Steelhead Fishing in Pennsylvania

With the colder nights and that first frost brings forward the beginning of the steelhead season in Pennsylvania. For many anglers, the arrival of steelhead in streams like Walnut, Elk, and 20 Mile brings a feeling of tension which is bought from other fisheries in the state. Steelhead Salmon is an extremely powerful fish that can make drawing on a reel scream and push your rod to it's limits.

Now how do you fish for these silver bullets? There are several techniques but the most common forms in Pennsylvania is fly fishing and fishing. In this article we will go into detail on how to fish for rainbow trout in Pennsylvania streams and what streams to fish in Pennsylvania.

Fly fishing

Firstly, can talk about fly fishing and what type of equipment you need to solve these fish. The following is a list of commonly used fly fishing equipment for fishing for rainbow trout streams in PA.

Gear

Fly Rod = 7 to 8 weight rod 9 to 10 feet

Fly Reel = Any fly reel with a good drag. Large arbor fly reels are preferred, they pick up the fly line much faster and tend to have a better drag system.

Fly Line = 7 to 9 weight forward floating fly line

Leader = leader Taper 20 to 15 to 10 pound test leader material, then connect from 8 to 6 pound fluorocarbon tippet as. If the water is clear use the 6 and then 4 pounds as fluorocarbon tippet.

Flies

Egg recipes = Sucker Spawn, Blood Dots, Crystal Meth Flies, Estez Eggs

Sizes - 12, 14, 16 size nymph hooks 2X strong or 8 or 10 live bait (egg hook)

Streamers = Egg Sucking Leech, wooly buggers, Crystal buggers

Sizes - 2, 4, 8, 10 salmon hooks or streamer hooks

Nymphs = Stone Flies, Prince Nymphs, hair Ears Nymphs

Sizes - 10, 12, 14 size nymph hooks 2X strong

Fly Fishing Techniques

Dead driver with an indicator - The dead drift with an indicator, just put on an indicator or small trout Bobber about 6 feet up the leader then attach some weight 2 BB sinkers or 1 3 / 0 sinker about a foot above the fly. You'll have to move your indicator up and down your head to find the depth of the water. To get a true death drive your indicator should stand up straight and not looking to drag the bottom. (This is easier said than done, and there are all kinds of indicators to help make a real death operation)

Dead Drifting without an indicator - This is the preferred way to fish for steelhead! We use this method on the major rivers in Pennsylvania and New York with great success, and you can not beat the strike, you get when a steelhead slam your fly while it is swinging or at the end of operation. You can use this technique if you are fishing egg patterns, streamers, or nymphs, and is very versatile in any water depth or current.

First you must have a leader and tippet any where from 10 to 15 meters depending on the size of the stream you fish. If fishing Elk Creek or Walnut Creek in Erie, PA you want to keep your head about 10 to 11 feet. Next, depending on the depth of the water you want to put a weight, anywhere from 3 feet to 6 feet up your line. The sinker should be a single 3 / 0, 7 or 5, depending on depth and speed of the water. Finally, you should cast your fly upstream at around 1 to 2 then repair your line upstream, then immediately get your fly rod high in the air, let it run and then swing to the end of operation. Do not pull air out of the water quickly to throw again let it hang for a few seconds. Some of the most incredible environment is at the end of operation. If you prefect this technique, you will have some of the most fun day you ever had fishing for rainbow trout.

Spin Fishing Rod with a Drift

One of the most effective techniques for fishing the tributaries of Lake Erie, fishing with bait and a dead operating rod. We have seen more fish caught on the key, egg sacs and minnows than any other technique. Fishing with bait, you can always catch steelhead and 20 plus fish days are not uncommon when the fish runs.

Gear

Mess

8 ½ foot spinning rod with 12 or 11 to 15 foot Canadian-style operating rod. (Canadian style pole operation requires a center pin reel) Reel Spinning - Good spinning reel with a front row, which generally contains 140 yds of 8 pound test is standard.Center Pin - Okuma makes an affordable center pin reel, which will give you opportunity to get started with this method. Some Center Pin reels will empty your pocket book.Line4 to 8 pounds fluorocarbon Indicator / BobberSteelhead style operation Bobber (Blackbird and Drennan make excellent floats)

Hooks

Size 4 Salmon or Steelhead hook will work for most circumstances, or a size 8 octopus style.

Split Shot. You will need a wide variety of split shot from BB to 5's, depending on depth and current

Bait

Egg Sacs, key, Single Salmon Eggs minnowss, Shin, and Worms

How to Rig

First put your drive Bobber the first, you generally will yield range from 4 meters to 7 meters, depending on the depth of your bait. Next stagger your split shot about 12 inches above your bait to 15 inches above your bait. Space your split shot anywhere from 2 to 2 inches apart. Next, tie on a salmon hook or octopus style hook. If fishing key or egg sacks, use a size 4 hook to keep the key on the hook. If you are fishing clear water and used single egg using a 12 to 14 size hook.

Where to fish

Elk Creek - the largest river in Erie streams, we would have to say that we prefer Elk Creek to all the other rivers because of the size and ability to do some hiking in the woods to find a place to fish. There are many well-known holes in Elk Creek, including the mouth Elk Creek Access Area, Legion Hole, and Conrail pipes on the lower part of the stream and Foley's End and Streuchen houses at the upper end of the stream. At the beginning of the season to focus your attention on the lower part of the river because fish are unable to make it to the upper section. Then in the spring focusing on the upper sections where steelhead will spawn.

Walnut Creek - the second largest river in the Erie region, most if not all fishing at Walnut Creek is at or just above the Walnut Creek Marina. This creek is full of steelhead and fishermen! It is a small stream that runs right beside the parking lot in Walnut Creek Marina and is a good place to take children and is available to all people.

Twenty Mile - is the largest of the eastern mile streams to fish Twenty mile you have to park along Route 5 and go to their mouths. Fishing on the Twenty Mile can be great when Walnut and Elk creeks are high and muddy to fish.

Route 5 Streams - There a number of smaller streams, which you can access through route 5 as your guide these streams include raccoon, Godfrey, trout, Cascade, Four Mile, Seven Mile, Twelve Mile, and sixteen miles.

In conclusion, steelhead fishing one of the most exciting fishing opportunities we have in Pennsylvania, plus you have the opportunity to catch a fish, often going more than 10 pounds and fights like no other species of fish known to Pennsylvania waters. Our only warning to all those who intend to go steelhead fishing to be ready to catch the error then spend endless hours thinking, tie flies, bait and preparation for the next chance to land that miracle.