Great pic, pretty sure that's the run where my son caught his first steelie. We drove 2.5 hours to get up there, cold October morning.  Took him all of 30 seconds to fall in.  I went and bought him new waders so we could fish and not waste the day.  It paid off.  

Captain are you serious?  Certainly a dude with your level of sperience knows better!  There are fresh fish running from the lake at every month from august to aprilish.  More obviously come in in early fall, I get that.  I've caught dark almost black ones on upper elk and nearly bright chrome in the same spot, same trip.  Ive had reel screamin jumpers while the snowflakes were a fallin! 

Genie I understood what ya said last year and i get it now...I just disagree!  
Last year you said the run peaked around this time.  then we got a big load in december.  You just said the same exact thing a year later...and we will see!  
There's really no objective way to measure who's right or wrong short of electro surveying.  But honestly it aint that big of a deal anyway.  
I don't think you have anymore insight into it than i do or anyone else who's been doing this for awhile, though you certainly speak as the authority at times.  If it makes you feel like the prognosticator of prognosticators, then great.  
There are a few locals I know who are either legit guides or really good at what they do and on the water almost daily.  I trust what they say.  I think the best is still yet to come.  If im wrong, that's ok cause it's the inturdnet and there's enuff feesh here for me as is.  
Signed, your pal Skippy.  

Gotchya Brock.  Not a bad one ya got there!  Is that recent?
 
 

fisherofmen376
 I think the best is still yet to come.  If im wrong, that's ok cause it's the inturdnet and there's enuff feesh here for me as is.  
Signed, your pal Skippy.  

 
just to be clear...and without fish shock therapy... you're saying you see higher numbers of fish "up and down" the cricks in mid Dec than mid Nov?
I emphasized "up n down" because I figure you're aware, there might be a 273 fish in X and Y  area and only 29 fish in Z area late Oct/early Nov
Come mid/late Dec, might only be a half dozen in X stretch, but Z run now has mo-fish
...they do move around
 
BUTT ...it don madder reely
 
I'll just say..."go get 'em Tiger"
 
Peace, love and hippy beads ..fo-reel
 
 
..L.T.A.
 

yeah yeah yeah the old days captain,, i was part of the early explorers too in the mid 90s to early 2000s glory days  everything you say about elk creek is true i agree   but stop referring back to the old days because you make me feel older than i feel   lol lol times change fish change people change   streams change   its all good,,, jus to get out and fish and enjoy

CAPTAIN HOOK
Amen brother ....lol  It is what it is .....still beats working !

True, but just like us, it isn't what it was. :-(

A number of guys on the reports page complaining about no fish in the Erie streams and saying how much better it is on the New York creeks.  I was up at both Oak Orchard and 18 mile this past weekend and saw very few fish hooked up.  It was my first trip there and was a bit disappointed with the results.  I am not the best fisherman in the world but when the other 20 guys around you are also getting skunked - either the fish are not biting or they are not there.  It just seems it was a bad fishing weekend everywhere on the tribs.  This will not deter me from trying these areas again nor will I not visit the Erie tribs this winter in pursuit of steelhead just because of some poor fishing conditions up there now.  Things will change and hopefully for the better.

 
Part of the reason for poor returns we the improper use of Lampricide on the Erie Tributaries by the USFWS in the spring killing smolts.
www.outdoornews.com/2018/07/17/no-wonder-feds-take-risks-to-kill-lampreys-stakes-are-high/

Hoo's the new guy on the reports page?
 
and how much rain does it take to bring "new fish" in to creeks like Walnut and Elk??
better question, what is it about rain that makes most think it  triggers fish to run from lake to creek?
 
When the water clears in a day or three after a blowout, are you seeing tons more fish in the system???
Or just take it for granted because "everyone thinks and says so" that rain blowouts trigger fish to enter Elk or 'Nut?
 
..L.T.A.

Man do we need rain. It was sooo bad today on elk. Almost as low and clear as summer levels.

I recall the "good years" fondly.  We fished different water then.  On Elk we would walk the railroad trestle, hike down a goat path and fish some pretty great holes and runs.  The next day we would hike in and fish the stream up and down at I90.  Always caught th biggest steelhead and a few coho in that area.  Foleys was always good for the entire day from sunup till after sundown.  I think there are seven hairpin turns downstream of Foleys and every highbank has a great pool with runs above and below.  When was the last time you have fished some of the best holding water on the stream.  Are you spending your time hiking the waters at the new access on West Rd or hiking at the flats...no wonder you aren't finding fish...it is bad water, no holding areas.  The waters us "public fisherman" have to choose from offers limits holding water and plenty of competition.  I would love to resolve the issue of landowners selling public fish by leasing their land to private clubs.  I don't believe private individuals should be allowed to sell public resources....our stocked fish are a public resource.
 
So returns might be down but that may not be the whole problem...10-12 years ago I didn't fish the water I fish these days