Summer is coming to a close.  Shorter days mean cooler nights.  Cooler nights mean dropping water temperatures on Lake Erie.  When Lake Erie cools, the Steelhead trout begin a migration that takes them from cold, deeper waters to staging areas near the mouths of tributaries that flow into the lake.  There the large trout will hold and wait until stream temperatures cool to the preferred level and the fall rains trigger a run upstream.   At that point, the fish enter the streams in an atttempt to spawn and the annual Steelhead Run is on! 

Based on past experience, anglers usually target October when planning trips to Erie.    The weather then is perfect, water levels have risen from the summer trickle to a consistent flow, and the fish are in the streams.  The fall colored leaves add a nice backdrop for photos of sucessful anglers holding 6  to 10 pound trout.

November is another great month to fish for Steelhead; but the weather in Erie can be more changeable with stiff winds, heavier rains, and even snow.  The stream fishing in November can go from excellent to "blown out" [unfishable] in a few hours and may take days to recover to fishable levels.

Now that summer is fading, anyone who fishes for Steelhead keeps track of the weather and the fishing discussion forums for a "word" on early, season opportunities.  I was in Erie for a Walleye fishing charter trip and waiting at Walnut Creek Marina to begin the trip, when I noticed one guy fishing the channel that leads from the marina to the lake.

Dan McClain, a local from Mill Creek, was on the "wall" casting a flatfish lure.  So I alternated between watching him casting and watching for the arrival of Something Catchy Charters.  I was not suprised when Dan hooked a fish, but I was surprised that the fight had a tell-tale look to it.  Dan would gain some line then drop his rod toward the fish as it made a strong run and took back the line.  I grabbed the camera and walked to the wall.  I just knew he had a Steelhead hooked, and I was hoping he could land it for a few pictures.  He did.

Catching a Steelhead at Walnut Creek is not unusual.  Catching one in August is noteworthy.

Dan said he caught one smaller Steelhead the day before, and he has caught them as early as August 15th in years past. 

If you are reading this and thinking like me, you know that a few fish are exploring the stream mouths at night, and that type of activity will increase as the water temperatures drop; however,  I would not waste your vacation days by making a trip to Erie next weekend.  Just know that they are coming and the fun will soon begin.

Before leaving Erie, I went to Elk Creek to get some pictures.  It sure looks, smells, and feels like summer there too! 

Steelhead anglers are impatient, so the next month will be difficult.  Cut the grass, get your chores done, and relax-- your time will come. 

 Elk Creek Boat Launch

Looking north     -   Looking south

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