The Complete Idiot's Guide to Erie Steelhead Fishing Jargon
Welp guys, that time of year is slowly yet surely approaching once again. When the laziness of summer is broken and we start looking for the break in it all to head Erie to chase some of our steelhead friends. And, despite the fact that I'm havin' a pretty darn good bass season, I gotta admit, I'm starting to get the itch, and beginning to tie some emerald shiner colored streamers by the pile. That said, I came up with this semi-serious guide to Erie Steelhead fishing terminology and slang, with the intention of giving veteran steelhead anglers some kicks, and helping the newbies know what they need to know. Here goes:
Blown Out- Stream conditions resulting from heavy precipitation causing dangerously high, chocolate milk colored water. The good news is that these generally result in runs of fresh fish, and fishing the dropping side once the water levels subside a little can make for a good day.
The Circus- Slang name for the Walnut Creek access on a typical September-November day, generally featuring shoulder to should angler traffic, boat traffic, and lots of people over lots of spooky fish.
CPR- Catch, photo, and release. Entails getting your fish under control, getting a photo with the fish, and releasing it, unharmed. I recommend using a net, keeping the fish in the net under the water, removing the fish only for the photo, unhooking, and letting it swim away under its own power. I’ve done this for years with no problem, of course, there will likely be some wise guy telling you that you probably killed the fish anyway. Note: This DOES NOT mean allowing your fish to flop around like it’s about to be battered and fried, having your buddy fumble with his camera, and watching the fish swim away on its side.
Dropback- A holdover steelhead that survives the entire fall, winter, and spring in the stream without being roped, being ground by ice flows, or dying some other way. They will eventually move down, exit the stream, and live the summer out in the lake. The bigger fish have done this many times, and have probably seen about every fly, lure, and bait on the planet, therefore they will be harder to fool, and will likely turn down the fly that took you 20 minutes to tie, in favor of spam.
East- Side- Streams to the east of the City of Erie. Primarily the Mile Creeks.
Emerald Shiner- A major baitfish in the Lake Erie ecosystem, and a major food source of steelhead. Sold at many local bait shops.
False Run- When fish enter the streams, decide the streams are too clear and hot for them, and move back out into the lake. Can happen when the fish come into the streams at night, and go back in the morning, or, when they enter the stream but an extended period of no rain occurs.
Flossing- Attempting to hook a steelhead by allowing a portion of leader and/ or line to land in the fish’s mouth, and yanking real hard. Also referred to as lining.
Gauges- The Walnut and Brandy Run USGS water gauges that can be found at water.usgs.gov. These are an invaluable tool for Erie steelhead fishing; they contain data for discharge per second and gauge height. With the exception of November- April, they also contain measurements for water temperature and turbidity. Look up the post titled “Gauge Help,” for an idea on how to read the gauges. I highly recommend keeping notes on the gauge readings of your best days of steelhead fishing for future reference.
Hold-Over- A steelhead that enters the creek, survives the gauntlet of anglers trying to catch it, and survives the winter in the stream.
Hook up- When a steelhead actually willfully strikes your bait/ fly/ lure, and you engage in a fight with the fish.
Jack- A juvenile steelhead that enters the stream in the spring, after it was stocked. Generally in the three pound range.
Landowner- One who owns land with stream bed. Since the wet feet laws DO NOT apply to the Erie tribs, at least not yet, it is their decision whether they allow someone to fish on it or not. For those who are gracious enough to allow fishing, please treat them and their property with respect. Note: Posting about non posted vs. posted is the easiest way to get a fiery debate going on FishErie
Lifting- Attempting to hook a steelhead in the mouth by allowing the bait/ fly/ hook to drift into the fish’s mouth and setting the hook hard. In some areas, there is often considerable controversy over whether a fish was “lifted” or actually caught.
Lockjaw- When a steelhead refuses to eat anything, or strike.
Low and Clear- When the levels of the streams are low and clear enough to see most of the bottom, and also many of the fish. While it is easy to find fish, they are often very spooky, and receive heavy fishing pressure. The natural state of the Erie tribs.
