Had a nice time on Kettle Creek with a few guys from the shop last week.

Swung soft hackles and March Brown dries were the order of the day.

Water was high, but what else is new.

Browns were feeding on top and rainbows below.

We also fished the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning and did OK there as well.

Fishing Report: Stay home, enjoy the weekend. Rain has everything from Rocky river to the Susquehanna very high. The outlook over the next week however is very good with little to no rain in the forecast. For PA trout bums that means that next week and weekend are when you want to be on the water. Bugs you better have in dries and nymphs are march browns, tan caddis, sulphurs, green drakes, brown drakes, rusty spinners, adams, stimulators, ants, and beetles.

For river and lake smallies clousers, wiggle minnows, and crawfish will get it done. Good luck Dan and Pete.

Get geared up for summer fishing with new simms fishing shirts, $49.95-$89.95

Classic trout reels from Abel, Hardy, and Ross.

New simms rip-rap wet wading shoe with vibram sole and stud compatible $99.95

New light and mid weight summer fishing hats.

Nice wild PA brown trout.

big browns have been coming to the nets on some PA rivers.

Enjoying some trout time with my little brother in North Central PA.

Solid 18inch wild PA brownie.

26inch browns are not common in PA but if you fish hard enough and long enough you may be rewarded with a fish like this.

Fishing report: A few Ohio streams are coming into shape, many are still high. For anyone looking for lake run smallies the Conneaut and Elk will be good over the weekend, should be good numbers of large smallmouth in the rivers. Hot flies have been Clouser minnows, crayfish, and wiggle minnows.

Pa trout fishing has been tough as the rain has not missed our neighbor to the East and high water is making fishing difficult. If you are looking to fish PA this weekend Sulphurs are starting to hatch along with March Browns, Crane Flies, with Green Drakes right around the corner. The Good news is there are a few great streams in PA that will fish this weekend like the Little Juniata and Spring creek. Remember that matching the hatch is critical this time of year and that means not only the Bugs on top but also the nymph stage which trout will key on more than the Duns with the high water. For great PA fly patterns stop in the shop before you go.
Good Luck Dan and Pete.

Lake run smallmouth are making their annual appearance in the Conneaut, Grand, and Elk.

Bluebell wild flowers are and indicator that it is smallmouth time.

If you haven't tried it give lake run smallmouth fishing a try. They are typically in the rivers thru mid June and love clouser minows and topwater bugs.


Steelhead season seems to be winding down fast with the hot weather but the smallmouth action is picking up. Good numbers of bass are present in the Grand, Conneaut, and the Elk. Good luck Dan and Pete.

A fresh skipper is always a good way to start the Morning.

The New Simms Boa Boots are the flip-flops of wading shoes.
Easy on and off with no laces to tie, I like it. Now available at the Shop.

Wild Bill may be going swimming.

.Nope, but he did swing up a nice steelhead.

I heard through the grapevine that purple prom dresses had been hot so i tied a few up.

Sometimes those "hot" tips actually are true. Not often but sometimes

Hot indeed.

Then there's Justin.

With another one,

and another one.

Sometimes i have to just scratch my head and wonder. Here it was a perfect spring morning on the Chagrin with great conditions and the only anglers on the river fishing for a spring run fish are me, Justin and this heron. Oh well, we had a great morning.

River Report:
From the looks of things from here on out we are looking at maybe a smattering of newly arriving steelhead in the Chagrin but not many as they seem to be on the drop. We have some agents on the Conneaut today doing some recon as that should be prime for the next couple of days and we will let you know what we find out, or better yet give it a look yourself as there should be decent numbers of fresh steelhead and the smallmouth numbers should be very good as well. Overall steelhead season is winding down so get out for that last fix if you need to feel the pull one more time. Don't forget about the smallmouth fishery we have here in northeast Ohio. For those of you looking to get out and do some more fishing with the long rod smallmouth will be in the Grand and Conneaut rivers in force for the next month or so and provide great action on a 6 weight fly rod. If you are a fly fisherman who hangs it up after steelhead season you are really missing the boat with the smallmouth run.
Good Luck Dan and Pete

Lots of fresh fish in the Chagrin, and Conneaut.

Fresh fish like baitfish.

Big Baitfish.