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Dfishinfool's from the river report

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12-13-01   I was the guest of Karl Weixlmann on the Catteracus creek today. Karl guides the reservation and is the president of the Pa. Steelhead Asso.  We had a group of five and it made for a good day on the water. Catteracus creek is a N.Y. tributary of Lake Erie and has some wild steelhead in it. It is estimated that 30% of the fish in the Catt. are wild. Water conditions were low and clear but the Catt. is a big river that always has a decent flow to it. Five flyguys all throwing different stuff so I can't list all we caught fish on but Karl was tearing them up on a small black stone. We had a couple of 30" + hogs and longline released a couple more. If you are interested on a trip to the Catt. I would recomend Karl as he is a high energy person who knows the river well.  12-11-01   Fished a couple of hours today and yesterday  on the chagrin river in Ohio. Could only get out in the early morning. Saw a fair amount of action and landed a few each day. River is low and clear and good numbers of fish are present. I used small cream sucker spawn with #16 PT Nymph dropper. Fish in the river are large and mean. I saw a fellow release a 32" hog. 12-08-01  Sat.    Jeff fished Elk Creek today and reports that it is real low and clear. Many of the fish upriver have spawned and are dropping back . They reported great success with the best action in the morning and evening. They had best success on very small egg patterns . We need rain to get fresh fish into the river. 12-06-01 Thurs    Fished the Elk again today. I was joined by Gene from Kent. Gene had lot's of experience flyroding for trout in west virginia, but had never had a steelhead on the rod before. Gene brought his favorite 5 weight loomis and I thought it would be a bit to light.  It turned out to get a real workout today but performed great. Gene had a exceptional day on the river and released em all to fight tomorrow. Water was unchanged from Wed. except the water temp has climbed a degree. to 49* WOW is this really Dec. Nymphs were what worked but in all honesty fish were so hot I think you could have thrown anything at them. Look's like it will be a great steelhead weekend from the cat to the rocky. GO FISHIN !!!!   Don   12-05-01 Wed.    I was joined today by Dave Freeman and Lance Lang. Dave is the publisher of a fine magazine called "Ohio Valley Outdoors". Lance is a Outdoors writer who was eager to get his first flyrod steelhead.  I met Dave and Lance at BAC baitshop on rt 98 and they were nice enough to let them come inside and put their waders on in the heat. We started at Elk creek arriving at our spot in the predawn. Having only fished for steelhead in the niagara river they asked  what do I consider a good day of steelheading in the Pa tribs. I told them that I considered a 5-8 fish day average, 10 fish day to be very good , a 20 fish day to be great,  and a 30 fish day to be exceptional. They sort of gave me a " yea right" look.  Dave started with the noodle rod and Lance with the flyrod. It couldn't have been five minutes before they were both battling jumping chromers. What a way to start the day two steelhead landed and released and we had only been fishing 15 minutes. After a few quick photo's and backslaps we were back at it.  By 8:30 with a few fish under his belt, I decided it was time for Dave to become a flyfisherman. Dave's fishing experience showed and he was making a nice cast in a few minutes. about 9:30 as he hoisted up a 9# fish for a photo Jeff declared" Dave you A flyfisherman now". Dave had to agree!  Nonstop action till we took A break at the Elk Creek inn for lunch. After lunch it was back to the river. No one was even interested in the spin gear now , after our success with the fly  rods earlier. We tried a different area and again had good success. A great day was had by everyone.  Dave got a beautiful full color male for the wall and Lance carefully released a couple of true trophy's.  Hot fly was #14 white sucker spawn and #12 moe egg's in natural colors. In the evening we slamed them on #14 black stones. Elk creek is going low and clear and there are fish to be had at all the way up the river. Water temp was at 48*. I believe the slight water temp increase from Wed. made the fish much more active. Conneaut looked great and grand should be great this weekend. C YA ON THE RIVER !!  Don 12-04-01  I was joined today with Jay from pittsburg for a day of fishing on Elk creek. Jay is a ardent fisherman wanting to learn to flyfish for steelhead.  We started on the lower river and had a good number of hookups here. Fresh chromers from the lake were hard to keep on the line but we did manage to land a couple. After lunch we headed to the upper river and found fish here too.  It was tough to get the spawners here to bite and they were brightly colored fish from a previous run. Definatly not the same chromers from the lower river. Water continues to clear and is at 44*  GOOD LUCK !!  Don 12-02-01   We were joined today by Don from weathersfield for a day of fishing on Elk creek. Water was still a bit high and muddy when we started but Don had the first fish in the net in 10 min. so we knew we were in for a great day. We started with spawn sacks and switched to the fly rods as the water cleared in the afternoon. Lots of fresh chromers on the move. Thank goodness the water was a little off color because fish were so fresh and strong we had to go to 6 and 8 lb tippets.  Water temp was 45* and our most productive fly was Moe eggs in orange and green. We found fish everywhere in the pockets, holes and in the fast water. Water will continue to clear tonight and I look for tomorrow to be a great day. JUST FISH !!! Don 12-01-01    Jeff and I started at walnut creek today.  Water was high and muddy from recent rains. Lots of fish in the river and fishing was very good even with the less than ideal conditions. A large run has come up the river and lots of fish made it over the falls. We saw lots of fish caught on every bait imagineable ( eggs, minnows, jig and magots, powerbait). We fished with the fly rods and had our best success on big bright egg patterns and flashy clouser minnows. After lunch we went to upper Elk creek. We did catch a few here but the water was still too high and muddy. Looks like tomorrow should be prime at Walnut and Elk creek should be in good shape by the afternoon. C YA ON THE RIVER !!  Don

12-13-01 Don at the Catt.

Karl shows off a wild steelie

12-05 Don and Dave

12-05 Lance at Elk Creek

12-05 Dave with a Elk Creek steelie on the flyrod

Lance try's his hand at netting his own fish

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12-04 Jay at the Elk