Chagrin River Outfitters

Fish pics, cool new gear, fishing report.

2012-02-08T14:54:00.012-05:00

Some great new gear from Simms and Abel has arrived at the shop, fishing is good. What else do you really need?

Fishing on the Chagrin, Conneaut, and Grand has been very good the past week. A fresh push of fish moved into the rivers and the weather has been perfect. Thursday and Friday are looking very good but a cold snap is moving in for Saturday and Sunday so if you can get out before then have at it. If not stop in the shop, say hello, check out some new gear. Tight Lines from Chagrin River Outfitters.

New simms windstopper jacket, headwaters waist packs and the new headwaters gore-tex wading jacket are all available at the shop. If you are in the market the new wading jacket for $199.00 made from gore-tex is a great buy.

For all you swingers out there or those thinking of making the switch so to speak have a new reel to consider. The Abel switch has arrived at the shop and is a thing of beauty. American made craftsmanship and classic design make this a sweetheart.

Justin has been letting me catch the little ones.

But they take a little line and jump.

With a new fly tied on in the fading light of evening its time to swing up another one.

With a new baby at home and the rivers fishing so well i have been a little goofier than usual.

The Grand has been giving up some very nice fish.

In fact it has been to good, if that's possible.

Well at least for me, my phone gets a new fish pic from Bill or Justin every 15 minutes and i am sitting at the shop.

Here's another one from yesterday, in fact i don't have room or the time to put them all up.

When our river were blown the boys did pretty well up on Elk for a few days.

An Elk creek double is always nice, but even better in February.

Still fishing on steelhead alley, film tour is coming, sale stuff.

2012-02-01T11:34:00.010-05:00

Fly fishing film tour is on its way back to Cleveland, Tuesday March 20th is the date at Cedar Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights. Discount tickets, $12 vs $15, are available at the shop. Meanwhile on the fishing front things have still been pretty good, and as you know the weather is incredible. At this point i believe our weather pattern has been set for the rest of the winter and it should remain relatively mild, which means there should be ample opportunities to get on the water. Here at the shop things are interesting as always, Wild Bill has picked up a switch rod and began down the path which is swinging streamers. As expected he hasn't disappointed and has been picking them up pretty regularly.

50% off
If you have some money burning a hole in your pocket or just like great deals stop by the shop and check out our clearance items. Simms and Patagonia wading jackets, simms fleece, Patagonia fleece, wading pants, fishpond vests and more

Along with tickets and posters for the film tour i was the very happy recipient of an official bottle of Film Tour bourbon, how cool is that. No all i need is for them to send a few aspirin.

We worked hard for just a few fish yesterday on the Chagrin....But....it was 50 degrees on the last day of January, no complaints.

One of the fish landed was very fresh and found way upstream on the Chagrin....like Chagrin Falls upstream....she is in a hurry.

These two look guilty of something.

Wild Bill battles a buck on the Holy waters.

...and on a fly he tied.

Nice job Billy, now go catch another one.

Changing weather making conditions tough, shop sale, new tying materials.

2012-01-20T10:55:00.007-05:00

A few fish from the past week when we could get on the water. With the extreme swings in weather finding time to get on the water has been tough but when you can get out it's been decent. Forecast for the weekend looks very nice but cold temps the past few days will have shelf ice built up on certain areas of the rivers but there will be some fishable water if you have the itch to get out. If your not fishing and have cabin fever stop on down the shop and check out some new tying materials and some of the great deals we have on gear right now. Tight Lines.

Justin and i got out on the Conneaut last week and swung up a few fish.

Sliding one to the beach.

Fishing was hit or miss for us this day. We swung two good runs and found fish present and willing in one run but not the other.

Winter hen from the upper Chagrin.

Another hen that took a swung fly very aggressively for cold water conditions.

Get it while the gettin's good...

2012-01-09T16:43:00.017-05:00

...because no one knows how long this weather and fishing will last. Maybe another week or so if we are lucky. I know the boys were out in force today and having a pretty good time of it.

...inquiring anglers want to know. Well lets just see.

A very nice start indeed, a fly that has been deadly all Fall proves itself again today.

Similar fly but more of a bait fish color. The fresh ones like the bait fish color. This one came after changing flies and working the run again.

And they all like these colors, there may be a theme here.

Hit a run with some fish in it just before dark on Friday and found em hungry.

Had a few hookups and a few more grabs we missed.

My little brother takes a break from law school to try a switch rod for the first time and swung up a nice fish.

Don't know if we had been fishing over no fish most of the day or they just turned on before dark. We fished hard all day for just a couple fish then bam, bam, bam.

Justin brings a very pretty steelhead to hand.

Tight to another one.

Have you picked up on the theme yet?

Darker fish from the lower river, kind of surprising this time of year.

To answer the question we do have chrome. Some of us have been hitting it harder than others and forget to take a break. Pete has been burning it at both ends and is just plain tuckered out. Being hit with a serious cramp in his calf hindered him incapacitated for a few minutes which allowed me to take some photos. Don't worry he's ok now.

The hits just keep on coming...

2012-01-04T20:31:00.012-05:00

from the fish that is. For the end of December and Early January no complaints are being heard around steelhead alley. Actually that's not true, there are some anglers complaining of sore arms and others took advantage of the good fishing a little more than they should have over the holidays making time in the dog house a common theme around here lately. As for me i know this weather will not last forever and its easy to forget that this time last year we had been frozen over for a month so any reason you can make to go fishing is a good reason. Happy New Years everybody.

For tomorrow and the weekend the Chagrin and Rocky have been great all year so you can't go wrong there. Elk over in PA has more ice than water right now so call before going over there. Conneaut is still up a bit and the grand tribs should be at a good flow but may be iced over. Be careful as Fridays warm temp will get a good thaw going and may mess things up for Saturday.

Come to papa....

This little buck banged a swung streamer tonight on the Chagrin making my day complete.

Upper Chagrin tonight was gorgeous with the snow on the ground and the sun shining, oh yeah and plenty of elbow room.

This is an odd pic and i could not remember why i had taken it. then it hit me, the air temp was 25 degrees and Jim from Texas didn't want to get his hand to wet and cold from picking up the fish. We both decided to wait until later for the grip and grin but took this picture anyway. I Don't think you will be seeing this kind of shot on any covers.

This behemoth was harpooned the day before new years. As always with big fish we caught a break landing this one when it unwrapped itself from some branches coming off the bank. After the release it charged us several times and took a bite out of my wading boot, but after we got well out of the water he swam away.

Like i said we are working on the photography and its harder with gloves on, but i got the fish, sorry buddy.

