DECEMBER TROUTING WITH ZANE GREY

                                                     

                                              JUST TO LET YA KNOW   

                                           
                                OK, SO THEIRS SOME REALLY
   NEGATIVE  PEOPLE  OUT  THEIR  WHO'S SAYING  THEIRS  VERY  FEW  FISH  IN  THE ROCKY  RIGHT  NOW. Is it that or is their more , newbies than ever before fishing. I'm going to have to agree with the second reason. They're is some green lines that really just do not have the know how to learn about the STEELHEAD. Or a hard head., that is to want to learn. Then theirs the guy with brand new orvis wear and rod who thinks he has a clue throwing 3 inch streamers ten feet away from the fish. It's funny. I can tell these guys a mile away.  Usually, standing in water that would hold fish. Cocky, for no reason. I don't brag about the fish i catch. Really, I fish for myself and have nothing to prove. You would never know about the one that got away. Because we all have that story.(I REMEMBER MY FIRST BEER). 
                    The patient angler is the one that's always caught my attention. Confidence. Its huge in this sport. U know their is fish their. Like my Grandpa told me..."if it looks fishy, it probably is". If you just wait it out and change direction of your cast. Mend your line. Even if your egg chucking with an open face.Mend your line. Its crazy how huge a little change in what your presenting can do to catch fish. It's also ironic how all the household legends in the fly fishing world have been skunked numerous times.(You should read about it sometime) Noing they would. Days of it. Stepping back, not being so hard headed and observing. Trial and error. Zane Grey, the most fabled Steelheader of all time (arguably) has numerous books he wrote on his days on the vise, and experimenting. And if your from Ohio reading this and don't know about Zane Grey and his stories about his fishing camp on the North Umpqua, your missing out.       

                     Zane Grey , "The Grey Ghost" as they call him was very instrumental in trying to originally get ODNR to stock these fish. But fell short. That's how far back Ohio roots go to the Steelhead. And for the record he died in 1938. Imagine what we could of had .                             
  SO YA, IT WASN'T JUST AN ODNR EPIPHANY.

     Zane Grey has many books and 112 of them had been later turned into movies . His passion was fly fishing. and he did it all over the world. And left a huge imprint on the fly fishing community and is in the fly fishing hall of fame. His cabin is a landmark -park on the banks of the North Umpqua , but he would probably say his heart was on  the Rogue river. Although a Steelhead legend, he also made ocean fly fishing a commercial passion, set 3 world records on various species caught, started the Florida keys fly fishing club , helped settle treaties with the U.S. government and Indian tribes to allow fishing on their lands through tribe permit and if that's not enough, its documented he would fish nearly 300 days a year. His wrap sheet is almost 10 paragraphs in wikepedia.
                                                                                    
The bottom line..Their is fish their. These fish are not smallmouth. Its like playing chess .   They are reclusive as hell. Maybe it's just lazy people that make me sick. Complaining is pretty much the standard for most people. But if you actually stand back and look at what the hell your doing , you might notice something. They did. It's called hard work. And it pays off. Especially with these fish. Theirs still guys that are 75 plus fishing for Steelhead that are trying to solve the riddle. 
Just ask Lefty Kreh...

                                            

                                    I was fishing the rocky when the water was around 60 c.f.s.  Low as hell. I probably swung that pink woolly bugger 8 times past that fish. Forgetting that salmonoids have monocular vision {as ours is binocular} I next dropped the line to the left of the fish. Around 3 feet away. Theirs a blind cone of vision for these fish at 3 feet in front of them because of the way their eyes are set. I choose pink and oranges after i know the water has gone  stale and low . As these fish now have adapted to their 3-5 week color shift change that was once in blue and greens, to now in reds . That wasn't me just waking up in the morning and having God let me in on a little secret. I wasn't cocky. I shut up and observed others, study and read over 21 years . Going to orvis and buying a Helios doesn't make you fit in.  your 600$ waders doesn't tell me shit. Your lack of reading the water and river etiquette  does however. All decent to good anglers I know right now are catching fish . Trial and error....................................................................................   

                                      SPEAKING OF ERROR..    

