Coming to the River on Monday, the 25th. Reports seem to indicate not too many steelies ye

Coming to the River on Monday, the 25th. Reports seem to indicate not too many steelies yet and virtually no Browns. Would appreciate a report from any of you on conditions (including temps, snow totals on the ground in Altmar, best flies to use now, and best fly rigs to use). Also wondering if the tribs (Orwell, Trout brook) would be worth a try. Thank you!

IMHO-The tribs dont generally get Steel till the spawn is about to begin -they dont winter in them and there are still winter conditions up there.
  Typical late winter  from the reports -fish here and a fish there..
 Last year this time was 30 to 40 degrees warmer.
  Hope you have a good trip-good luck- its a great place anytime.

Yup, clints right.... waters going down to 500 tonight. If we get upper 30's with ssunny days next week it could raise that water temp just a few degrees mid day to trigger a good bite.
Unfortunately, once steady warmer weather comes the water will get very cold with snow melt run off... it could be just a matter of time before the river blows out completely if we get hard/warm april rains... next week could end up being one of the better weeks of the next few... either way have fun.

I hope it holds for you, Clint!!!!!!!   That's the best scenario I've seen in  many weeks.
 
Charlie

fichy

I hope it holds for you, Clint!!!!!!!   That's the best scenario I've seen in  many weeks.

Charlie

 
X-2
stringing up the long rod now.. umm when is trout season :)
maybe run into a few folks next week..

Was up on Tug off and on in mid Feb. Res was full then but not all that much snow by the normal standards- Ground was covered but not real deep.
 If they got more snow the melt may well trigger some large releases.

Saw a dropback hen caught yesterday on I Creek in WNY.  Finger Lakes fish were reported to be in in numbers and still pretty hard when schocking was doen Thurs and Fri.  And it looks like the Genesee may come down this week, too.  There should be fish in a lot of these spots, and on the SR into May.  On the SR, just take your time, remember where you've seen gravel in the past and watch for lighter patches of bottom, and if there are no ghosts out on the redds, fish the deep areas up and down from the disturbed gravel.  If you do fish to spawners, try to avoid catching the hen(s) as if you spook them downstream (or kill them) the males all disperse, looking for other hens.  Big, gaudy, threatening stuff, or roe imitations work well on the males.  If I were opposed to fishing redds, I'd go lower on the river and find a place they would slow down while coming upstream , like the stairs, or some of the runs around the ball diamonds and down below the Endzone, and fish roe patterns (I'm partial to globugs in the snaggy spots as they are cheap and ez to tie).  DEC says the fish are scattered throughout the river, but most of the pressure is upstream.  But a lot of fish that come in late won't run the whole river, so there could be a lot of freshies downstream, or in the middle river where the long runs could have big patches of the right substrate.   
 
L13 

x2.  I'll use some of that advice, Lucky.   Get some of those Erie fish first, Jack.
 
 
Charlie

Sarge, great to here you had a good trip!!! I dont care what anyone says...ten hook ups in a day is a good day indeed...

Lucky, ive yet to see a steelhead redd in douglaston to date but have witnessed salmon spawning down there even as far down as wetland type areas like you mentioned just below the meadow where it gets veiny... id imagine early spawners of rainbow, summer run and fall runsteelhead are already dropping back though. I wouldnt doubt that steelhead do spawn down low, just havent seen it yet and often this time of year the water is way higher than 500 cfs where visibility is tough down there

If I can drag my stiff, sore and tired old bones outta bed in time to drive up and fish somewhat low on the river (only want freshies) in the morning will I catch fish?

dimebrite

twobob

If I can drag my stiff, sore and tired old bones outta bed in time to drive up and fish somewhat low on the river (only want freshies) in the morning will I catch fish?

Only way to know is try

saw plenty of guys yesterday in town pool. Was even a drift boat locked down towards the tail... first time ive seen pressure down there since early winter

Was Dawn out there protecting her hole?

All kidding aside when I first started to fish Steel spent many an April  day drifting large Crawlers in the town pool. If there was no action just keep moving till ya find the right slot for that day. Rarely got skunked there.
 

RT,you're right on there......garden hackle was my bait of choice way back when I fished the lower end for drop backs late April early May.Medium size shiners was also a good choice.Of course this was before I became a fly rod snob

retired guy

Sorry Andy-
When fishing those large Rattle Snakes on the Susquehanna river near Boston I sometimes use my fly rod- gently roll casted or simply drifted into slots from above can provide positive results. Those darned bluefish just love them on some days.
My favorite hole is located right by the Irish Deli run by some kinda troubled individual who serves great  fried gumbo on a Portugese roll with fried shrimp alongside.
If I dont get up there and catch something soon I'll go nuts.

HUH!......what post is this in reference to RT?