Steelie Blue: MARCH MADNESS

       This was Lake Erie just two whole,long cold, enjoyable weeks ago. But under that desert of ice I knew changes were starting to take place. As days start getting longer a glimmer of hope sparks inside of me. This same day, I also saw my first cardinal and robin of the year. Nothing to get excited about, but it felt good knowing this crap was almost over. I realize this picture doesn't look like "hope". But for us Great Lakers, it was an emotional victory. Bitter sweet I guess.

                        This transitional time of the year really makes me and as I found out others very insecure at times as far as fishing goes. As far as locating fish, they could be anywhere dependant on 2 degrees in the river system. They could be in the lower or upper stretches. A fresh push might be staled by a significant cold front,and not push but only a mile or so. And at times with rain...sometimes less trickles in then other waves. But that's what keeps me gambling. I honestly for the first time in my life placed a bet on my NCAA bracket. I never have gambled a day in my life. Ever. I have never even bought a 1 dollar scratch off ticket. No lottery, charity events or mega millions. I guess you could make the case every time I fish, I gamble. Which is my addiction so i guess I have a gambling problem.

       A week and a half ago I went to 5 or so different streams in about 3 days. And all I kept wondering is "am I doing something wrong" Skunked 2 days in a row.

Ya, say it ain't so . The Rocky left me with nothing but a peice of mind. Again. I threw every damn style of patterns I had. Nothing. Then later that day I hear egg chuckers did awesome on the V and the chagrin. Awesome. So guess what I did?

But before that story begins I have to tell you what happened after I left the Rocky....

So their are some small tribs on my way home that sometimes I hit to take my frustrations out on . Most of the people that fish these I noticed are horrible with a fly rod. and act like they've just overtaken the Skeena , because they have caught fish here. This creek gets a good run of fish and a lot have been nat. reproduced . {when u catch smolts, u know theirs reproduction.cant argue that} These are the type that dont know you, and tell you whats going on in are rivers. And know everything about these fish. For instance, a man told me he had a guide service. Brand new company and that he was a fisheries biologist . This guy clearly was an amazing fisherman. After he just got skunked ,I left him and walked his path of water. Real skinny water.
I manged to catch 3 fish from that same water. Peeking out of the corner of my eye I saw he was watching.

So, needless to say, I hate a bullshiter. And more importantly, this is why I made this blog. Luckily for me, I have a lot of caring people around me who have taught me a lot. And humble is a good virtue.
At any rate, the 3 I did catch looked like a battleship from W.W.2 those poor fish had more steel in their back than Terminator. Urban fish.

I have fished everything around, but for some reason never the Chagrin. 6 fish in 4 hours is a good day. Thats pretty rare for a steelheader in early march ON A FLY . The Ash is an exception. And so are a few others .

Yep once again the steelie blue bugger got em. Its amazing the caliber of fly fishers on this river.

Almost all of her tribs run cold. And the runs are twice of my beloved headwaters of the rocky. This stream holds up to it's legend, and the water is perfect for the fly angler.

The amount of people on this stream are about as slim as it gets for northeast Ohio.

And as I posted before, the cool running East Branch is a site worth checking as well if you never have been their.It really has a unique feel and the quality of people and ettiquete on this stream is great.