CAN SOMEONE LEND A HAND

If you are staying for more than a day the first thing you want to do is find a place to stay NOW! If you are using spinning tackle it should be a noodle type rod. Six pound test should work but 8 pound might be a better choice so that you do not interfere with other fisherman for too long. You don't want sinkers you want split shot. Also, most spin fishermen use a float to keep the fly moving. Most effective fly patterns are sucker spawn  or salmon egg patterns. Don't go too big, size 12 is about right. Colors are natural egg, yellow or white. White is my favorite. By the first week in November the bottom of Oak Orchard will have many white eggs floating along the bottom. Get to the stream no later than 5:00 or 5:30. Stream manners are good and no one will take your spot and you shouldn't move into theirs. It isn't a stream you jump around on. The first day you will be fishing blind but observe where the fish are being caught and get there early the next day to claim one of those spots. Expect a crowd ! You fish from a half hour before sun-up to a half hour after sun-set. Don't be the first one to cast, take a lead from someone else. Best time will be at daylight with several" turn ons" through out the day. Have a great time. No mater how heavy of tackle you use you will hook fish that you cannot turn - and they won't necessarily be salmon. The salmon should be about over by then. Park at the end of Park Ave, go down the hill and turn right at the bottom. You will go 2 - 3 hundred yards and fish where the crowd is. That section is probably the best section on Oak Orchard. Have a great trip. Again, FIND LODGING NOW !

I didn't touch on bait. No one uses live bait such as minnows. Most fishermen will be using flies. Probably 98% will be using fly rods. Take all the flies you think you will need. Last year in six days I probably went through 70 flies. Egg sacks are used by some but again, if you make your own, don't make them too big. Five to six fresh salmon eggs would be maximum. White or yellow netting would be the color to use.  Otter egg flies would be my personal choice. You can buy them at Cabelas or on the web.. I have fished that area for 10-12 years and it can be a great trip. Last year my son, his buddy and I spent six days on the Oak the first week of November. Each of us caught browns over 13 pounds and lost larger ones. I won't be going back as my legs won't take standing in water for 12 hours any more and the stream is becoming over crowded. If you want to fish it, now would be the time as is won't get any better in years to come. People drive from as far away as Florida or Colorado to fish that stream because it is worth it.

Stay away from the Oak if possible. I agree with everyone as it is the best place to be for fish but like Erie if you are willing to do some homework and walking you can get away from it and have an amazing trip. We go every year and always have an awesome trip and our waders never touch the Oak.