Yeah, its been a good season so far.

Shop sale, fishing report. Happy New Years.

2011-12-29T18:50:00.008-05:00

New Years sale at the shop Friday Dec. 30th and Sat. Dec. 31st. 20%-40% off simms, orvis, patagonia, fishpond, and more.

Fishing report: Chagrin, Grand Tribs, and Elk were all good today and should be better tomorrow as they continue to drop. Conneaut will be another day but should be nice by Sat. Make sure you have some good nymph patterns, stoneflies and caddid in sz 10 and 12. Remember cold water means get your flies down and tailouts become important holding areas. Good Luck.

The big fish of the day, not a great pic but she was double digit heavy.

Fresh fish continue to move into our streams.

Bonus brown trout from today. Not the biggest brown but a nice surprise.

Colored up buck that was laying in a slow deep seam.

Father and son land their first steelhead together.

A happy buck that was grateful for being released.

Fishing/river report, shop is stocked with great gifts for all you anglers.

2011-12-20T20:48:00.011-05:00

It seems more and more anglers on steelhead alley are making the jump to switch rods and swinging streamers, i couldn't be happier. I think there is no better way to pursue these fish than with a sink tip, switch rod, and a big streamer pattern. Now don't get me wrong and think its the most productive, it certainly is not, if it's numbers you are after grab some bait and have at it. However if you are after a challenge and love arm jolting strikes that feel like lightning being shot through your body then this may be for you. The other thing i like about guys swinging flies is they have great stream etiquette, which at times is severely lacking on steelhead alley and is a breath of fresh air. If you are out on the rivers remember to give other anglers space and be courteous.

On a side note if you like the reports, blog and service we provide than remember to support the shop over the holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Swinging Pete knows what i mean, he gets all the grabs.

Brett making some pretty casts with his Scott Spey rod on the Chagrin this afternoon. We didn't catch many but we got grabs and caught fish swinging flies in December which is pretty good.

Another guy that knows all about swinging and has showed me some killer patterns, Thanks Goran.

The hot fly today was pretty much like the Avenger in the tying blog but 3x the amount of flash in the stained water.

Nothing reel big lately but plenty of nice medium sized fish to keep you busy.

This fresh buck just had to have it, wham.

When they say "The tugs the drug" they really mean it, once you get your first couple of pulls you have to have more. If you have an addictive personality stay away from swinging, it will consume you. Just thinking about it makes me want to go back out right now and its 9:30 at night.

Just in case you were wondering what happens to those ducks, fresh off the smoker, all we need is some cheese and crackers.

Fishing Report:
Solid. Things have been good on steelhead alley, weather and fish are cooperating nicely and we couldn't be happier. Rain is in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow but it beats ice and snow so we will wait and see. If you are heading out over the holidays try the Chagrin, Conneaut, or Elk. All three have been pretty consistent lately and i don't expect that to change, with fresh fish still moving in there are more steelhead in the rivers right now than there has been all fall. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Chagrin River Outfitters.

Happy Holidays, fishing report.

2011-12-14T14:50:00.011-05:00

Fishing remains very solid on the Ohio and PA tribs here in the Month of December. Rain today and tomorrow will have the rivers up a bit and off color for a few days but after that we are looking good. Temps next week still look very good and the all important overnight low temperatures they are calling for are very mild for this time of year. After a few years of tough fishing and bad weather it looks like we are catching a break. Remember Chagrin River Outfitters for the holidays.

This Colorado angler found fast and furious action on steelhead alley.

Greetings from the Salmon River.

That's a good looking run, should be a couple in there.

Getting grabs on the Salmon river.

It's the time of year for northern redlegs.

Got out with a buddy and managed to find a few fish.

Simms gear and steelhead weather just go together.

You always want just one more.

Support your local fly shop this holiday season, fish pics, river report.

2011-12-05T19:07:00.011-05:00

As always this holiday season please remember to support your local fly shops around the country wherever you may be. Specialty shops like Chagrin River Outfitters are what we all depend on as fly fisher man for reliable info, expert advice, and a familiar friendly face you can't get anywhere else and we all thank you for your support. Happy Holidays from Chagrin River Outfitters.

On the fishing front things have been good and there seems to be plenty of fish in our rivers. Right now we are waiting for things to subside after the last rain and it is turning colder so remember you don't have to be on the water at first light. Your better fishing will be late morning thru mid afternoon.

For the best selection and advice on fly rods look no further then your favorite fly shop.

The more Simms waders, jackets, and boots we sell the happier our customers seem to be getting. The best gear available really makes time spent on the water that much more enjoyable. Take it from me, my G3's are going on 4 years and still are like new.

This beast was wrangled out of the Chagrin last week. Mr. Lemiuex reports it was a heated battle and a stalemate for some time but the monster was finally subdued, he claims, due to expert fish fighting technique, which may or may not have included a few adult beverages.

Great gifts await the fly fisherman at CRO.

If you want to see Pete catch a fish just add water.

He and a friend had a great day swinging streamers on Sunday. Thanks for calling me.

Rivers are coming down, shop is stocked up for the holidays.

2011-11-30T12:04:00.010-05:00

Rivers are on there way down and we should be fishing again here by the weekend without any more rain. Elk and Grand tribs will be fishing Thursday. In the meantime enjoy some pics.

Chagrin this morning is flowing around 1500 cfs. Give it until Saturday.

Had a brand new fly fisher out Saturday on the Chagrin that wanted to learn how to swing flies. Tackling a sink tip and big streamer your first time ever takes some gumption and this guy had it. We worked on casting, mending, presentation, etc and had one good grab and hook up that end with a cartwheel. Not a bad morning.

Since the rivers were not fishing it was time to bag some ducks. We interrupted these gadwall and widgeon on there way to Mexico. There is not much prettier than watching a group of ducks work your decoys. Mighty tasty on the grill and smoker.

Steelhead rods galore, take your pick from all the top brands.

We are now carrying Patagonia fleece and capilene, the best in layering.

Made in the USA Simms Gore-Tex waders and wading jackets. The choice of fisherman and guides worldwide.

Fish pics, New Scott A4's at the shop, Happy Thanksgiving.

2011-11-21T10:38:00.011-05:00

Pictured in this spread are fishes representative of what we have in the rivers right now. Which means everything from fresh arrivals to colored up bucks who where some of the first arrivals in late September and early October. With the weather we have been having and the consistent fishing its smiles all around on steelhead alley. Also the great lakes most popular steelhead rod got an upgrade and is available here at the shop, stop in and check out the new Scott A4. Happy Thanksgiving everyone from Chagrin River Outfitters.