The ODNR has finally after over 100 years decided to conduct a new study if you didn't hear that has been ongoing  now for over a year on the growth rates and biology of the Brown Trout. After around 24 streams were sampled and only 2 were supposedly  good enough for them this new study is going to tell us exactly what trout bums already know. so , thanks again for nothing. If you want to view the link you can.    

                                                                    mvff.tripod.com/Reference/ODNR_Brown_Trout_Summit.pdf        

                                           NOVEMBER EVENING ON THE ROCKY
                                                           thanks Adam for the picture.
                                                         
                                                      

HURRICANES,BEST OF THE WORST

                                       

             
                                 THE STORM THAT  
                            BROUGHT          STEEL     

    

                   Our little bundle of misery that leveled trees,roofs , and worst of all left my family and I with no power for a week made me really appreciate some things that I normally wouldn't. Don't get me wrong, people got it a lot worse . But for the first time The Great Lakes experienced  an inland hurricane. 25' waves are no joke. The waves were crashing on shore so hard the spray was whisped in the wind and carried about 400 ft. south to Lake rd. Like a squirt gun in the wind. what I didn't mention was their is a cliff that's close to 60 ft. high above the beach.    

                                                                                

           Where the water is, was a beach.... 

   I have some other pics i thought about putting on this post, but its not really something most want to remember. I did go through hurricane Isabella while living in Raleigh , North Carolina . But with cold temps and a shallow lake this was a lot worse.  

           ON A BETTER NOTE.... The 15,400 mark was hit on our USGS gage. The Rocky isn't the Dean or Skeena. The mean is about 250 cfs.  That's not a lot of water. An average to medium sized river. And the rise of the river has changed its path from the little I saw today. The first bridge now has a ton of deep pocket water and  almost like deep rapids, then the pool. Which also changed its shape somewhat. Tomorrow I'll be down their again and hopefully more and better photos I will post with probably little write up.
        It seemed even the smaller creeks with flood plains very near even took a change. But needed. And the fishing did as well...  

 

                  
       With water still high, i used Palmer Chenille wrapped like a bugger in orange. It has brown mixed with a slate grey,so it also matched the stream bottom.  

                      

        

              To the east, the streams were fishing 2 days ahead. As my Friend had the steel itch. Adam and known as "Mr. Mepps " Jeff Abbott made the executive decision to go to western Pa's Elk creek. And it paid off  in dividends with their center pinning . Good call...... 

 

                        
           With water that high, I'm assuming the fish are in heavily and throughout... 

                                   
                                                                       HELL YES.

EARLY START

                                             

                                                   

                                                   

                                                 SCATTERED ABOUT

                                           
                                     The fishing has been pretty good on the fly.  But the fish
are really scattered as anyone will tell ya. Surprisingly, the fish most and I have caught have not been in the faster current. Such as tailouts and deeper rapids. I'm assuming the low water has a lot to do with that. Another suprise I have found is how many fish have reached central Medina county. The bigger dam most don't see  next to the condos is pretty sizable. With water being that low, and only 4 pushes of fish I am really suprised they have got over that.  Throwing small streamers at the black wall has been working well.     

                                                               

With the rains coming down and everything blown,this should be the best run to date. With fish spread out even further. And I can't wait!    

JUST A START

                  

                                                                FILL IT UP

                                             

                                           

    This is been the norm lately and I am more than welcoming it. Just like Mike Durkelac (our Cleve. metro parks aquatic biologist) had said. "This is the same deal as last year, and it brought a mega fall run of our silver streaked friends. Well, he was damn right as usual.  
      With colder temps early, the farmers almanac is hitting accurate again if u follow. Which is not bad either. To me anyway. I would have to admit I have had a lot of luck with white bead headed buggers, loaded with  Palmer chenille in Grey/white. As well as Metallic Blue bead headed buggers with Black/Red Palmer Chenille. The Palmer wraps just like hackle, and is a great way to substitute for a hackle first, then a chenille over. I also wrap two hackles. One being a different color then the other,right over the other. And it looks just fine .Two-tone buggers I guess is a better way to put it for loss of words types like me.  

