Mo' Fish Movember

So it's been awhile since my last update but finally the weather is seemingly leveled out.  Over the last few weeks we haven't had rains of biblical proportions like we have experienced this year and the temps are normal.  That being said we can now have an easier time predicting what the fish are going to want. 

On nearly all of the tributaries the salmon are all but gone.  Only moldy zombies still remain other than the potential for VERY few fresh fish.  The brown trout bite has been great on the Ontario tribs recently with the steelhead fishing starting to pick up.   Most of the fish coming on egg patterns.  Earlier this month the Erie Canal started its annual draining and has since tapered off in the past few days.  Streams that experience this runoff will have a color similar to that of tea.  When the water is this color the fishing is pretty great.  The clarity isn't terrible but it's enough fr the fish to feel comfortable in the open water.  Larger egg patterns worked well during this time with limited success swinging flies.  Currently the conditions are streams dropping a bit since the canal drainage is slowing.  The larger tribs like oak orchard are still getting this surplus canal water.  On the smaller tribs, the water is clearing up and downsizing your flies will be useful.

As for the Lake Erie Tributaries, the steelhead are spread out all throughout the waterways with fish readily taking eggs and some nymph patterns.  Dead Drifting both have been effective.  Finding seams and deeper pools on the brighter days are going to be the keys to success.

Look for days that are going to be warmer than others.  This change in temp really gets the fish in high gear.  Yesterday with the higher air temps the fish were very eager to take flies.  As mentioned earlier the best flies have been egg patterns with sizes depending on water conditions.  In the clear water size 12-14 have worked well and in the tea water sizes 8-10 have been the best.  Yarn eggs, blood dots, estaz eggs, and otter eggs have been the go to's.

I have dates available for catching some later browns and winter steelhead if you are interested.  If your new to fly fishing and don't mind a little cold weather this is the perfect time to land the big one!  You can contact me at wnyflyguy@gmail.com.  Be sure to look out for my latest videos about tying the otter egg pattern (will be out soon) and my latest tributary trip (will be out in a few days)!  Thanks again for reading and tight lines!


Current Stream Information: 

18-Mile Creek (Burt):  November 29th, 2017

Heavy/Moderate fishing pressure

Med/Stained Flows
52.4 CFS

18-Mile Creek (Hamburg):  November 29th, 2017

Med Flows
2.93 ft 

Cattaraugus Creek:   November 29th, 2017

Stained Flows

610 CFS

43.2 ⁰F

Oak Orchard Creek:   November 29th, 2017

Heavy Fishing Pressure

Tea Flows

173 CFS    

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