As the sun got lower in the sky Saturday fishing heated up.

High stick nymphing the heavy flows of the Conneaut Friday afternoon.

The fish seem to have a preference for nymph patterns lately. The good old pheasant tail was hot for us on Sunday.

This large buck likes egg patterns. He says they are easy to catch and full of fish oils and protein that make him big and strong like bull.

Aren't these the ones everyone likes to bring to hand. Fresh from the lake they fight like hell.

We have had a little bit of everything when it comes to weather but overall no ones is complaining. It has been an exceptionally nice Fall, and the simms waterproof backpack has made life much easier.

Legendary great lakes steelheader A. Mitch sent us this pic. I would liked to have hooked that beast. Awesome fish.

Salute to all the veterans, fishing report and pics.

2011-11-11T14:30:00.008-05:00

One of the few times you will have the rivers to yourself in these parts is when the weather turns ugly for the first time. This morning was one of those times. Snow, wind and cold kept most anglers home this morning but the fish were willing. Overall fishing has been a little on the slow side in Ohio but there are fish to be had.

Found a few chromers this morning.

And a few that have been here for a while.

Wild Bill has been catching a few NY Browns.

Nice Ohio Buck from the Conneaut.

Pretty spots on a PA Buck.

Upside down steelhead from the Chagrin River this week.

Hen from the Conneaut earlier this week.

Fishing report:
Here in Ohio things have been ok but not great. The low clear water has the fish a little spooky at times and they have been seeing some pressure. At the same time if you put your time in you should be rewarded with a couple hook ups. In PA Elk creek got a big push of chrome though the water is low. Here in Ohio small pods of fish are trickling in under the light of the full moon with plenty more waiting for the next rain. Weather forecast is good and there is chrome in the river, i say go fishing. Good luck Dan and Pete.

Very nice, very nice indeed.

2011-11-03T07:37:00.008-04:00

That's how i would describe the fishing thus far this Fall on the Ohio steelhead tribs. River flows have been good, weather has been conducive to spending time on the water, good numbers of fish in the rivers and the leaves have not been problematic. Oh yeah, and the best part of our season is still ahead of us, looking good.

Anglers are enjoying a great Fall run of steelhead on the Ohio tribs.

Rods have been bending all over steelhead alley this week. Swinging Pete was up to his old tricks again and tickled a few up Sunday and Monday on the Chagrin.

Ran into Will Turek throwing beautiful casts on the lower Chagrin Sunday with the new Ross 7 wt. switch rod and wouldn't you know it, Bam, fish on.

This young fellow is very proud of his first ever steelhead. I have to say i had a little steelhead envy myself when we put this one in the net, beautiful fish.

The best part about steelheading is the last few kicks of the tail and watching them swim away.

River report:
Ohio tribs have good numbers of fish and are starting to get fairly clear. Downsize fly size, go more natural and use fluorocarbon leaders and tippets for better success. The Grand river is another story, she is clearing nicely and fished well yesterday and should be very good today, tomorrow and over the weekend. In Pa fish numbers are through the roof on many stretches but low, clear water is making for tough conditions. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

New Gear, fish pics, river report, new shop hours for you.

2011-10-28T16:33:00.014-04:00

Simms waders, cold weather wading pants, fleece and wading jackets make for happy steelheaders. If it says simms you can trust it to perform.

Hot new flies from Greg Senyo arrived yesterday. These nymph patterns are tied by Greg for steelhead alley tributaries, steelhead beware.

Have some new reels in from Nautilus, Tibor, Ross, Hardy, and Abel. If a new reel is in your future look no further.

Chagrin River Outfitters is your switch rod headquarters. The best selection around and the staff that knows how to get you rigged up with the best lines, leaders, tips, and flies.

Swinging on the Conneaut was pretty successful on Wed. before she got to leafy.

Another fish That took a swung fly on Wed. a Purple hobo spey on a T-11 MOW sink tip from rio was the perfect combination.

Large buck that came on one of wild Bills sucker spawns he ties here in the shop.

This angler was on fire Monday. It was a workout just netting fish.

One of the bigger fish we landed on Monday. Lite brite zonker was this ones undoing.

New Shop Hours-Open 7 days a week to better serve fisherman.
Mon 10-6
Tue 10-6
Wed-10-6
Thurs 10-8
Fri 10-6
Sat 10-5
Sun 10-3

River report:
Most OhioTribs are to high for fishing right now but Pa tribs are prime. In Ohio the Grand tribs and a few smaller creeks will work and look for the Chagrin to be OK by Sunday and the Conneaut and Rocky by Monday. The Grand will be awhile. Fishing overall this Fall has been very good. Everyone coming in the shop seems to be finding a few fish on there outings which is great to hear. With this last rain more fish should have moved into the rivers which means things should only get better from here on out. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

Recent fish pics and river report.

2011-10-20T19:03:00.010-04:00

Fresh PA steelhead from a couple days ago.

Colored up buck that ate a pink sucker spawn.

I think this was our first real double of the season.

Pretty little PA buck couldn't resist an orange egg pattern.

Client pic of his first steelhead caught on his new switch rod while swinging flies.

Same fish as above, very pretty fall steelie.

Swinging on the Grand was pretty good before the rains.

Edited Friday Oct. 21st 9:30 am.

River report: The recent rains have many of our tributaries high right now but look East for better water. The Erie tribs like Elk have mostly been missed by the rain and drop/clear the quickest. Elk, Walnut, the mile streams, and the Grand tribs should all be fishable on Saturday and Sunday. If the forecast holds true and no more rain is in the area for awhile look for the Rocky, Chagrin, and Conneaut to all be fishable by mid week and have plenty of fresh fish in them. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

River report and a few pics.

2011-10-12T19:35:00.006-04:00

Brett making some nice casts with a spey rod on the Grand Monday. We caught a few and lost a few, nobody feel in, pretty good day.

Rigged up for some swinging on the Grand late morning. Sometimes on a sunny day in stained water a combination of yellow and orange is worth a try.

Fish are in the tribs but with the low water a little spooky in places, not so much in others. Look for faster water with thigh deep depth or better and it should be holding a few fish that are willing to take a fly.

Nice little guy from last week in PA.

Another PA football.

Fishing report:

On the Ohio tribs our fast start has slowed due to the warm temps over the last week. Doesn't mean the fish are not there just that they are not very grabby. With the cooler temps and cold rain look for that to change for the better. Right now the Grand is the place to be for the best conditions. If you are looking to try somewhere else the Chagrin has been ok as well. In the low flows look for fish holding in faster water with depth and you should find some takers.

Shop day This Saturday, Fishing report, no pics camera is broke.

