New tradition

Christmas Eve.. I'm posting this on Christmas because I didn't get a chance to yesterday. Merry Christmas! Well my friend, Dan, and I got out to do a little steelheading and had a pretty good day. I woke up at 6:30 and picked Dan up. A quick half hour later we were on the first creek. We knew that they were low, but hoped to catch a few trapped and drop back fish in the creeks, then head over to the rocky. We walked down, fishing every pool on the creek without getting a single hookup. Of course though, Dan with his natural polarized eyes saw a few. We sighted a big hen in the final pool and it didn't take long before I hooked up to her and she spit me. Most likely my biggest fish of the year. We decided to let the pool rest and hit the other creek. We fished it for a short while with out any luck. so we headed back to creek we started at. Started fishing and in fifteen minutes I hooked to this nice buck.

Just as I am getting back to the opposite side of the creek to reobtain my spot and get back to fishing, I hear Dan's spinning reel's drag scream. I recross the creek downstream and net the fish for him. Another nice brick buck.

He always ties it up when I catch one. We go without fish for awhile. I had a big buck swipe at my tube though and got determined to take the lead. Eventually the pink worm comes through for me, and I land a beautiful hen. Not big, but she has really nice color.

Finally we can't catch anymore fish here. The fish are spooked and we are starting to get low on time so we can not wait any longer. We head over to the Rock, and Dan hooks up first cast on a long drift down stream, but the fish breaks him off. Suddenly a group of guys can not stop catching fish downstream, but there is way to many guys there to try to sneak in. It is amazing how rude some people can be to catch a steelhead! We move upstream with out any luck and decide to hit the marina, then head home. Once again Dan hooks up to another steelhead first cast at the marina! He lands this one though and ties it up 2-2!

We run out  of time, and I am kind of thankful because my feet are so damn cold. It was a great day and now has started a great tradition of fishing with Dan on Christmas Eve. Until next time, tight lines.

Rivers blown out, but Creeks are not!

Decided to sleep in my first day of break. Woke up at 10:00 to the smell of breakfast cooking downstairs. Thanks Mom! Decided to hit up some creeks today considering how high the main rivers are. Got the car packed fairly quick considering I had nothing setup, and was off to some creeks I've been wanting to try. They should be in good conditioning due to the fact that they've had almost two days to calm down. Anyway I pull into the parking lot of the first creek, slip on my waders in the front seat, and it hits me... I left the wading boots in the garage! Damn it. Looks like my new Timberlands are going to have to due the job today. I am going to have to catch fish now. I slip on the boots, get my rods, and descend the cliff down to the water. Looks great, except its alittle too muddy. I fish for over an hour without seeing any fish and call it quits. Time to hit the next creek.




















I reclimb the cliff, hop in the car, and take a trip over to the next creek. This one is in completely different condition. The water has a nice tint to it and is running slightly low. I start walking up to the first hole and talk to a centerpinner. He has caught two in the hole already. Now at least I know there is fish here. I continue walking up the creek and suddenly two steelhead splash and run. Damn, I should have been looking. I find them and fish for them in a few inches of water, but they are spooked so I move on. I get up to the waterfall at the top of the creek and begin to fish. There has to  be fish in this pool!




















I slip on a single egg, salmon egg and drop in in the run. Feel a few taps set the hook and out comes a creek chub. O wait, this is a steelhead smolt. Pretty cool actually, and a good sign. I think its a wild one considering they don't stock this creek.

I recast in the run a few more times and I feel my egg get stop and I set the hook. BAM, a big hen explodes in this tiny pool I'm fishing. I barely have enough room to fight her in, and she bolts down river into an open shallow stretch. I eventually land her after at least ten minutes and ask the only other fisherman on the creek to snap a picture.

