Since we had a federal holiday on behalf of ol' George I thought I'd pay tribute by spending a little time on a steelhead stream up in Erie.
The bite was good. Very, very good. As if the universe were telling me that standing balls deep in freezing water while being pelted with snow was the absolute only place for me to be on December 5. Lots of fresh chrome, as well as a few colored up males that had been in the stream for a while. They took my white death fly with aplomb early, but settled in to the best single egg bite I've seen... ever, so I fished the beads.
Average fish was 25" or so, with a few of the bigger ones 28-29". I pulled out a limit to take home for the smoker, while all the rest were sent back on their way. Smoked steelhead candy will be on the snack menu at Christmas.
A few lake effect snow bands blew through on a stout north wind throughout the day, but by 2 pm she was settling in good.
We decided we'd better get on the interstate while the getting was good so we bailed off the stream around 3. Just as well, as my right arm couldn't take any more.
The bite was good. Very, very good. As if the universe were telling me that standing balls deep in freezing water while being pelted with snow was the absolute only place for me to be on December 5. Lots of fresh chrome, as well as a few colored up males that had been in the stream for a while. They took my white death fly with aplomb early, but settled in to the best single egg bite I've seen... ever, so I fished the beads.
Average fish was 25" or so, with a few of the bigger ones 28-29". I pulled out a limit to take home for the smoker, while all the rest were sent back on their way. Smoked steelhead candy will be on the snack menu at Christmas.
A few lake effect snow bands blew through on a stout north wind throughout the day, but by 2 pm she was settling in good.
We decided we'd better get on the interstate while the getting was good so we bailed off the stream around 3. Just as well, as my right arm couldn't take any more.