         The waves of fish others and I have noticed have been small. Or I'm just a shitty fly bum. But it seemed the first 2 waves were really good. It heated up a little, and the run slowed even with the rains. But with the cold front hitting and the leaves falling with the cold rain, my mind has switched from "possibly", to "now." Like a December Lake effect squall.

                A transmitted message from our Great Lake Erie. 

                                  

                                             

                                                                                                                                  

A COLD WATER PLAYGROUND

                                    PA ALLEGHENY      
                                        TROUTING
        
            The birth of the dry fly was just a start of the technical fly fishing era. Vince Marinaro, Charlie Fox were some of these famous dry fliers . And with Pennsylvania's streams of tail waters to chalk streams, their is no doubt the dry was worked into commission. Cool spring fed streams on just about every mountain turn , has every cold water Trout bum keep coming back. I would still have to say Vermont or Maine being on top of that list. But this is a close second. And historically  right their with the best of them.                                          

  As a child , i remember reading books and magazines of these streams not far from home. And as close to home as it is, I cant believe it took this long to get their. A good portion of my family resides in Pittsburgh, and they have a few, but majority of these fabled streams are of the State College area.  

South west PA has a number of Brook Trout streams of limestone. They also have a good number of tail water and freestone streams that are tailor-made for hulking Browns because of the springs and pocket water these alkaline enriched streams have.   

My first stop was to the newly transformed, and revived West Branch of the Susquehanna and to several of it's tribs. 

These boulders were just some of the bomb shelters these huge Browns had for cover.  The west branch of the  Susquehanna has been transformed into a once again amazing fishery thanks to TU, and PA.Boat and Fish  Comm.  {If only we had that}.   

I have to add one of those tribs is Big Run. It was a beautiful, deep spring creek that as you can see ran through a meadow. The picture does not do the size of the stream  justice, and the town looks even smaller. But right next door is Punxsatwaney. As in "Phil". That bastard that tells me its going to snow for another 6 weeks.
          The west branch of the Susquehanna is clear as glass. As usual the closer to the headwaters you get, the better the clarity and life of the stream. I started in Cherry Tree and fished all the way to Lumber city. All of this area held trout and the temps were around the low 90's.  Up and down rt.219 is really good water. Deep pools, and the pocket water is of great . I would have to say being a steelheader by craft that this water would be ideal for working a nymph of it least a 12 . It seemed no problem as well that every fly I threw had some high flash . Which really surprised me. But I guess with pocket water being around 4 feet deep, your good. And through this whole area, Its like this. The headwaters, up to the Curwensville Dam area.  
                                                                                     As I talked to PA Boat and Fish Commission area fisheries mngr. Al Womer, he says theirs a lot more work to be done. But with the good groups out their such as Trout unlimited and others alike, he says theirs hope. But I guess when your heart is in it theirs always hope.

                                                                                            

                                                                                               

                                                          The second place I traveled to was well worth the trip. Another PA project that, now has been rejuvenated and water as clear as glass as well. The youghiogheny starts its journey of fishable water at the dam release and empties out after spewing underground. It's waters are no more than 45* on a good day,thus giving it a breeding ground for huge Browns. 

                                                                         

                       I cant remember seeing water that clear. but if you take the drive down 40 to rt 381, you will be in prime water. As from here, down to Ohio Pyle is just that. The 8 hours I had their on a saturday gave me what I came for. Cold water, Big fish and a little solitude. I would also like to add that most of this water for the first 4 miles is mostly swift and shallow,yet tricky as I fell twice in the freezing riffles and pocket water. Oh well, I'll admit it. But dont think I didnt get up and look around to see if anybody noticed. Cause I did.........         

                                                          

         

I would highly recommend this river to anyone. And the middle sections are just as good down to Ohio Pyle.

                                                                    

                                  I WISH I COULD FISH ....            