2011-10-06T19:45:00.003-04:00

Shop Day Saturday October 8th: Learn from the best local pro's.

Programs and events:

Brett McCrae 8 am: Early season tactics and Lake Erie Browns. Learn early season guide secrets to putting more fish in the net this Fall and how to improve your chances for a trophy Lake Erie Brown Trout.

Jerry Darkes 9:30 am: Learn why a switch rod must be in your arsenal if you are serious about steelheading the Lake Erie tributaries. Reach more fish, extended drifts, effortless casting, better line management, fighting and landing fish are all made easier by these versatile fishing tools.

Jeff Liskay 10:45am: Switch rods for swinging streamers on Lake Erie tributaries. Learn the proper casts, rod and line combinations, sink tip essentials, and fly patterns to make swinging streamers your go to method for targeting steelhead.

Brett McCrae 1pm: Steelheading 101 seminar. Learn from a veteran steelhead guide secrets to make you a more successful angler this season. Topics covered will include choosing the right rod/reel/line combinations, locating fish throughout the changing seasons, what steelhead are eating and why, understanding river flows and conditions, rigging for success, choosing successful fly patterns, properly fighting and releasing fish.

Events:
Greg Senyo fly tying 10am-12 noon. Learn from Greg how to tie flies that trigger more strikes: nymphs, eggs, and minnow imitations for catching more fish this season.

Jeff Liskay and Jerry Darkes 12:15: Switch rod casting demonstration for better understanding how these rods work and why they are such a great tool for steelheaders.

Greg Senyo fly tying 2pm-3:30 pm: Greg explains how to tie and fish some his deadliest extended hook streamer patterns and why they hook more fish.

Fishing Report:
Chagrin and Conneaut are in great shape and had been fishing pretty well before the last rain, no reports since it has come down but it should be good. I fished the Chagrin down low this morning with no luck water was still just a little to dirty for flies, should be great conditions in the morning. Higher up we found much more favorable conditions but same results on the catching. Elk creek has been good but getting on the low side to be sure. If you are going out over the weekend make sure you are on the water at sunup and give it until 11 or so before it gets to warm, Chagrin and Conneaut will be your best bet. Good Luck, Dan and Pete.

Shop Day Sat. Oct. 8th. Early success for local steelheaders.

2011-09-19T17:19:00.012-04:00

The Lake Erie Shoreline and lower stretches of rivers are heating up quick.

Fishing Report 9/19/11:
First of all i am super excited to be giving a fishing report this early in the season. The last few years have been tough for us steelheaders with either no rain or way to much making for lousy conditions. This year things are looking up. Reports have been coming in the last few days of good steelheading action from Painseville(Grand River) to Erie(Elk creek) and anywhere in between with many fish being found in the surf and along the shoreline and fish making there way into our local tribs. Shorebound anglers have been doing well on big flashy baitfish patterns in the usual baitfish colors, pearl, olive, pearl/blue, and pearl/chartreuse. In the lower Grand a few fish are being taken by anglers swinging big leech, baitfish, and sculpin patterns on switch rods. Lower Elk got a nice push of fish on Sunday even though the water there is very low as they have not had the rain that we have. In fact the Conneaut is still very low as well with the Grand and Chagrin receiving the most rainfall thus far. If you are looking to fish the surf anywhere a creek or river enters the lake is a good bet. If you want to head to a river look to the lower stretches and check the flow gauges as the rain has not been evenly distributed and some creeks are good while others are very low. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

Learn to tie some of these so you can......

...catch more of these.

New fly pattern in fly tying blog, fly tiers needed, steelhead are coming.

2011-09-06T20:05:00.002-04:00

Prom dress posted in the fly tying blog.

Any newer fly tiers looking to learn new patterns and improve their tying skills we still have a few spots open for Greg Senyos afternoon fly tying session on Sat. Sept 10th here at the shop. Class is from 1:30-3:30 and will focus on nymphs, baitfish, and egg patterns, cost is $25 and includes materials. Students need their own tools and vise.

Saw a pic today of a 33inch chromer taken way upstream (gates mills) on the Chagrin this week. Also a few nice brown trout and steelhead being caught out east. I am not saying go fishing tomorrow but good times are coming our way.

Good Luck Dan and Pete.

Prospecting for Lake Erie chrome, new intruder shanks, fly tying with Greg Senyo, change of seasons shop sale Thurs. Sept. 1st thru Sat Sept. 3rd.

2011-08-29T19:27:00.009-04:00

Took my first foray to the lake Erie surf 0f 2011 last week in hopes of surprising a few early arrivals at the creek mouths in PA. Armed with my trusty 8 wt, a tibor riptide and a proven surf fly i thought i was ready to go. I thought wrong as much to my chagrin i had forgotten to bring along a valuable piece of equipment one needs when fishing the surf with a fly rod, a stripping basket. To the uneducated it is simply a medium depth basket buckled around an anglers waist to put fly line as it is stripped in after making a cast. To those who have fished both with and without one in the surf it is a valuable piece of equipment that keeps your line from becoming tangled in your feet, picking up weeds, washing down the beach with waves or tide whichever the case may be and otherwise causing an angler unwanted headaches. However a friend from the shop and i gave it a go anyways in somewhat churned up water and two foot rollers to no avail. We did however see a nice bunch of fish in the entrance of a tributary that will remain nameless. It was not a wasted trip however as we did find some very nice new holding areas and structure along a great flyfishing beach that has never been there in the past and should prove to be very productive, and we saw a bald eagle snatch a fish from the Lake. We'll get em next time.

Lake Erie shoreline last week looked very promising at first but upon closer inspection we found the water to be pretty dirty in close which means no fishes. It was fun to get out in the surf again and cast into that big body of water in hopes of connecting with that silver bullet, fat and silvery from a summer of feeding in the depths.

Not a surf patterns though it may work. This is my version of a great fly for swinging called a prom dress, originated by Scott Howell out west and introduced to me by a great angler that comes in the shop. This is also the first pattern i tied up on the new "Articulated Shank"(also pictured) from fish skull designed for intruders and extended hook style streamers available at the shop. If you tie these types of patterns or swing flies pick some up and give them a try, they are very easy to tie with and no more cutting up other hooks.

2 great fly tying classes with Greg Senyo Saturday Sept. 10th
at Chagrin River Outfitters. Call shop 440 247 7110 or stop in to sign up.
Class is limited to 12 students per session.
Cost per class is $25 and includes all materials
Students need to supply their own vise and tying tools.

Morning session: 10am-12 noon baitfish, articulated streamers, and
sculpin patterns for Fall swinging success.

