbers in the tribs.

I am not saying I can't catch them. I am more worried about the kids who are looking to catch that first ever trophy trout. I love watching a kid fight a fresh steelie as much as I enjoy it.

Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?

ORIGINAL: dimebrite

ORIGINAL: SpringChrome



Another thing that would help greatly would be to reduce the daily creel limit to 1 or 2 or even increase the minimum size to 25 inches. It really sickens me to watch people walk out w/ 3 steelies or watch people walk out w/ a jack. However, it is legal and there is nothing legally wrong w/ it. But people have to realize doing this is also reducing the numbers in the tribs.

Not as much in Erie as the SR dime,there must be a high mortality rate after the spawn 'cause there are not many large fish in Erie.Although 4# to 10# fish are not that small:)

... every steelhead released is a bigger steelhead next year... i agree with you 100 percent

tissue?

Guys.   That's your answer. I fished the tribs about 5 times last year. Only one of those days was a weekend. Every stream(east or west) had more guys than fish. Example= I was at 12 mile and there were plenty of fish(about 50, remember its a small trib) BUT there were at least  55 guys. This is why I now fish the bay or the lake 90% of the time. On a good note out of 55 guys only about 2 had a clue on how to catch a fish.(10lb test with a size 4 hook is great for bass, not for trout)

i think they should put a potato patch in at the walnut and elk accesses... maybe even 12mile
i wouldn't be against a tilt-o-whirl at elk and maybe some skee-ball at walnut

You can't go wrong with carnie's

Guys this thread is about the East side. And the children!

ORIGINAL: KJH807

i think they should put a potato patch in at the walnut and elk accesses... maybe even 12mile
i wouldn't be against a tilt-o-whirl at elk and maybe some skee-ball at walnut

Maybe the children can trade their skee-ball tickets in for powerbait and minnies.

True story....I once cashed in my skee-ball tickets in for a switchblade pocket comb. I wish I still had it.

It was a pretty cool way to comb my hair.

I have to agree w/ most and say that the fish commission is not stocking as many smolt as they used to b/c the numbers have been going down the past 3 or 4 years (besides the great spring run of 2009).

According to this page on the PFBC's website, the steelhead stocking in 20 mile and Elk hasn't really declined at all over the last few years. 

http://pfbc.state.pa.us/pfbc_webgis/WWCWStockingDetails_historical.aspx

KJH...WTF?!

ORIGINAL: Noplacelikehome

Guys.   That's your answer. I fished the tribs about 5 times last year. Only one of those days was a weekend. Every stream(east or west) had more guys than fish. Example= I was at 12 mile and there were plenty of fish(about 50, remember its a small trib) BUT there were at least  55 guys. This is why I now fish the bay or the lake 90% of the time. On a good note out of 55 guys only about 2 had a clue on how to catch a fish.(10lb test with a size 4 hook is great for bass, not for trout)

Wow! Fifty (50) fish! Who said there was no fish o n the east side.