As I've mentioned before, I have this friend who loves fishing as much as me.  As a recovered drinker that I am, I have 2 addictions.  (3 if you include my Cleveland Browns).  One, the obvious.  The second is fishing.  Lately with work being so busy at the steel mill fishing is on the hold and tying flies is about all I have time for.  Thank god I have a friend who torments me with pictures 3 days a week to keep me informed of how awesome fishing is. And to show me what I'm missing. [damnit Adam!]. But equally how things like fishing aren't so important in the scope of life. But is a recreational remedy and how this I guess sport has helped me through some pretty shaky times.  
                                                                                           

                                                                            

For the working class family man this sport has gave us at times a break from reality. Sometimes to much of a break for our loved ones , but a non angler can't relate and you can't have it both ways  they say. 

     

    I guess the point I'm making is you can have it both ways with balance, which is hard for a family man angler.  Despite what others think.  

     It's crazy how the circle of friends an angler has , and your significant other has . Almost all of my friends revolve around the sport, except those from the neighborhood I grew up with and family. Oh well.... 

                                                                                             

   So back to that friend...Adam, is a friendly reminder of how it used to be before the family, mortgage, bills and my personal favorite sick kids in the winter. 

   Free spirited ,full of great ideas and a plan to get ahead with simplicity. Perfect idea. I guess we all have our time,and now that I'm semi- growing up thanks to my significant other these our the times I don't take for granted anymore.   I HOPE SOMEONE CAN RELATE TO THIS. LOL.

thanks you bastard........(JUST KIDDING ADAM)

                                                                                                       
                                         

OHIO'S COLD WATER STREAMS & HABITATS

                                    COLD WATER

                                             IN

                                           OHIO

                                                      

                                                                   

                      NO, this is not in Ohio. Unfortunately we do not have the limestone that they have been blessed with to the east.  But it is not that far.  And it begins very close to home.            In the town of  Hinckley,Ohio you will notice the transition from flat rolling farm lands, to a more dynamic, hilly and picturesque area.  From their east, the hills begin to gain steam and grow larger with the rock in the ground you see between roads changes as well.  [if your that bored and observant on a drive]  In Hinckley, this is the start of the Allegheny Plateau. this is the direct result of glaciers carving their way down, and leaving what was left behind. A thick layer of limestone, pebble and Sharon conglomerate.  The plateau shows most of her beauty in Ohio around the Hinckley metroparks.  But it is most noticed in Kirtland at Gildersleeve Mountain .  It's elevation is over 1,300 feet.                               

I guess a map was not really needed, but a face with the name sometimes helps.

  Sharon conglomerate settles in 3 distinct places in Ohio. And all 3 places have limestone, sand and conglomerate. This layer is 10-50 feet thick and is compressed causing water to rise , thus spring fed. The sandy bottoms and stream banks you notice along these streams is caused from deterioration of the limestone. Giving it a quick clearing even after a heavy rain. The 3 areas for this are Southwest Ohio, Northeast Ohio and Southeast Ohio. But as mentioned we are only on the fringe.                                                   

  So i give these points and information that I have gathered from studies and reading over a long period of time that have helped me figure out why we are not trout rich.  We do have cold streams, just not of any size .  Just the these few we will mention. I am only writing this to help others find what I  have found. If that makes any sense at all.  So i apologize if a lot of what I write is in laments terms.    

        HOW TO IDENTIFY A COLD WATER STREAM VISUALLY.............................

A typical cold stream , or spring creek will have a mossy substrate  made of several aquatic plant life. Also, look for  2-4 inch cobblestone in the riffles .  From their the stream bottom structure will be as mentioned of sand and very clear with a noticeable temperature change. The banks will be stable with sand as well or plants with a bigger root system.  We could go on, but most of us know what a C.W.H. is already. But when searching for your own recreation it's good to know what to look for if your interested. 

     WHAT A TROUT NEEDS OUT OF IT......     
        
               The P.H. levels are crucial. Aquatic insects are crucial. Stream banks/erosion are crucial. Which is a problem in Ohio with all the erratic rain and snow we receive. Are biggest problem here in the buckeye state is our silt ridden streams. Which is another strike on the reproduction of our Steelhead. If our precipitation stays at normal levels, and we have a colder than usual spring, we would have a good reproduction rate. Which was the case last late spring. Evidence of this is has been recognized by the Cleveland metroparks. And was written with visual pictures on Mike Dirkelac's ROCKY RIVER FISHING REPORT with the metroparks.  