Afternoon session: 1:30-3:30 Gregs deadliest eggs, nymphs, and buggers guaranteed to bring you more hookups this steelhead season.

Sale at the shop this Thursday Sept. 1st thru Saturday Sept. 3rd We still have a few scott A3 switch rods that are marked down $100.00, simms wading jackets that are perfect for fall steelheading will be on sale, fly tying materials are all 20% off so you can get started stocking your box for fall, fishing shirts, select trout rods, reels, hats, vests and much more so stop on down. We must be loosing our minds due to lack of fishing, no fishing makes us crazy.

It's almost time. Dan and Pete

New Sage One rods, Avenger: coming to a stream near you. Time for restocking that fly box.

2011-08-19T10:20:00.011-04:00

Straight from Bainbridge Island the new Sage One arrived at the shop today. After having a chance to test cast a few last week i was impressed with how well the rod tracked through the casting stroke. Most of the newer lighter rods tend to wobble or bend causing shock waves and sloppy casts while the new Sage one stayed true and on target. I also like the way sage has gone with the grips on not only this rod but all there new rods, they are just more comfortable than any other grips right now. Aesthetically the rod is very pretty to look at resembling the more traditional sage blanks from back in the day. A couple of downsides for this rod however in my opinion, and you all know i like to tell it how it is. First off is cost, ranging from $715-$745 this rod is not going to be for everybody but that is what it is. Secondly the Sage One may come with the most hideous rod tube i have ever seen, it's bad. However you don't cast the rod tube and for my money sage rods are the best across the board from top to bottom. Overall i would give this rod a 9 out of 10 which for me is a pretty high score. With this new rod and the VXP line introduced earlier in the year if you are looking for a mid range to high end rod sage has the best of both worlds.
Avenger: Deadly Fall Swinging Pattern

After fishing different versions of this fly the past few Falls i decided this was a winner and worth sharing. The inspiration or thinking behind this fly came about when looking through my box of hardware i used to cast from the shoreline, marinas, and lower rivers in September and October for steelhead way back when. What i noticed was lots of bright flashy spoons, spinners, and plugs in mainly chartruese, blues, and silvers. Lightbulb, tie a fly that emulates these other lures and colors that worked so well. Guess what???? It works.

The fly tying sections is being restocked and we have a great supply of Lady Amherst and Rhea feathers for only $8 for your intuder style patterns.

Not a great pic but coming in next week we will have the new intruder shanks that have just come out from the fellows at Fish Skull. Great shanks for articulated and extended hook patterns.

Sneak peek at fall streamer line up.

2011-08-06T10:53:00.009-04:00

After years of experimenting to find the right patterns, styles, and colors for swinging for steel
in the Erie tribs we have a bunch of very effective custom patterns coming your way this fall.

A small sample.

Very Deadly.

Justin will be taking care of the intruders.

In all we should have about 18 proven patterns that will get you that tug.

On the fishing front locally the smallies have been munching crayfish pretty good and Bigmouths are slurping popping bugs early and late. Good luck Dan and Pete.

One last trip to the Yough for the year, tying for steelhead.

2011-07-29T14:19:00.011-04:00

A few pics form Thursday morning on the Youghiogheny River in PA. Being a tailwater the water stays nice and chilly on this PA gem, even in Late July and can provide pretty nice action.

Bringing in a Brownie...

and a rainbow.

Average Yough bow that took a sz 20 adams.

Chunky Brown...

and his little brother that found a small black streamer to their liking.

Another rainbow comes to hand.

as does another brown.

Throw in some chunky smallies and spending a time on the river with your brother you have a pretty nice morning of fishing.

On the local front it seems the carp chumming has been good based on the activity in the river across form the shop and the smallie fishing has been ok as well.

Around the shop we have been tying up some sweet steelhead flies for the upcoming season and getting anglers geared up for fishing trips around the country. If you are going on a trip and need help getting geared up stop on down.

Good luck Dan and Pete.

State College, PA. What's for Dinner, hackle frenzy, sunnybrook trout club outings.

2011-07-16T10:34:00.015-04:00

Sunnybrook Trout Club Outings Sat. Aug 13th, Sun. Aug 14th, and Sat. Aug 27th.
Time: 8am-2pm
Place: Sunnybrook trout club, Castalia, OH.
Cost: $80.00 per outing
Includes 6 hrs fishing and lunch at the club. Hosted by Chagrin River Outfitters. Please call shop at 440 247 7110 or stop in to sign up.

State College, PA Photo Essay.

Almost everywhere welcome sights to flyfisherman.

Like i said ALMOST everywhere.

Working terrestrials along the bank.

Size 20 rusty spinners did the trick for early risers on Spring Creek.

Mid-Day is for ants and beetles.

Clear, cold, spring fed.....

means wild brookies.

There were a few bugs around like this bwo.

Prettier water is hard to find.

Gotta be a couple in there.

Fresh wild sockeye fillets from a customer just returning from Alaska ready for the grill.

Dinner time.

Bad time to be a chicken.

On the fishing front PA trout fishing is still good but getting tougher, ants, beetles, midges, and tricos will all work. Locally smallies have been biting and it's getting to be prime time for carpin' in northeast Ohio. Good Luck and stop on in.

It's been really fishy around here.

2011-07-06T11:34:00.006-04:00

Recently the hairdressers are outnumbering the fly tiers 4-1. But they pay cash and smell better so we are not complaining.

Looking downstream on a recent float on the Yough with Laurel Highlands guide service.

Smallies are becoming more active in this tailwater.

And trout are on the feed as well.

Hooked up to a strong tailwater bow with no other anglers or boats seen all day.

Locally river smallie fishing has been good and farm pond bass and gills have been hot. Largemouth are stacked at Presque Isle and trout fishing around state college is worth exploring as well.

Good Luck Dan and Pete.

Trout, trout, and Happy Independence Day.

2011-06-29T18:41:00.008-04:00

Had some fun with my Daughter, Brother, and Niece on a little Ohio spring creek catching rainbows.

Nothing more fun than seeing little ones fight the big one.

Pa trout trips have been pretty good still. A wild PA brookie is hard to beat.

Though we have decided on wet wading and forgo the waders which is very comfortable this time of year. The new simms rip-rap sandals and guide wading pant are just the ticket.

Fishing report:
Locally the resident smallie fishing has been productive with some good sized fish being taken on the upper Chagrin and the Cuyahoga in the past few days. Large Clousers and crawfish patterns have been good.
Happy 4th Dan and Pete

Happy Fathers Day, headin back to PA, tailwater trout pics from laurel highlands guide service.