We talk alittle, and I trot back up to the pool and first cast hook into a tank. It's a dark buch and he is jumping and rolling in this tiny pool. I can barely handle him considering I only have 3lb leader on! He also leaves the pool like the previous hen and bolts down into the fisherman below me's pool. I apologize and he says he enjoys the show. He kindly lands it for me and snaps a picture. I offer to let him fish up in my hole, but he says he is getting action in his already.

 I also took a quick video during the fight to give viewers an idea on how small this pool is.

 

I return back to the pool to only catch another smolt. I figure there is more in here, but I am running out of time to wait on them so I head back down stream. I stop at a nice run and take a few casts and hook into a skipper, quickly land him, and back in he goes. In a few hours he will probably be up at the dam I was just fishing at.

 I continue on and hit the last run close  to the lake. In a few drifts I hook into a super dark buck. It jumps and fights for several minutes, and I finally land him. This fish has been in the creek for a couple days due to how dark he is. I release him and call it a day. 6/6. My best day so far and hope to be back out on the rivers Monday. They should be fishable.

Until next time, Tight lines....

Elk Creek!

     Decided it was finlly time to head East and hit some Pennsylvania creeks. I was going to start out on Elk and go from there. I pack the car the night prior to the trip, plenty of eggs tied, and a full tank of gas. The alarm sounds at 5:30, I get up, eat some breakfast, and get on the road. The drive is about an hour and fifty minutes to the mouth of the Elk. I've never been there and expect the parking lot to be packed, but it is not too bad. I hop out of the car and begin to squeeze into my sonic pro redington waders. It is pretty nippy out, but decide to leave  my gloves in the car. THAT WAS A MISTAKE! I journey down the creek and eventually find a nice bend in the creek with a view of the mouth and start fishing. It doesn't take long before I miss a few fish, but there isn't alot around. I was expecting waves of fish, but this low water must have spooked them out.

     I decide to pick up and move because my hands are freezing cold and there is no action here. As I walk back to the car I see a man holding up to steelhead that are well over 30 inches. I know theres fish here, but I have to find them without the insane crowds! I drive around and decide to fish some railroad tunnels, because they look sweet and perhaps some fish will be hiding in them. Bingo! I walk through the woods, across the creek and up to the tunnels.

     There is a group yelling and joking around so I assume they are getting into something. I politely ask if I can fish next to them and it doesn't take long before I start talking. They were really only letting die hards into the tunnel. Not good weather fisherman! Anyway the sttelhead and browns were stacked up in there. I take a few casts and bam hook into a nice steelhead and he breaks me off! I'm fishing 4x leader so I should calm down a bit on my hooksets and fights. I retie with my hands shaking with adrenaline and get back into the run. Next cast a nice brown slams my single egg and I fight her for a bit and land her outside of the tunrnel! my first big brown! I didn't measure but she was well over 20 inches and several pounds.

     Meanwhile the other guys are hooking into fish like crazy. I get back into the water and lose 3 more steelhead and I can't seem to land one. I'm getting ready to leave because the fish are really spooked now and the goodweather fisherman are starting to flood in. I then suddenly hook into another nice brown and tangle with inconsiderate fisherman who just leave their lines in the water feet from my fight?!? They untangle them, and I land this nice brown. I'm out of here. I can not stand fishing with people like this. So, on the day I went 0-4 on steelhead but 2-2 on lake run browns. A good day for me, and until next time, tight lines.

Vote or Fish?

     Election day. I'm off school on Tuesday, and the car is packed full of everything for a day of chroming. I'm down to 8 orange spawn sacks, but figure it'll be a quick, slow morning so I get ready to go anyway. The alarm sounds at 5:45, I hop out of bed and hear my dog barking. I let her outside as I head out to the car, and boy is it cold. I wasn't expecting a chilly 27 degrees outside and I'm glad it is finally starting to get cold out. Anyway I decide to go to the Rock to see how it was affected, and I know a few holes that will certainly have fish. I park my car, and start my long walk through the woods to a hole I know nobody will be fishing at. I setup, launch a spawn sack out to the far side, and watch my bobber float down stream. NOTHING? So I recast and not long after it hits the water my bobber is gone. I set the hook into a nice fish and she jumps 30 seconds into the fight and I loose her. Next two fish the same thing happens. I'm stunned. I am into the fish but can't seem to land one.I also only have two spawn sacks left! Now I regret not stocking up when I had the chance. Anyway I recast into the same pocket and hook into a skipper. I'm focused and eventually land this little fellow, snap a picture, and back in he goes. Finally I got one. Mark-1 Steelhead-4. \

