Fly Fishing Erie Tribs

Hey guys its about time to start making the long drive to Erie for a few trips. I have been going for the last 6 years a couple times a season and just love it. We usually have good success with minnows and single eggs or sacs.
 
This year I'm bringing the fly rod and am in for an entirely new challenge. I know I should focus on egg patterns but was wondering what are the essential flies I should tie or consistent hot patterns up there? I'm open to all suggestions as I would like as many options as possible. Thanks a lot!
 

 

Bunny Leach

The following is a good selection to start:

- Woolly Buggers (black, white, olive, chartreuse, and purple), as well as egg sucking leeches
- Zonkers (white, olive, purple, chartreuse). I like the White Death pattern. 
- A good emerald shiner pattern
- Glo bugs ( orange, pink, yellow, blue) with and without blood dots. Also been tying the Jeff Blood egg pattern with good success. 
- Sucker spawn/ crystal meth (orange, pink, chartreuse, white)
- Black stonefly nymphs, and some variants (I've done well with Senyo's Wiggle Stone)
- Prince nymphs, and some variants
- Hare's ears, and flashback hare's ears
- Pheasant tail nymphs
- Mop flies (tan, chartreuse, and pink) 

However, there's really no consistent hot pattern, need to switch up flies consistently until you get a strike. I like to start with a streamer to pick up reaction bites and pick off the more aggressive fish, then slowly downsize to drifting. 

Thanks a lot guys I appreciate all of the advice! When in front of a pod of fish that are visible how often do you change flies? Will one fly light the fish up when they seemed otherwise uninterested in your offerings? That's where I run into trouble when spin fishing, if they don't want a minnow or an egg I either have to move or wait them out until they fire up. I'm hoping more of a selection of flies will help me

BucksCountyFIsh
Thanks a lot guys I appreciate all of the advice! When in front of a pod of fish that are visible how often do you change flies? Will one fly light the fish up when they seemed otherwise uninterested in your offerings? That's where I run into trouble when spin fishing, if they don't want a minnow or an egg I either have to move or wait them out until they fire up. I'm hoping more of a selection of flies will help me

I find (and the general concensus is) that going for small, natural colored flies will work better in low and clear water while larger and brighter flies tend to work better in high and or stained water. Some of my staples are Prince nymphs, pheasant tails, hares ears, caddis larva, green weenies, stoneflies, wooly buggers, and just about any egg pattern.

fishfashfush
Dont listen to johnthefisherman, he has caught too many fish..its starting to mess with his mind. Jk. all the above will show you some love just make sure you rope them.

Lol chrome is no longer a visible color to me. 

Enjoy the stay! hope u brought some of that euro-high sticking technique

fishfashfush
Enjoy the stay! hope u brought some of that euro-high sticking technique

Thanks ! I'll try ! 

Ben64

jat1007

Ben64Hi Guys,  Very instructive info here ! I'm flying from Europe next week (arrive next Tuesday) for one week trip between PA and OH creeks. Right now condition look 
tough but lot of rain is on the way !! It should be good !   

wow... "world class fishery"what part of europe/country??? just wondering...

From France (just near Spanish border). I've been fishing the Salmon River for some years now, and always want to try some Steelhead Alley rivers. Hope the rain will rise the creeks ! Will stay near West Sprinfield, few miles from Elk and Ashtabula (also Conny). Don't saw lot of reports from OH creeks... any news ? Thanks !

Not sure about Ohio, but as of this weekend, PA Tribs were very low and clear. Hopefully the conditions improve a bit for these next few days, especially if you're coming this far! Anyway, small stuff should work well this week if you can find some fish. On most creeks I prefer to tight line or strip nymphs and egg patterns and on the smaller ones I'm starting to pattern catching them with Czech nymphing techniques in fast water with heavy flies.

Thanks for the tips ! If the streams still low and clear, I will adapt, and maybe go on larger rivers (Grand River OH). I like fishing with egg (like on the Salmon River) with crystal meth, single plastic egg, or sucker spawn. I fished with big intruders on the swing, but never had great success. 
 
Hopefully, rain is on the forecast.  Do you think this can be good ? 
 
(Will arrive Nov 23rd to 29 th)
 

Ben64
Hi Guys, 
 
Very instructive info here ! I'm flying from Europe next week (arrive next Tuesday) for one week trip between PA and OH creeks. Right now condition look 
tough but lot of rain is on the way !! It should be good ! 
 

Is your ticket refundable? transferable?

Just came back after four days, water is low & clear but fish are there.  Very low poundage fluorocarbon leader was the ticket, went through most of flies in my box.  Black bead head wolly bugger was good one day, egg pattern next day, and a streamer with lots of flash was good another day.  Usually after you pick up acouple, they become educated and you need to switch it up.  Good luck & enjoy.

Ben64
Thanks for the tips ! If the streams still low and clear, I will adapt, and maybe go on larger rivers (Grand River OH). I like fishing with egg (like on the Salmon River) with crystal meth, single plastic egg, or sucker spawn. I fished with big intruders on the swing, but never had great success. 
 
Hopefully, rain is on the forecast.  Do you think this can be good ? 
 
(Will arrive Nov 23rd to 29 th)
 

Rain and Snow forcasted for the weekend of 19th + 20th looks hopefully has a good impact and brings more fresh fish in.
 
As far as swinging intruders Ive found the early fall and early spring are most apt to cooperate with that. anything under 45 degree water temp the aggression and willingness to travel to hit a presentation decrease incredibly. Not saying wont happen just much lower possibility. For sure the best type of fly fishing watching a fish light up and smash a streamer.

Smallsac
Just came back after four days, water is low & clear but fish are there.  Very low poundage fluorocarbon leader was the ticket, went through most of flies in my box.  Black bead head wolly bugger was good one day, egg pattern next day, and a streamer with lots of flash was good another day.  Usually after you pick up acouple, they become educated and you need to switch it up.  Good luck & enjoy.

thanks for your report. Maybe with the expected weather I will not have to fish with a 4lbs tippet. I think I have all the flies you mentioned anyway the vice and some tying stuff will travel with me 😀

About indicator leader formula, I like to fish like this:
 
Fly line>9 ft of 12-10 lbs Maxima Chameleon>Split shot above Knot or swivel>15 inch of 7 or 6 lbs fluorocarbon tippet (I like Redwing)>fly.
 
Maybe a little too heavy for the creeks ?