2011-06-18T11:07:00.006-04:00

Trout fishing is heating up on the Youghiogheny tailwater in PA. Only 4 hours away, worth checking out.

Well fed rainbows and browns in good numbers have been coming to the nets for the boys at laurel highlands guide service over in PA. If interested in booking a trip check out thier website at www.laurelhighlandsguideservices.com/

For me it's been a busy week of catching up at home and the shop so no new fish pics. On the flip side i have a group of anglers to entertain in PA mid next week and am looking forward to getting out again.

Until Next time tight lines, Dan and Pete.

Sale at the shop June 16th-18th, PA trout trip pics, blood suckers on the Chagrin.

2011-06-12T10:34:00.012-04:00

Myself and 5 other anglers just returned from a 3 day trout fishing trip in
North central PA and enjoyed some very good dry fly fishing in a beautiful setting.

The highlight of the trip may have occurred on our first evening of fishing as we found ourselves
in the middle of the greatest green drake spinner fall i have ever been witness to. The fishing had been pretty good when the big white flies began to make there appearance. As they started to descend and land on the water we watched in amazement as the pool in front of us became alive with rising trout. Were there was once 12 rising trout became 24, then 40, and in a matter of minutes there seemed to be a hundred or more fish feeding with reckless abandon all around us. It was an event none of us will soon forget and was a great start to our trip.

The next couple of days everyone became immersed in the fishing and the surroundings. As fish rose to flies or nymphed under the surface figuring out what they were eating became the focus of our attention.

Many nice trout were caught and released fishing dry flies with a nymph dropper. I would say it was about 50/50 on what the fish took.

The last morning we targeted fish in faster runs and riffles using one of my favorite dry flies of all time that many people don't seem to use any more. The classic royal wulff. Ray found out just how effective it can and for a time the trout could not resist his offering.

A nice rainbow that fell to a royal wulff dry.

It was hard to leave such a beautiful place on such a perfect day but all good things come to an end.

On a side note if you ever find yourself in this place don't say i didn't warn you.

Not a great pic but on a river adventure with my daughter on the upper chagrin i saw many beds in the riffles and could not quite figure out what was making them until i came upon this nasty pair of lampreys spawning around Jackson field. It looks like the dam being out will benefit more than the steelhead and smallmouth.

Shop Sale this week June 16th-18th. Come on down for that special gift for Dad, the recent graduates, or for that special something you have had your eye on.

Fishing report:
For PA trout anglers the big hatches are winding down but the fish are definitely looking up. If you are on your way the Slate drakes are on right now as well as some caddis, Brown drakes, and ants and beetles will start working as well.

On the local front i have been out of touch but i have reliable reports that the lake run smallies are hard to come by and seem to be moving out.

Couple fish pics, river report, shop sale.

2011-06-04T12:44:00.005-04:00

I don't know if i posted this pic yet or not but i saw it and said man that's a big brookie. This one is courtesy of my little brother at laurel highlands guide service. If you are looking for a great float trip this summer close to home give them a call.

My new friend Tony and i did a little fly fishing school together at one of the local trout clubs and had a great time. We started with the basics of casting, knots, etc. and worked our way up to putting a fly on and catching a few fish. Other than the fact that he is an old baseball player and wanted to throw the rod in the water every cast, i would say he took to it like a fish to water. Congrats Tony on taking the first few steps, your on your way.

Did somebody give Kilby to much coffee this morning, he's killing me.

For all the great customers of Chagrin River Outfitters and all the guys that bellyache about never having a sale be here June 16-18th for a great sale just in time for fathers day, graduates, and anyone looking to pick up that special something they have had their eye on.

River report:
Pa trout fishing is on fire. Bugs are hatching, fish are eating. If you are thinking of making the trip stop thinking and get going. Green and brown Drakes, tan caddis, and a few march browns have the fish looking up. Mornings and evenings are prime time.

For you local fisherman the lower,lower, grand is loaded with white bass and a smattering of good size smallmouth. Clouser minnows and white zonkers are hot.

Happy Memorial Day, PA trout pics.

2011-05-28T10:58:00.007-04:00

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.

New gear, PA trout pics, fishing report.

2011-05-20T10:05:00.009-04:00

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.

Bronzebacks and Bluebells on the Erie tribs.

2011-05-13T15:12:00.004-04:00

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.

Chromers, skippers, dropbacks, smallmouth and new Simms Boa wading Boots.

2011-05-09T07:09:00.013-04:00

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

Smallmouth and chromers in our local tribs....

2011-05-03T13:38:00.012-04:00

Lots of fresh fish in the Chagrin, and Conneaut.

Fresh fish like baitfish.

Big Baitfish.

Purple/pink in dirty water is a good call.

Swinging on the Grand Monday.

Good sight fishing on the Grand Tribs.

Smallmouth like big baitfish patterns as well.

Quite a few of these guys in the lower Elk and Lower Conneaut.

River Report:
More rain has the tribs blown once again. Look for the Grand tribs to start fishing by Thursday and the Chagrin and Conneaut should be good by the weekend. There still seems to be plenty of fresh fish coming into the rivers which hopefully will continue. With this cold rain and low overnight temps look for the steelhead to stick around for awhile. Good Luck Dan and Pete

Hooray, we missed the rain, now lets go fishing.

2011-04-28T14:31:00.005-04:00

Swung some big pretties on the Chagrin last night to no avail.

So a few fish roll but the water was still pretty brown. It is looking like great conditions for the weekend and there will be plenty of fish.

The Chagrin will be prime for the weekend as will the Rocky. The Conneaut should be on fire by Sunday and the Grand is blown out until October. The Grand tribs are fishing OK as well. The few reports we have been getting are all good with lots of big fresh fish so lets hope they are right and we can salvage a couple of weeks from this season. See you on the water, Dan and Pete.

What to do, get a free reel and 30 day trout club membership, spin bugs with April Vokey, check out the film tour?

2011-04-27T08:43:00.018-04:00

It's time for that new rod:
Free Orvis access mid arbor fly reel and free 30 day membership at Pine Lake trout club with purchase of an Orvis Helios, Hydros, Access, or Superfine fly rod only at Chagrin River Outfitters. Available from April 30th thru May 14th.

Come to CRO and hang out with fellow anglers, like April Vokey and tie some flies.

Maybe even get some tying tips.

Or you can stop by the shop and pick up a film tour tickets which is showing on the westside Wed. May 4th @ 8pm. Showing at The links Golf Course, 26111 John Rd, Olmstead Falls, OH44138. Tickets are $12 and available at Chagrin River Outfitters.