  

- The SQM score to be excellent needs to be at least 22 points.   

-  37*-64* degrees is desired for spawning .

-  Water flowing at spawning gravel areas are (supposed) to be at velocities of  1/2-3 feet a second.

 -Aquatic biology in stream must be abundant.        

                 

   THE MAD RIVER   

     

The Mad River is Ohio's oldest state runned Trout fishery. It is picturesque, and cold until it reaches the northern suburbs of Dayton. The river it's self runs 66 miles. The headwaters of this river are cold as well and you can view them on a biology report from the EPA.  Almost all of these headwaters contain Browns and some do have Brooke as well. The ODNR stocks this river annually with 6-8 inch browns. The good people of Trout unlimited , the mad men  chapter do a fantastic job keeping this river up to par. And for any information you can contact Mad River Outfitters.

MAD MEN TROUT UNLIMITED          

MAD RIVER OUTFITTERS

        

                                                                                                                             

MAC-O-CHEE CREEK     

I will not go over much with this stream because I have never fished it. But what I can tell you is ODNR has put a lot of time and money in this stream. It was degraded and was falling apart and  was draining into the Mad River, causing problems to the Mad it's self. As of late, and pictured below the Mac has had a serious face lift and holds Browns pretty well. It too, is a spring creek from what I have been told and that makes sense.

    

 

CLEAR CREEK  

Another spring creek in Ohio, and very scenic. Almost all of this water is hemlock lined with with faster water and cool at that. It perhaps is more scenic then my favorite stream in Ohio , the Clear Fork. This stream has that eastern woods feel to it, without the pressure from other anglers. It is also ODNR's newest Trout stream and hopefully it will sustain. This stream is in Lancaster , Ohio proximity and a lot of private land encompasses the stream.  But if you download the stream map for this, you will find their is a park with a good amount  stream on the property. It is in the Clear Creek Metro Park and is a sight to visit. I will add that casting can get tough at times with lots of woody cover and overhang as well. Which to me is a great challenge

www.metroparks.net/ParksClearCreek.aspx 

 

THE CLEAR FORK

This river, the Clear Fork happens to be my favorite stream of anywhere I have fished for trout. Although a borderline C.W.H. , it is to me the most scenic stream in Ohio and pressure is usually very low.  The water is very clean, and almost sterile. In fact it was until the 1950's when fertilizers became a farming alternative. The little runoff it receives actually has helped give this stream a little boost of insect activity. Most of this stream has significant aquatic plants growing to stabilize the banks and trees as well for shade. It can be a dangerous stream if not watching your step, as pools quickly drop very deep. The water is usually a light green color and it's tribs are clear as glass. Their are good browns in this river. But in select places. I have caught most of my Browns in the section near the town of Belville. But the park area has been good as well usually until early June. If anyone needs any information on this river, their are multiple websites and ample information by the ODNR on theirs as well. And once again, you can contact Mad River Outfitters or

MOHICAN FLY FISHERS         

GEAUGA COUNTY AND

THE CHAGRIN RIVER

VICINITY       

As mentioned in the beginning of the post, Their are 3 places with sharon congl./limestone that has settled in Ohio. This, is one of them. The landscape of the Chagrin River valley is that of a New England setting. The water is as well, with streams twisting and rumbling through the Hemlock forests, and animals abound. The Chagrin River has many tribs. Almost all run very cold, and have been preserved with attention. Brooke Trout run in almost all these streams as I have observed, and the aquatic insect hatches are abundant. If you wish to visit the area, which I highly suggest the Geauga County Park District has done a tremendous job with the area. 

The Aurora Branch of this river[chagrin] is a Cold Water Habitat and hopefully the ODNR will start utilizing this branch and stocking it with resident rainbows in the near future. It could very well be an added fishery in the trout department, and raise a lot more money towards Ohio license sales, considering it is in the east suburbs of Cleveland.

We are very fortunate to have the Great Lakes. It has gave us a distinct image and a proud identity.