Well folks, if you're disappointed in the numbers now

Think your theory will hold true this year genie? Not because of low, clear conditions so far and forecast, but because of the historically warm lake temps through this point?

Seems like what the boats have been doing the past week or two in catching steel while targeting eyes is more like what they're normally picking up in August.

Bet you've been chasin steel longer than me but in my 14 ish years of chasin em I've always thought from my experience the best numbers are around a few weeks later than your estimate.

Kevin Costner from waterworld told me the smokers are out in the lake catching them for trade. He fought off a couple on jet skis. Did you know since he has functioning gills on his ears he can swim underwater for unlimited amounts of time...crazy. Kevin also told me he thinks the 2 heavy freeze overs the last two years screwed up patterns and or caused fish to relocate and just stray away. Maybe they wanted to see niagra falls this 4 th of July. Cant blame them for wanting to live life! 1 fish 150 fish 600000 fish, i will still be there as its more of a lifestyle than a sick money sucking hobby. would you wanna swim into erie tribs hahahaha 3 hours in them your already looking like dennis rodman piercings and bling bling everywhere lol

Well when guys chase after fish and jerk their rods I usually do think that...very low water easy to see what was going on believe what you want...or defend what you do-all fish got off after several leaps for their life except one it was released so its OK- PFBC truck was in parking lot but never saw wardens was hoping to see them!
And yes I am bitter guy who never catchs fish ... you really got me figured out!
WCW

"absolutely fish keep coming, but not enough to overcome and out pace  daily  attrition rates "
 
Nailed it. No real numbers run, compared to the previous 3-4 years this time of year. However, last year we didn't get much rain this early and there was a lot more activity from fish holding in the lake. 

I personally was content with last years run... once they were able to spread out.. had a fairly decent season lots of tough conditions early much like this year..but finding fish seemed to be the least of my worrys/problems late late nov and all dec was prime last year for me. Also helped that the creeks werent iced until january sometime too though. If we go from 80s to frozen over with no transition like we did in 13' and 14'then thats a wrap this year will be a bust.. last fall mellowly and slowly slid into winter and provided a lengthy amount of ice free time once the leaves cleared.. i dont mind cold and ice and snow but fishing is often next to impossible with chunks messing up your drift. I look for it to be a lot like last year just slowwww and painful until it breaks open fish spread out and the flows hold steady.

XtopwaterkingX
I can't wait to use the auger an get some steel

your one crazy mofo!!!! I could only have night mares about how cold that wind is coming off the lake!!

What do you guys think is more important to get em stacked up and ready to swim upstream - water temps or the time of year/photoperiod?

Think we're all close in what we think about a typical year, give or take a week or two but I'm interested to see how this year plays out since lake temps just dropped below 68 a day or two ago, which is generally a magic number of sorts and normally happens two to three weeks earlier than this year.

Im gonna say i feel photo period is a good trigger of many natural phases of animals deer and bear for instance shorter day light gets their patterns to change kind of like if your living off the grid and have no clue what exact day or time it is but the seasons are your guide to keep you in a natural rythym we all know steelies are extremely sensitive and shy to sunlight so sun up time im sure that accounts for some of it..anyone ever read any of john nagys books? You can reallly learn a lot of fine details about erie tribs and steelhead patterns. It breaks down every topic you can think of from how a steelheads vision works, flys and bait and when to use them and why and things of that nature definitely a good read i have taken a lot of it into consideration to help adapt to the ever changing conditions

rsquared
What do you guys think is more important to get em stacked up and ready to swim upstream - water temps or the time of year/photoperiod?

 
me personally, I think it's  an internal bio clock thing unrelated  to water levels or  temps*
and it would seem somewhat individual too,  as some fish come in as early as late August .
Why else would the early fish belly crawl up trickles  to languish in 70 plus degree bathtubs ?
 
* water levels and  temps aren't "completely" unrelated though .
I'm reminded what JiggyJim once said ...there are  pack followers looking to munch  eggs.
they're not as likely to rush in when the water is poor

Think we're all close in what we think about a typical year, give or take a week or two but I'm interested to see how this year plays out since lake temps just dropped below 68 a day or two ago, which is generally a magic number of sorts and normally happens two to three weeks earlier than this year.

 
be interesting to see, R
 
I'm not always right
I just think I am.....
 
 
.L.T.A.

genieman77

fisherofmen376

3.Genie is smart butt he don't got no crystal ball

 Boy!!..I'll have  you know, Miss Cleo calls ME when she wants the fakz    .L.T.A.

Duud she like died early this year

genieman77

Mountian Man

genieman77

fisherofmen376

3.Genie is smart butt he don't got no crystal ball

Boy!!..I'll have  you know, Miss Cleo calls ME when she wants the fakz    .L.T.A.

Duud she like died early this year

 yea, I tolt her she wood..... ..L.T.A.

Pics or it didn't happen lol

genieman77
 
Why else would the early fish belly crawl up trickles  to languish in 70 plus degree bathtubs ?
 
LMAO !


 

I recommend the book as a quick refresher, it clears up common myths. I read the whole thing and it has pictures to keep you engaged it's not like a bland story line book, its cut and dry down to the point.. But i have to find it.. i do remember bait colors and why to use them. He does elaborate on how extremely sensitive these fish are to sunlight; how it effects their vision and mannerisms. I can only assume if a photo period of something stressing and negatively affecting you shortens, you would be more prone to go about your daily routine naturally unphased. In crystal clear water with no broken surface ripples i.e; wind, rain, or rapids, in the direct sun ; the fish is genetically designed to be uncomfortable. This is due to over head prey vulnerability and direct sunlight wich puts them in a frantic, non comfortable state. These are deeper water fish they go miles out in the lake to the trenches for a reason. Like I said i highly recommend the book if your a serious fisherman..it puts the truth on paper to your untaught self explored wisdom and puts some extra bullets in your steelhead gun. John's explanation of fishing high muddy water (not that we have to worry about that lol ) is so spot on that i get excited to fish it as it has worked when most ppl are hitting the hills, or canceling trips. I think water temps are often measured at the bottom of creeks. When fish lay they are generally close to the bottom, how much different and warmer are first few inches in the direct sun? btw I read some where the lake erie temp guage is measured at 34 feet? Any confirmation? Are there any of you boaters that can confirm the surface water temps to be the same as indicated on the website? It says 68 degrees but if you measure say, at the shore line of trout run in the sun; at the mouth, I guarantee that figure to be off a very substantial amount being that a few degree tick could alter their natural urges.

Haha sorry i just got an iphone and have a difficult time typing. Believe it or not english was my best class... whod-a- thunk it.. also my mind runs 1000 mph, wich makes typing urgent lol