Erie Steelhead Outing
November 16-21
Attendees – Lou Reichel, Ken Bowyer, Bob Bokulic, Ron Kerrick, Jim Irons, Alan Williams, Jouky Chang, Ken Turner, Ruel Gumajay, Mark Cepela, Tom Brosnan, Ron Briggs, Randy Dwyer, Carson Wargo, Steve Wargo, Bob Odonnell, and Craig VanderKolk
The 2nd annual PPTU Steelhead Outing was a great success despite challenging conditions. The water on Elk was record low with minimal rain resulting in fish stacking up at the mouth and limited numbers moving into the upper Elk. Anglers needed to search for fish and once they were found, it proved to be record and in some cases epic fishing.
THURSDAY – Elk 1.51cfs
Mark Cepela who joined us as a visitor from Cincinnati and Bob Bokulic arrived first on Thursday morning to scout for fish. Mark went to the Cattaraugus since it had more water and landed one fish and lost another on the reservation section. Bob scouted a number of places including the Connaut and upper Elk and reported a few fish around.
Ken and Lou also arrived on Thursday and visited Trout Run (everyone should visit it sometime, it has hundreds of fish that are used as a source for eggs for the hatchery) and then fished Uncle John’s Campground and saw lots of fish in Ken landed 2 fish in the 25’ range.
I scouted Follies Campground and saw a few fish in a stream that was 10 feet wide and a few 18’ holes (good to know their locations for the future). I threw a line in without success.
We had a good time watching a tight Bengals (Marks team) Ravens game until Joe Burrows went down and we all went to bed. You know the rest of that story.
FRIDAY – Elk 4.0 -24.0 – 5.3 cfs over 24 hours
The day promised more water with a lot of rain to the entire area. We hoped it would bring in more fish and improve our chances with blowing sections out. Brandy Run reported 1.7CFS before starting
Mark Cepela and I headed to the Catt at 5:30 to fish in the upper section with a guide. More water, perhaps 25 feet wide and deep long 200’ hole below a small section of rapids. These rapids held some fish, 2 of which were spawning and others below them presumably eating eggs or vying for the affection of the female. Mark started with an Egg and caught a nice 25’ fish with a good fight. The guide offered me streamer and on the 10th cast, another nice fish slammed and I was able to land it. I switched to a spey rod, a new approach for me, and was fortunate to land a 28’ fish in the deeper hole (after the guide showed me how to cast and had a massive bite). We finished in another section with one last fish. We enjoyed fishing a new river with swinging flies as a new technique.
Over in the Elk in the rain, our guide Ben took out Jouky, Ken and Ruel with good success, monster fish and a nice brown trout. Jim I, Allan W, Ken and Lou saw fish and had some success at Elk Creek park and Uncle John’s. Randy and Joe found THE spot to fish. The group text messages blew up with Joe’s report of “13 so far” followed by “15, sorry 16”… a lot of fish moving in” to “we lost count on the number of hookups….” Ultimately they had the best day (probably in the history of the Elk) 25+ fish EACH. Even with Randy’s new fly, Egg Sucking Worm. An EPIC Day of fishing with almost 75 fish caught and released.
Dinner capped off the day with Mark cooking Elk Spaghetti, Salad and Texas toast and numerous stories passed around.
SATURDAY Elk 5.3cfs at 6:30 to 2.9cfs at 5:30 (brown and murky)
Many people fished the Elk but it was not great. Not really blown out but colored up and conditions were tough. Fish were moving and some were caught in the upper section.
Ben took out Ken, Lou and Jim I. and they all caught fish. Ron, Tom, Mark and I went out to the lower section but it was a little swift and no action. In the afternoon, water was going down and water was clearing but while we saw a few fish caught above Follies, we did not have any success.
We went back early to warm up and had another great meal from chef Randy consisting of Turkey, Sweet Potatoes, Roasted Potatoes, Salad and Broccoli.
SUNDAY Elk 1.9cfs at 7:00 and back to 1.7cfs at 4:00
The Elk cleared up and fish spread out a bit, but the lower Elk was the place to be with upwards of 100 fish were caught by 11 anglers.
Guide Paul Krott took Ron, Tom and Alan W. below the RR tubes of North Park Rd. They fished eggs and white death with variety of techniques. Spending most of a shortened day in a few holes on the west side of the river below the riffle. They had 50+ hookups and each of them caught 12+ fish.
Jouky, Ken and Ruel pulled in a bunch of fish, also below the RR tubes, just down from Ron, Tom and Alan W.
Ben took out Carson, Steve and Ron K. They all caught 12 to 15 fish each in the lower Elk followed by the upper Elk in some select holes.
Lou and Ken each had 5+ on and each landed 2 at Uncle Johns.
Bob O, Jim I, Randy, Joe and I took the long hike down to fish above I-90. Joe caught a few fish in a deep pool below a long shallow riffle where a couple of young anglers told us they pulled out a number of fish. Once it slowed, we moved downstream. We passed an angler that told us he caught 20+ in fast water in a section we passed over, so we looked for faster water. We ultimately stopped just above the same young anglers who were catching fish every 15-20 minutes. We ultimately took over their spot which turned out to be a slot of fast water with smaller holding depressions closer to the shore. Joe caught 10-12, I caught 5, Randy caught 1 and Bob caught a few. I learned at that section that I had a leader and tippet that was too short, having cut it back over the weekend to about 9 feet and a heavier fly line that was now in the water as opposed to being able to high stick the fly line. Every time I had a good drift, I caught fish, but it would have been easier with more mono in the water a lighter fly line and a 10’rod like Joe had.
We finished the day with everyone finally getting to eat my pasta and lasagna that was unfortunately was frozen and took some major adjustments and time to get on everyone’s plate.
MONDAY Elk back to 1.2cfs, 42 degrees and air 32
The final morning before trekking home, Joe and I fished below the RR tubes in the same spat that Paul Krott guided Ron etc. One other angler above us in the riffle/run, caught about fish dead drifting a white death. I caught 3 after lengthening my leader/tippet and Joe caught 4 in several holes. We could see the fish tailing in the holes next to the slightly faster water.
Overall it was a great trip. Hopefully the fish will successfully move up stream beyond the people snagging them and successfully spawn so we can continue to have good fishing and successful outings to come.
Look for more information next year with possible dates around the weekend of December 14/15. The later time will hopefully bring more water and while colder, thin out the crowds some.
Craig