Fishing/river report:
On the fishing front it has been a wacky week. More rain has the big rivers blown while the smaller tribs have been ok. There are plenty of fresh fish in the rivers and fishing should be fantastic if we ever get to try the big water. Watch the weather and if the rain holds off look for the Rocky and Chagrin to be prime by Friday. In the meantime stick to the small stuff like the Grand Tribs, and Elk and you will be OK.

Steelhead report and river conditions. April Vokey in the shop Monday April 25th

2011-04-21T16:27:00.005-04:00

Plenty of these in the rivers, but with all the rain it has been hard to get at them.

It's been more of the same for Ohio steelheaders recently, a couple of days of good fishing squeezed in between 10 days of high water. The rivers are dropping nicely and we will have opportunities to fish tomorrow on Elk, The Grand Tribs, and the upper Chagrin by tomorrow afternoon. They are calling for more rain on Friday afternoon which would be bad but it is supposed to come in the form of thunderstorms which are very hit or miss, lets hope for a miss. Good luck and we will see you in the shop and on the water, Dan and Pete.

April Vokey with a Biggun'.

April Vokey of Flygal Adventures is a top guide for steelies!April is a flyfishing guide and instructor who lives in Chilliwack, B.C., where she spends most of her days on the local rivers hunting for wild steelhead,with her Spey rod in hand. Also an avid fly tyer, April’s passion lies with classic and modern salmon patterns and techniques. Join her at Chagrin River Outfitters On Monday April 25th from 5-7 as she ties a couple of her favorite steelhead flies, talks about swinging flies, and shares some of her techniques that make her so successful on some of the toughest fish in the world.

Steelhead outlook and PA trout pics

2011-04-17T20:41:00.011-04:00

Jim's first steelhead caught on the Chagrin last Thursday.

Wild PA brown that whacked a baby brown trout imitation.

This is for everyone that comes in the shop asking for flies for big browns that think i'm crazy when i hand them a 5 inch streamer pattern. This giant brown had just eaten two 6 inch salamanders, 2 large crawfish, and was still hungry. Big trout eat meat.

Conditions were perfect for targeting browns, rising water means stream bred brown trout are on the feed.

Another one that smacked an olive sculpin.

A few for the frying pan.

Yikes, another impressive brown that was looking for a big meal.

High spring flows means getting down deep with sinking lines and big flies.

Pennsylvania elk are getting more and more numerous.

Rivers are up again and more rain tonight is what the man is saying. Lets hope it is not to much as the fishing was really starting to heat up. Check back later in the week for updates but right now if the rains don't come Elk will fish, the Grand tribs, and maybe the upper Chagrin by tomorrow afternoon. If the rain does come we should be OK by Friday and for the weekend. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

River report with pics...

2011-04-11T20:05:00.006-04:00

Of a heavily spotted smallmouth, someone told me once what these markings are from but i forgot, sorry. Fresh fish from a chilly morning last week.

Ready to roll this morning for some swinging on the Chagrin.

Everyone at the shop wants to know when will it stop raining and where are the fish?

Well the fish are in the rivers, in the Lake, or in somebody's smoker. I don't know when it will stop raining. I do know that anglers on the upper Chagrin today did pretty well with fresh fish that smashed flies, broke some lines, and broke some hearts in the process. The rest were brought to the net, photographed and released to fight another day. With todays rain the Chagrin will probably be unfishable until late tomorrow afternoon when the upper stretches will clear up enough for fly anglers to fish again. The Conneaut is dropping into shape and should be ready to go by tommorrow or Wendsday at the latest which gives us a nice outlook for the rest of the week. Elk Creek also got a nice push of fresh fish as well. Lite brite zonkers, river roe eggs, black psycho princes and steelhead princes have been very hot. Good Luck and see you in the shop and on the river, Dan and Pete.

River update Friday April 8th...

2011-04-07T20:29:00.004-04:00

Well the rain clouds paid use a visit again and dumped some more rain today. The Chagrin is blown out as well as the Rocky, V, and Grand. The good news is the further East you go the less rain the rivers received. The Conneaut should be in good shape by Sunday, Elk Creek is fishing in PA and some smaller East side tribs will be OK for the weekend including the Grand Tribs. Good Luck Dan and Pete. In the higher stained water Black and Purple buggers, Orange and Chartreuse egg patterns and large (sz 6-8) rubber legged nymphs will work best. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

April+warm rain = fresh fish.

2011-04-04T16:04:00.003-04:00

Good fish from the Grand on Friday.

We are in the middle of a good rain storm here in Northeast Ohio on this fine spring morning. Currently we have received around an inch of rain with a little more supposed to fall this afternoon. Look for a good push of fish to be in the rivers when they start to clear as all signs are pointing towards a strong run. The little skippers that usually precede the runs of bigger fish have been moving upstream for about a week and this warm rain will raise water temps and get the bigger fish on the move. As always we will keep you up to date on conditions but look for this rain to have everything blown out until late in the week. Good Luck Dan and Pete.

Pretty good....

2011-04-01T06:56:00.003-04:00

has been the general feeling about the fishing this past week and going into the weekend. Nobody seems to be finding great numbers of fish in any one area but everyone seems to be finding a few here and there which is ok, as soon as the water begins to warm numbers will increase. For the weekend the Chagrin and Rocky are on the low side while the Conneaut is getting low as well but still has some color. Also after mixed reports on conditions on the Grand i went and looked at it yesterday down low around the 84 bridge and it looked really good, in fact i'm going there now. Good Luck Dan and Pete

Fishing forecast edited 4/30/11.

2011-03-29T19:25:00.006-04:00

Had to make an adjustment for all you steelhead anglers on the water conditons for the area. We thought the Grand would be in good shape for the coming days but it is still very off color and getting worse due to the melt and snowfall. The good news is the Chagrin is still in good shape with fresh fish moving in every day and the conneaut is looking very good and fishing well also. The Rocky west siders is still fishing good though it is getting very low and clear which makes the catching more difficult. We have been doing very well on lite brite zonkers, birds nest nymphs, river roe egg patterns, and pale orange and cream colored egg patterns. If you are heading to the area we are currently getting a good amount of snow that will bring the rivers up some tonight and probably melt off tomorrow making friday a bit questionable but we will see what happens and keep you up to date. Good Luck Dan and Pete. Almost forgot to tell you, i saw my first ever river otter(or any type of otter for that matter) yesterday on the Chagrin which was very exciting.

Reports are coming in strong and a few pics from the upper Chagrin.

2011-03-26T08:05:00.005-04:00

The amount of new water we as steelhead anglers have in South Chagrin Reservation is a blessing, the amount of fishable water that will actually fish well is amazing. Every bend reveals a new hole, run or riffle that looks like the fish will stack up in.