Mouths- Area off the lake just off where a stream empties. Good early in the season when the streams are low and clear, try casting a spoon out, or, if you’re a fly guy, see how far you can huck a streamer.
Neoprene Camo Waders/ Zebco 33/ Blue Power Bait Joke- A joke you will commonly see posted in the early portions of steelhead season, when fish are just beginning to run. Refers to the cliché of ill-prepared people fishing on the Walnut wall, wearing neoprene camo waders in 80 plus degree weather, using Zebco 33 spincast reels and blue Power Bait.
One-Fly: A semi-contest that involves choosing one fly to use, and catching as many steelhead as you can on it. Do some research for more info, or stay tuned for the sign up post.
‘Pinner- One who uses a centerpin set up on the tribs. You either love them or hate them.
Poor Richards- One of the better bait and tackle shops in the Erie area. Chances are you were linked to this site by their website.
Roper- Someone who keeps steelhead, often on a stringer made of yellow rope. AKA “rope em and smoke em.” While not detrimental in moderation, note that if you post a photo of a fish you kept, you risk being berated by CPR anglers, told how big of an idiot you are and how you are ruining the fishery. Oh, and if you show too much of the spot in the background, you may be accused of spot burning.
Run- 1) When a number of fish exit the lake and enter the streams 2) What happens during a fight with a steelhead, and it takes off.
Single Egg- Refers to any pattern that mimics a single salmon/ steelhead egg, or an egg itself used as bait. Flies would include glo-bugs and nuke eggs. An absolute must for fishing on the Erie tribs, especially in low and clear conditions.
Smoking- A common way of preparing a steelhead for consumption. Generally involves marinating the fish, and preparing in a smoker and/ or over wood chips. Or jis taking it to one of the bait shops in the area.
Smolt- Refers to a stocked steelhead fingerling. Stocking generally occurs sometime in late winter- early spring, and the creeks are stocked heavily to the extent that there will be clouds of smolts in some pools. The smolts must exit the creeks, avoid being eaten by seagulls and/ or walleye, and make it out into the lake.
Snagger- Someone who partakes in the act of snagging (sic)
Snagging- 1) Attempting to hook a steelhead anywhere on the body except for the mouth 2) What you may very well be accused of if you catch fish on a day someone else isn’t able to.
Spoon Feed- What someone wants to occur, when they ask a question that has been answered about a thousand times, or when they want to be put on fish without doing any work or providing any information of their own. AKA “whats a single egg,” “Is it worth it yet,” “are the steelhead up to Route 5 yet,” “where are the fish.”
Spot Burner- Someone who partakes in the act of spot burning (sic)
Spot Burning- The act of providing too much information in a report/ post, making a specific fishing spot easily identifiable, and thus increasing angler traffic. Doing so will likely lead to you being severely flamed, or told how you probably just put 20 guys on a certain spot. Date, stream name, relative region on stream (upper, lower, middle), # of fish caught, conditions, bait/ flies used, is enough. Actually never mind, that’s probably still too much.
Stop Sign Hole- Self explanatory.. But, see above definition of spot burning.
Tribs- Short for “tributaries”, the streams that eventually end up flowing into Lake Erie
Trout Run- One of the nursery waters in which eggs are stripped from steelhead to make more steelhead to stock. Fishing in the lake near the mouth of the stream is extremely popular; however fishing in the stream is strictly prohibited. This is enforced to the extent that there are reports of people receiving citations just for pointing their rod at fish in the stream on their way down to the lake. So yea, don’t even pretend to think about it.
Uncle John’s- A popular campground on the banks of Elk Creek, with boat storage, RV space, cabins for rent, and more. Also known for the website, featuring live webcams of the stream, a valuable tool for checking stream conditions and deciding if you should make a trip or not.
West-Side- Streams to the west of the City of Erie. Primarily Elk and Walnut, with others in the mix.
Yinzer- If you’re from western PA and don’t know this term, I don’t know what to tell you.
post edited by Admin - 2015/08/04 08:16:27