 

    I move down stream to a deep bend full of rocks and immedietly hook into a big fish. She jumps a few times and I know this is my first 30incher of the year. If I land this fish I am going to keep her for roe, but she gets caught up in the rocks and breaks my 4lb leader. Damn I am out of spawn sacks. I tie on a pink and white mini tube and cast it out. The bite seemed to turn off but as I get ready to move I hook into another good fish and eventually get her to the bank after a dangerous fight in the rocks. A solid 25 inch hen. I decide to let her go and she swims off. Finally the other pinners start showing up and I decide it is time for me to leave.

     I hit a few more spots along the river, but it is crowded, expecially for a weekday! Anyway I head to a McDonalds in my waders and chow down a breakfast sandwich. Finally the season feels like it is in full force. I'm going to head out East this coming weekend so until then, Tight Lines.

PRESEASON!!!

     Finally, I am getting word that it is worth making a trip to chase after some chrome. So today I started my preseason preparation. Got home from school and begged my mom to let me go do some shopping because I need a few things. I get permission, grab the keys to my 2004 Rav4, and was off to Rodmakers (if you have not been to Rodmakers, go check it out. Great Selection!).

   It was raining pretty heavy, but the clouds were starting to break alittle, setting up for perfect conditions this weekend... I pull into the parking lot and there is no cars parked infront of Rodmakers. Looks like I got it all to myself. I get so I excited when I go to buy some new gear, and today was special because I was gearing up for chrome. I hop out of my car, walk through the rain, and say hello to Ray as I walk right over to the line section. There it was... Cortland Endurance 8lb test in high visible orange. I have Ray spool it up and this line looks so damn good on my pin.

 



Next, I give Ray my fly rod to fix because I broke the tip while smallie fishing and I needed it fixed bad. Nothing worse than staring out a broken rod you love. While he was doing surgery on my rod, I went and grab few bags of egg hooks, some bb shot, and few bags of spawn sacks. Amazing how expensive spawn sacks can be. I need to go catch some kings and tie them myself someday soon! Finally, I have all I needed and hit the cash register. Only blew $32.94 on the trip, which isn't bad if you knew how much I love to spend money on fishing gear.



   Headed out to the car and started my journey home to go setup for Saturday. Once I get home I head straight up to my room to set up. Strung the line through the guides, added my float and swivels, hook, and Wallah! After I set my rod up, I catch myself practicing my casting with the new line in my backyard. The neighbors probably thought I am a freak, but boy did this line feel good compared to my old 12lb mono! Saturday is my home opener and I already got the alarm set for 5:45am. I am going to be checeking the river gages for the next 30 hours, but its all worth it. I have my gear laid out on my bedroom floor along with my centerpin hanging right above my bed on the wall. Thank god it is steelhead season because I am tired of fishing for catfish and smallies on the pin!



Hello everyone,

My name is Mark Barrett and I will be sharing my steelheading adventures with you. I am currently a Junior at North Royalton High School and play competitive soccer. I have a passion for steelheading and cannot get enough of it. My home river is the Rocky, but I will make a few trips out to the Chagrin and perhaps Grand over the course of the season. Over the next few months and maybe even years I will be sharing my life with you, not only from just the fishing stand point. I will talk about my techniques, gear, spots, friendships, soccer, and much more. So I promise you this will be the only boring post because it is my first and I need to lay down the basework.

Tight Lines