Steelhead #'s over last few years

I have been coming to Erie from the greater Philadelphia area for about 8 years now. I come up in Nov and Mar. Over the last few years I have seen the numbers drastically drop. Has anyone talked about this because it seems like it is getting worse every year. Is the state stocking fewer smolt, are they getting smacked by the walleye as they leave the streams? There has to be a reason! When I first started coming it was nothing to catch 20 to 30 fish out of one hole. when we would walk in in the early am you would kick fish that were still running through the shallows. Now we are lucky to catch a half dozen. What's goin on? I miss the good ol days of my arms getting tired from cranking in the steel! It makes me sick seeing people taking fish from the streams on a stringer cause it can't help. Please someone enlighten me!

When it comes down to it PA cant manage a fishery
 
This is the state that tries to get a brown trout program running in the creeks but does not have catch and release regulations on the species.
 
There are still a ton of fish but the creeks only stay up for a day or so.
 
The creeks hold water like a 5 year old needing to pee.
 
If you do not go a day or 2 after a blow out you wont be fishing a good flow. Then again it does not rain like it used to.
 
If the creeks stayed up you would see more fish moving in.
 
Or you could go find fish on the charters... Pulling 50 fish out a day, per charter, on the lake, before they even make it to the creeks.

I think the smolts are smaller when they are stocked then they used to be.
It's not just one thing but a combination of things changing.
If that doesn't work for you blame the locals..............
Still some great fishing to be had when you hit it right but creeks are no longer Littered with steelhead.

If you go to the fish commissions site, you can look at the numbers of smolt they have stocked each year. Truthfully it is just another put and take fishery with a few minor tweaks to it, the fish run out and come back, and when they come back, most get taken home.

I see people hammer fish every time i go to Erie, and sometimes I hammer em too.  I only got skunked once in 11 trips this year and that was because of superstorm sandy at the One Fly.  And that day FAR MORE TALENTED fisherman and fisherwomen than me got skunked too.  
Just because u can't see the fish doesn't mean they aren't there.  Im tired of listening to the whining about the #'s of yesteryear. Why worry about the past? There are still tons of fish to be had.  
Oh and btw I bring a fish or two home every couple of trips to eat as well as harvesting the eggs to make sacs for bait.  And I respect other people's right to do the same.  

well " fisherofmen" you must not have any idea what you at talking about because to go from 40 fish in a hole and fish scattered throughout the creeks in every nook and cranny to what it is now is utterly ridiculous! It is ok to keep a couple of fish per trip but to take 3 each day (well the honest people.... I've seen people carry 3 out in morning and 3 in afternoon) on a 4 day vacation that's 12 fish per person. For every 100 people that's 1200 fish. I mean I have no idea how many people come to Erie and actually take fish but it adds up fast! I just hope the fish commission figures it out and drops the limits. I'm goin to do my part and voice my opinion, not that anyone is goin to care ohm Harrisburg what I think but it who'll make me feel like I did my part to save my love for Erie steel! I don't want to go to NY and give my money to them and fish butthole to elbows like opening day of trout season. if the numbers stay the way they are I guess I will have to.

Yeah I got jump in here again.
I have stated this before but been reading on here for several years.
I found alot of helpful info on this site when I was new to the PA steelhead scene,so when I saw the need for some fresh opinions on here earlier in the season I decided to give my opinion.
This topic has been debated many times but always stirs up alot of post.
I started fishing here around 2005 not sure exactly for sure but somewhere in there.Fish were everywhere now there are less,no ****!
Before I fished in NY mostly Salmon River for Steel but I have been to most other popular tribs in NY(except the Catt) Salmon River is my favorite hands down crowds or not its one of a kind.
I find in these post that most of the guys that have fished elswhere for steel (OH,NY)appreciate the numbers still in the PA Tribs because they still are better than others.
It seems to be the sight fishing day trippers from pburg or equal distance that whine the most.
To them I say go elsewhere to catch some steel then come back and appreciate what PA has to offer.
Since I started fishing here #'s are down but fish seem to be bigger.
I will take that trade off might just mean that nature has balenced itself.
I live 15-40 miles from PA creeks and now consider them my backyard playgrounds and appreciate every fish I catch.
But I still enjoy the mighty Salmon River the most due to the challenges it offers no standing over a pod up there and sight fishing(rarely maybe)but true fishing reading water and other conditions.
Its late I better stop typing there is a point in there somewhere.................

You and any one else who say the #'s are down are correct in my opinion,no disagreement there.
As for the whining comments,lighten up man my point is the numbers are down but still good fishing to be had.
One day this winter I hooked 45 fish on Elk not to many other places i know that that can happen.Most other days I went out I hooked about 2 doz thats twice as many as I hook when fishing Salmon River.
I guese there is no problem being concerned with the #'s being down but do not let it get you down.
As for my fishing skills I am confident but do not think I know it all always something to learn if your paying attention.
Its not my goal to upset you or anyone else just giving my opinion I thought thas what this fourm was for.
 

workcanwait.... so when I saw the need for some fresh opinions on here earlier in the season I decided to give my opinion.

 
and we're glad you  did..
This  place needs some new blood from time  to time .
 
 more of the lurkers need to sac up like you have   and start posting.
They've been "takers" for years and years ...time to give something back for a change
 
 
..L.T.A.

".....So, if Erie is seeing fewer fish, you can just imagine the Ohio tribs, they're god awful!!!"
 
Which is why all the really cool, high class anglers stay on I-90 until they get east of Buffalo 
 
Or at least we wish the would.

I'm convinced the numbers are down because of them Blue Pelicans. I've watched them pick off tons of dem smolts. We need a Blue Pelican/white pelicans too hunting season.
 
BH

jtaylor-from Phila you should be driving to Pulaski instead of Erie,I grew up in the Pocono Mnts.
 
Spoonchucker-Really fishing East of Buffalo makes you a steelie snob,
whats wrong you got one of those electric vehicles that can't handle the trip in the winter????
Erie has the #'s yes still,but Ontario tribs have the big fish and more water for them to hide in its well worth the exrtra drive call me and others "high class " we are still coming to Erie once and a while to fish da Criks................ 
Ah the internet ...so much entertainment.

coldfront


there are few things more beautiful in nature than a trib on an october morning or during the cold of winter.  

 
 

 
 

 
 
..L.T.A.

I like that Genie...............

This is where all the Steelhead went ..............take a good look !