2011 - 20012 Steelhead Fishing Season

Like most of you, I am anticipating getting there.
I plan to do an exploritory 4 day trip the end of this month
and then a serious 10 day trip the end of October... rain or shine!
Thoughts of the "One Fly" freak me out... as a loner I have
difficulty meeting new people in large numbers. No offense to all of you that can handle situations like that... I'm just not comfortble at that level
However, when I do meet people on a stream... one on one... I am personable, even give flies I tied to strangers and share stories.
All the "discussion" about limits, treble hooks, etc is interesting... but it would be nice if people kept that off this site and just shared really helpful info.... like effecive techniques & patterns under various conditions.
Just my humble opinion!
Mike

Coming from out of town can be a bummer. If creeks are too high or too low you are out of luck. The right place to be could be near Buffalo or west of Erie. It changes daily. Best bet is to talk to a local who knows the scoop. A creek that is perfect one day is often too low and clear the next, etc.

Stream guages on smart phones are your friend. It seems every time I get mup there everything is low and clear ne way. I've just learned to deal w it. Small small small.

I just hope we get more water this year than we did last year.

ORIGINAL: ><>er man

gotta think that we will have the water at least i hope so good spirits willing

if there's enough water to cover their dorsal fin, they'll come .
They have too...it's programed in their genes

water level only  impedes their move to upper parts is all

all the talk of mild winters, harsh winters, lots or rain, drought, et al is all hooey  as far as speculation to why there are less fish in the creeks
The real reason is, there's  just simply less fish ..that's also why they're bigger on average ..less competition for food .

It's been the same pattern in Ohio the last three seasons too


..L.T.A.

You da man!!!! However, I think none per year is better....

I do not remember the last time I kept a few?
Wait, back in 2003 (Deetz... I got the date right this time)
I kept a few, put them in the freezer... thew them out
in 2005.

The pure enjoyment and adrenalin of hooking, fighting, loosing, and releasing while in the water without harm is what keeps me going!

Can't wait for the S^&T on this..... bring it on!
Mike

Hook 'em,fight 'em,land 'em,rope 'em,smoke 'em,eat 'em! Mmmmmm!

What recipe do you use? Hope you do not mind sharing?
I've tried a few and never enjoyed them... obviously...
I AM AN **** and would apprecite your help!
Mike

Please do not try to fix my being STUPID.
Stupid is, stupid does!

hefalump--you got mail.

ORIGINAL: spoonchucker

"I just wish there were some numbers on how many were stocked
and how many were kept?"

There are. Stocking has been fairly consistent at around 1.2 million. As has harvest rates, at around 22%.

it went all to he11 when they started stocking less in MY favorite creeks and put more on the East side .
There i said it...it's you EAST SIDE GUY'S FAULT


on a serious note, some of you younger duuds and those that haven't been chasing steel for 20 years wouldn't believe the bonanza we had in the late 90's and early '00s
They were stocking over 2 million smolts .
I think Elk alone got more than ALL of Ohio's tribs at the time

Tell someone you landed 20-30 fish in a day and no one batted an eye .
When they were "turned on" to your junk, you could literally stand in one spot for hours and catch fish after fish after fish on every drift

"fishin' in a bucket" you say?
Who gives a chit .... it was FUN

..L.T.A.

ORIGINAL: Riverbum

How are harvest rates tabulated?

I believe they're done by surveys on the creeks, R'bum


..L.T.A.

Now I'm just a "newbie" to fishing the tribs. I've only been doing it since the early 70's. But the biggest thing affecting the amount of fish in the creeks is: The amount of fishermen! No more, No less. As many have posted the halcone days of yesteryear are gone. And the keeping ratio has gone wayyy up with the advent of smoking fish, and preparing fish. Believe me when I say that Steelhead don NOT taste good, unless the fish is VERY fresh (like out of the lake) and cooked within 2 hours of harvesting.
So it only makes sense 1 person > 50 fish/keep three = 47 fish moving up. 10 people > 50 fish/keep three = 20 fish moving up. When this ratio is repeated the number moving past a certain point diminishes exponentially.
I have counted over 200 people from the Wall to the top of Manchester on some days. If half of those people keep 3 fish that's 300 fish just in 1 day on the 'Nut. Now take that number by 2 day/week, times 10 weeks; that's 6,000 fish kept just from lower Walnut during the wekends of the season.
It would be nice if the hatcheries people would establish a "counting station" on lower Walnut to try to see what the return rate actually is. I'm thinking it's far less than "estimated".
My solution: Exceptiong the wall(s) make lower Elk and Walnut C&R from rt 5 to the lake. More fish move up, more fish spread out. better fishing all along the creeks. BUT that is just a logical solution.

Its ALL in the preperation of the fish

i love you , SU&fish, but when ever i hear that regarding any game be it fur, fish or foul , what that means to me is...you have to know how to kill the taste of the flesh to make palatable

Smoking them seems to be the preferred method of BURYING the taste

and yea I like fish...not just the "good ones" like Walleye, perch and pan fish.
I'll tear up a mess of bass and eat deep friend catfish til I'm sick....I'll  eat oysters right out of the can too

Steelie though,  is in the same category as GOOSE to me.....you need a cedar chips and horsechit recipe .
i have one  if anyone needs it....



I'm glad you like them though...wish I did

..L.T.A.

Man Genie, if you can stomach oysters (which I love myself), I cannot see how the steel wouldn't be palatable for you. I don't kill the taste of anything....All I do is bleed the fish immediately while it is still spunky. I don't drag it around to stiffen up like a board all day either. I'll admit, that I don't keep all that many, but when I do; I generally get one close to camp so I can put it on ice or a cooler ASAP. Then I have a simple marinade for the fillets that I soak in for a minimum of half a day. Then on the grille....WAY better than smoked IMO. Also a few other excellent recipes, steelhead alfredo included, which are awesome too. DELEEEEESH!! Just ask those who have had mine including the pickiest of all eaters I know....my kids!

Most people I know desire oysters with a splash of lime and hot sauce....I know thats the way I like 'em...isn't that doctoring up the fishy flavor too?

Now wild goose, you're ABSOLUTELY 100% right about! They eat MUD and taste like MUD! About the only thing good that I ever had coming from goose is jerky...period.