Steelhead Alley-04-23-2018

Stream Fished: Steelhead Alley

Date: 04-23-2018

Angler Name: Skip Nault

Angler Age: 78

Angler Home: Wooster

Fishing Tackle: Fly Fishing

Fish Caught: Steelhead

Steelhead Caught: 17

Comments: I fished the Ashtabula River today with Randy Rowe. We landed 17 steelhead combined. The water was low and clear and in the mid-40's. Fish were in deep runs and holes. The fish ranged in size from 1.5 to 6 pounds. Almost all were hard fighters and in the early morning most were jumpers. We lost quite a few others that threw the hooks. Best flies today were sucker spawn and Mickey Finn streamers drifted then stripped back through the runs. No one else fishing.

Someone recently questioned the veracity of double digit days catching steelhead. This has been an extraordinary good spring for steelheading in certain stretches of eastern Ohio Erie tribs. Post spawn steelhead (drop backs) can be found in deep runs and holes, and they are very hungry and will take most fly patterns presented to them. Double digit days the past few weeks has been the norm.