Pa Steelhead

The fall Steelhead run in Pa. lake Erie tributaries has begun. However low water has not permitted large runs to continue up stream. I have been getting accurate reports almost daily and will be on the streams soon. Low clear water requires a total different style of fishing compared to high flows and off colored water. As soon as the conditions change I will add to this post. For those who can pick there days to fish I recommend a day or two after a good hard rain and the creek are somewhat blown out. From my 50 years of fishing and guiding I believe these fish can cover 5 miles or more in a 24 hour period when conditions permit. So there may be hundreds of steelhead in a hole one day and only a hand full the next. I suggest go to fisherie.com and download there maps and explore starting a mile or two upstream. There are several places to check current runs so here are a few .

Poor Richards,bait and tackle
Folleys End, camp ground and fishing tackle
Fisherie.com

Please be safe and courteous as things can get a little tense with large crowds at the bridge holes and so on.

Yep large crowds, I stay away from. And not just because of covid 19. Only went one time, on first day of trout season, and many had no respect for others and their fishing. You also need a special stamp for this, correct?

Yes you need a lake Erie stamp. However crowds are what you help make them. I have at times had a hole or run with 20 plus fish in it with out a sole in site. However many fishermen are just plain lazy IMO and want to fish that bridge hole with 200 steelhead in it . I have fished and caught steelhead in 5 states and Pa has the best steelhead fishing for me. If you stay a little above the larger runs and can fish mid week you can have decent fishing and only see a handful of other fishermen. Or wait until later in the year when deer season takes many hunters off the stream. However as the water temperatures drop you need to change your tactics a little. I am sure all crappie fishermen that fish early after ice out understands what I am referring to. I do not have a problem fishing with a few other guys who work a hole in a respect full way. However I have seen where 6 or 8 guys are drifting a hole with bait and flys and someone comes in throwing a spinner down stream and crossing a hand full of lines. This is just wrong and causes bad blood.
I do not think many opening day trout fishermen are really into the fishing. It is kind of like the opening day of deer season. I do not golf so I am sure that most would not enjoy following a hacker on the course holding them up!

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Originally Posted by addictedangler

Yes you need a lake Erie stamp. However crowds are what you help make them. I have at times had a hole or run with 20 plus fish in it with out a sole in site. However many fishermen are just plain lazy IMO and want to fish that bridge hole with 200 steelhead in it . I have fished and caught steelhead in 5 states and Pa has the best steelhead fishing for me. If you stay a little above the larger runs and can fish mid week you can have decent fishing and only see a handful of other fishermen. Or wait until later in the year when deer season takes many hunters off the stream. However as the water temperatures drop you need to change your tactics a little. I am sure all crappie fishermen that fish early after ice out understands what I am referring to. I do not have a problem fishing with a few other guys who work a hole in a respect full way. However I have seen where 6 or 8 guys are drifting a hole with bait and flys and someone comes in throwing a spinner down stream and crossing a hand full of lines. This is just wrong and causes bad blood.
I do not think many opening day trout fishermen are really into the fishing. It is kind of like the opening day of deer season. I do not golf so I am sure that most would not enjoy following a hacker on the course holding them up!

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That ninth guy is the reason I avoid fishing them. Just no reason for doing that knowing it’s going to cause trouble. I avoid combat fishing at all costs. If you enjoy that type of fishing, more power to you. There’s local guys that will walk upstream and find fish only to have guys from out of town find them and horde in on their hole. I’m not dealing with that stuff. I’ve enjoyed catching them but the new wave just isn’t for me. I see Keith is the same way as I.

I used to enjoy steelheading until it go so crowded. Some of the things I've witnessed has broke my desire to engage in what has turned into full contact fishing. Just not worth the aggravation. 100# of crap in a 10# bag. I'd rather go to the dentist for root canal!

I have been fishing and or guiding for steelhead for 49 years and can count on one hand the number of times I even saw any trouble on the Pa steelhead streams. Perhaps the difference is I am willing to walk 1/2 mile to avoid the bridge holes. Yes those guys can have some problems. It is no difference then going deer hunting in Pa. crappie fishing that one spot and so on. As a guide part of the job is find fish and avoiding crowded situations. If you want to have a stream almost all to yourself then you can go later in the year such as mid November. Mid week fishing at mid day can find hundred of yards of stream with fish with out another fishermen on most days. Also no one owns a hole. The Pa fish commission discusses that and explains the fishing is available to everyone who is legally licensed. That seems to be part of the problem when a so called local is not courteous to others. He thinks since he was there first he can hog the hole and not let others fish. I am not talking about some inexperienced fishermen that interferes with everyone's fishing but a experience and courteous person that wants to share in wealth of the quality fishing can make a fun day for all. Some of these rude people think they own the stream or lake. I once had a crappie fishermen tell me I could not fish the same area as he was fishing. He even told me he would thrown me in the lake. Well law enforcement took care of him and he was escorted away from the lake. Yes at times any sport can have problems but thinking all Pa steelhead fishing is a problem is not correct as I have put 50 years fishing and guiding for Pa. steelhead and think I have seen more then most who have posted. It is too bad that a few have had a bad experience but that is not the norm and posting it as all combat fishing is incorrect in most cases.

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Originally Posted by addictedangler

I have been fishing and or guiding for steelhead for 49 years and can count on one hand the number of times I even saw any trouble on the Pa steelhead streams. Perhaps the difference is I am willing to walk 1/2 mile to avoid the bridge holes. Yes those guys can have some problems. It is no difference then going deer hunting in Pa. crappie fishing that one spot and so on. As a guide part of the job is find fish and avoiding crowded situations. If you want to have a stream almost all to yourself then you can go later in the year such as mid November. Mid week fishing at mid day can find hundred of yards of stream with fish with out another fishermen on most days. Also no one owns a hole. The Pa fish commission discusses that and explains the fishing is available to everyone who is legally licensed. That seems to be part of the problem when a so called local is not courteous to others. He thinks since he was there first he can hog the hole and not let others fish. I am not talking about some inexperienced fishermen that interferes with everyone's fishing but a experience and courteous person that wants to share in wealth of the quality fishing can make a fun day for all. Some of these rude people think they own the stream or lake. I once had a crappie fishermen tell me I could not fish the same area as he was fishing. He even told me he would thrown me in the lake. Well law enforcement took care of him and he was escorted away from the lake. Yes at times any sport can have problems but thinking all Pa steelhead fishing is a problem is not correct as I have put 50 years fishing and guiding for Pa. steelhead and think I have seen more then most who have posted. It is too bad that a few have had a bad experience but that is not the norm and posting it as all combat fishing is incorrect in most cases.

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Hey addicted, this is John, the guy in the maroon truck you were talking to in the Elk Creek access parking lot a couple weeks ago. You are right on.

JPascavage52, welcome to crappie.com and the Pennsylvania board. feel free to post any time.

Thanks JP. I hope you did well in Erie. There is a lot of good guys with some excellent information on the site. I am sure you will enjoy the site and hope you can contribute to it.
Steelhead have spread out and are up as far as rt. 79 on Elk creek. Some areas have large numbers of fish and others have a fish or two scattered in a few holding areas. Guys can fish the large holes with a hundred or more fish or fish the rest of the stream catching a few in a peaceful area.