Upper Elk Creek?

Honestly it depends on the water level/flow and temperature. I have caught fish past that hole in late September and other years don't see much near there until late October. Every year is different. Steelhead have been tagged and swam from the mouth of ELk to that hole in 1 night so anything is possible. Best bet is to watch forums, talk to tackle shops or get to know locals or experienced travelers to learn.  

Like all good reporters I wont name my sources. Although 2 were Steelhead Association members and one a retired Fish Commission member. All at separate times each one told me. Not sure who conducted the tagging and tracking though. There are numerous studies of migration patterns and distances done but all I have read are regarding out west. By which account yes bigger fish, bigger rivers but still same fish.
 
http://yvm.net/vme/gualala-river/secrets.html

 Q4: What is the rate of daily travel for upstream immigration of adults?
A: A detailed answer would be lengthy and involve many variables and caveats. However, for large, controlled and uncontrolled rivers in general, a “ballpark range” (supported by telemetry and trapping studies) for actively migrating fish is from a low of about 3-5 miles/day to a high of about 20-24 miles/day. On the Gualala, a lower range–of perhaps 3-12 miles/day when adults are actively migrating–appears to be normal.

Adult migration rate is inversely related to gradient and flow, which determine average river velocity (and thus the swimming effort fish must expend going upstream). And both very low and very high flows can greatly reduce or halt migrations. In addition, migration rate slows as fish ascending the main stem reach the vicinity of their spawning tributary.

Effective study planning thus requires understanding just how adult steelhead migrating upstream “go with the flow” in the stream being studied. This in turn requires understanding the dynamics of the river’s hydrograph, including the flow thresholds which trigger movements.

How many creek miles is Elk from head to mouth?  16-20?  

Thanks.
 
I traced it with the measurement tool and got about 20 miles, but I didn't zoom way in and trace all of the oxbows.  I imagine they add another 10-20% at least.  Maybe 25mi total?

Wikipedia
 
Elk Creek is a 30.4-mile (48.9 km) tributary of Lake Erie in Erie County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The creek is part of the Lake Erie Watershed and has a drainage basin of 99.4 square miles (257 km²). Elk Creek is stocked with brown trout and steelhead by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.[3]

CAPTAIN HOOK
Bet that fish hardly fought after that journey ! What are the odds of that fish being caught that quick that far up. Landed hundreds of Steelhead out of Elk Creek never caught or seen one  with a tag.....ever. Personally that hole is like fishing a slow pond but to each his own .

 I agree don't like fishing that type of hole or water either. I saw 2 fish the last 2 years with tags in the dorsal fins. 1 was a picture and the other I personally saw in the water and yes I know the difference between a small flag/tag and fly/lure in Gin clear water very easy to distinguish.

Amazing what you can find on wiki

Not that I think it is needed (for Erie Tribs), but, one of the local clubs could probably sponsor a program similar to what NOAA/NMFS did with recreational and commercial fisherman for Atlantic sharks.
 
http://na.nefsc.noaa.gov/sharks/tagging.html
 
I wouldn't support spending PFBC funds on this as it is just a put and take fishery but some data could be derived from it.  Not sure how valuable that data would really be though.