Steelhead Action At Fairport Harbor Pier

The northeast Ohio fall weather has been unusually warm and dry. The area has yet to experience a rain or snow event that results in the rivers being blown out. Because of that, the steelhead run has been spotty. There are some fish getting up the rivers, and fishermen are hooking into them, but the vast majority of steelhead are still staged at the mouths of the rivers. Reports of exceptional catches close to the mouths of the rivers have been circulating for some time.

The Fairport Harbor pier is a popular spot for fishermen throughout the year, but the fall is when the place explodes with activity. The pier, which is on the east side of the mouth of the Grand River, is often referred to as the short pier. From the pier or a kayak, fishermen will use baitfish patterns, spawn sacks, and spoons to tempt the steelhead.

The Fairport Harbor short pier. A popular spot for fall steelhead action for spin fishermen.

(Click on image for larger view.)

The weather was so nice yesterday that my wife and I went for a walk at Mentor Headlands State Park. The path takes us to a spot with a clear view of the pier. There were about eight people fishing which surprised me. I would have thought there would be more with record warmth. Then I realized there were more fishermen on the Headlands side of the mouth. The pier on the Headlands side is considered the long pier, as it extends further out into Lake Erie. Both piers would be ideal for someone with spinning equipment wanting to get into some chrome. But, hurry up because this weather may not last. And there are a lot of fishermen hoping for that blow out rain/snow event to heat up the action up the rivers.

Go out and fool a fish!

SIMMS® – Stick With Old Fashioned Laces On Your Boots

SIMMS® has a reputation for producing quality fishing gear. In a small, unscientific study, I noticed that most of the fishermen I see on the water have at least one article of clothing, waders, or boots with the SIMMS® brand. A company with that much market share doesn’t supply poor quality products.

But, I must admit at being less than thrilled with the wading boots I purchased with the Boa Technology lacing system. In 2013 I purchased the Rivertek wading boot. The first time I used the boots the lacing loosened, and after turning the knob to tighten the wire laces, they loosened again. This was the norm and not the exception. I lived with this because of the alumi-bite cleats, which are very helpful in wading.

After using the boots for a little more than a year I noticed the wire lacing on the right boot was fraying. I contacted SIMMS® and they pointed me to Boa Technology and said replacement parts could be sent to me. I contacted Boa and they sent replacement parts at no charge. To me, that’s a red flag. Why would a company send replacement parts at no charge? Did they know there were some issues with their system? The winding knob and laces were replaced on the right boot but the loosening continued. Now, three months later I had to have the left boot wire laces repaired. That’s way too much maintenance for a system that doesn’t seem to work.

The next pair of boots I buy, and it seems I may have to buy sooner rather than later, may be another SIMMS® product, but it definitely will not be with the wire lacing system. I don’t think you can wrong with good, old fashioned laces.

I Was Starting to Smell Skunky

When steelhead season starts I set modest expectations knowing that catching chrome is not usually a big numbers game. I expected to catch a few, and have some days when I get shut out. Well, after catching two in mid-to-late October I thought that maybe my expectations were too low. Then came November, and after a handful of trips, went 0 for the month. So much for raising expectations. I was starting to smell skunky… until today. Finally.

Off and on, the past several trips I have been experimenting with a sinking leader, hoping to get deeper in some of the pools on the Grand. Using a standard leader, I never felt like I was near the bottom whenever I would swing a fly through a pool. Today, I tied on an egg sucking leech, and it was my ticket to success.

The photo has no perspective, as I was in a hurry to snap the photo and release the fish. My guess is it was close to 20”, and had a nice pink color on the gill plate. It put up a good fight after a very subtle take. Most of the takes I’ve had swinging a fly have been strong. The tug is distinctive, so there’s no doubt a fish is on. Today’s take felt like the fly ticked bottom. No matter, skunk off.

No perspective, about 20".  Pink color just starting to show up.

(Click on image for larger view.)

The rest of the fishermen on the river seemed to be having a tough time of it. There was a guide with a client who said I might have caught the only fish in the river. I’ve been where they were at, and feel their pain. They’ll catch em. I'm convinced steelhead fishing is being in the right place, at the right time.

Go out and fool a fish!

How To Know It’s Steelhead Season

Sometime in early fall the rivers in the Great Lakes region are transformed from benign, tranquil waters to something that has been described as ‘combat fishing”. Pushing, shoving, and name calling aside, there are several things we all go through during this chrome chasing frenzy called steelhead fishing. Here are some of the things I notice about steelhead season. How about you?

1. Parking lots are full, and if they’re full, you can picture the river.

This photo was taken during the week. Imagine the weekend.

(Click on image for larger view.)

2. Ice on the guides. All the remedies found to keep the ice off only seem to work for so long.

3. Having to wear four layers of clothes, gloves, a hat, and a stocking cap.

4. Egg patterns are all the rage.

5. Catch a lot more leaves than fish. Then you notice the trees are bare, and have a distinctive brown/gray color. Bad time for picture taking.

A little fog makes the brown/gray color of the trees look better.

6. It’s 6:40AM and all the good spots on the river are taken.

7. Reports of fishermen catching steelhead fill Facebook, Twitter, and fishing websites.

8. The wife starts looking at you like your crazy because it is 28° and you’re loading the car with gear.

9. Being on the water fighting with ice on the guides wishing it was 75° and smallmouth time.

A smallie on a popper, in warm weather. Can't wait.

10. Seeing centerpinners get 50’-60’ drifts with their float rigs.

11. Can’t leave it out, pushing and name calling after fishing lines are crossed or worse yet, cut.

12. You ask someone who is leaving how’s the bite and they say “you should have been here yesterday”.