Cold clean tributary that may see some naturally reproducing steelhead.

Speaking of natural reproduction. Nice drop back that ate a big streamer on her return to the lake.

Reports from the last day and a half have been very good with anglers reporting good numbers of fish on both the East and West side tribs. Fresh fish seem to be coming in in good numbers as the ratio of fresh chrome fish vs the holdovers is 3 to 1. Orange egg patterns, great lakes sparrows, lite brite zonkers, and black birds nest nymphs have been hot. Things are looking up, good luck, Dan and Pete.

Weekend outlook, shop day tomorrow with great speakers, specials, and prizes.

2011-03-25T08:08:00.003-04:00

With a nice sunny outlook for the weekend and early next week it seems like we are finally going to get a nice extended period of time to get out and do some fishing. Flows on the East side are high but dropping fast due to the cold temps. Visibility will be an issue tomorrow on the larger tribs but by Sunday the Chagrin and maybe the Connie will be in good shape. For today and Saturday look to the smaller East side tribs, Elk Creek, the Rocky and the V on the west side for best results.

Good Luck.

Shop Specials for Saturday March 26th.

Free fly line with any rod/reel purchase.
10% off all fly tying materials
Free Simms steelhead layering system giveaway
Simms door prizes and more

10 am Eggs, Eggs, Eggs: Jeff Blood, originator of the deadly blood dot fly, will present on the importance of egg patterns for springtime steelhead and why fish key in on this plentiful food source and how to best match them with flies. This is a must see for steelhead fisherman which helps demystify which egg patterns you should be fishing and when.

11:30 am Steelheading A-Z Jerry Darkes will cover what every beginning steelhead fisherman should know before they get on the river from fly rods, fly reels, fly lines, flies, stream flows, rigging up and more.

1pm Switch Rods for Steelhead: Matt Hynes will explain switch rods and why they are increasing in popularity among steelheaders both young and old. Matt will break down rod weights, line choices, swinging flies and indicator fishing into its basic parts to help you decide if this is the right rod for you. **Switch Rod Casting Demonstration with Matt Hynes following 1pm presentation**

Fly Tying: Jerry Darkes
Tube Flies for steelhead 1:30 2:30
Springtime Egg patterns 10-11:30
Must have nymphs and streamers 1-2

Shop day schedule for next Saturday March 26th and river report.

2011-03-20T11:01:00.002-04:00

Shop Specials for the day:

Free fly line with any rod/reel purchase.
10% off all fly tying materials
Free Simms steelhead layering system giveaway
Simms door prizes and more

10 am Eggs, Eggs, Eggs: Jeff Blood, originator of the deadly blood dot fly, will present on the importance of egg patterns for springtime steelhead and why fish key in on this plentiful food source and how to best match them with flies. This is a must see for steelhead fisherman which helps demystify which egg patterns you should be fishing and when.

11:30 am Steelheading A-Z Jerry Darkes will cover what every beginning steelhead fisherman should know before they get on the river from fly rods, fly reels, fly lines, flies, stream flows, rigging up and more.

1pm Switch Rods for Steelhead: Matt Hynes will explain switch rods and why they are increasing in popularity among steelheaders both young and old. Matt will break down rod weights, line choices, swinging flies and indicator fishing into its basic parts to help you decide if this is the right rod for you. **Switch Rod Casting Demonstration with Matt Hynes following 1pm presentation**

Fly Tying: Jerry Darkes
Tube Flies for steelhead 1:30 2:30
Springtime Egg patterns 10-11:30
Must have nymphs and streamers 1-2

**Get a sneak peak as local guides show you some of their most productive patterns.

River Report: Right now the smaller Grand Tribs are getting pounded by anglers who are finding fresh run fish while many others are fishing the higher flows of the Chagrin and Conneaut hoping to do battle with a spring run silver bullet. Bait anglers and swingers on the Chagrin and Conneaut should do well the next couple of days while fly guys indicator fishing will be better off sticking with the smaller tribs for now and hitting the bigger water tomorrow. Elk Creek is still producing but mostly holdover darker fish with very few fresh fish in the system. Good luck to everyone the next couple of days, it should be very good. Dan and Pete

Gone Fishing...

2011-03-18T05:41:00.002-04:00

this morning and could not be happier. This time a week ago we had 16 inches of snow, this morning i am rocking shorts, flip flops, and a t-shirt on the road to meet clients to go fishing. On the fishing front the Grand tribs and Elk look good for the weekend and some of the medium sized Ohio tribs are fishing as well. For the Big Rivers the Rocky is coming into shape and should provide great fishing this weekend for you westsiders. On the East side the Chagrin, and Conneaut are still a few days away while the Grand as always takes much longer. Will post some pics tonight, tight lines Dan an Pete.

The time has just about come.

2011-03-13T14:24:00.010-04:00

For some serious steelheading to start going down in Northeast Ohio. We still have some snow on the ground which will melt off in the next couple of days and then the forecast looks really good. Very little to no precipitation in the 10 day forecast and temps in the mid 40's to low 50's will be just what the Dr, ordered to get this ball rolling. Here at the shop decided not to wait any longer and began the guiding season today with pretty good results with a handful of clients on the water. At this point everyone seemed happy to just be on the water and catching a few fish was a very nice bonus. Look for the catch rate to only go up from here as more rivers began to fish in Ohio and steelhead continue their annual trek into our beautiful Lake Erie tributaries. I will post some pics from today with the next report.

Don't forget to get your 2011 fishing license if you have not done so already. Old ones have expired so it's time to renew them. Reports from Ohio today include a few fish caught on both Payne and Mill creeks and Elk Creek in PA is a nice sexy green with anglers having some luck with a mix of fresh and older fish. Again look for the rivers to settle down in the next 4 days or so and fishing to begin in earnest in Ohio by the weekend. I know everyone is ready.
Tight Lines Dan and Pete.

When will we get a break?

2011-03-08T14:17:00.003-05:00

Just as things start to look good for steelhead alley more rain is on the way. However those anglers fishing the smaller tributaries have been catching some nice fish while the rest of us wait for the larger rivers to come down. The Grand tribs have been producing OK as well as Elk creek in PA which clears very quickly. Remember we are still well ahead of schedule as the rivers this early in March are typically still frozen solid so rain and swollen rivers right now is a good thing and it will not be long until we are all enjoying a stellar spring season.

In the meantime tie some more flies and stop in the shop to see all the great new gear that is arriving daily. My new favorite has to be the Sage VXP 10 ft 7 weight. Far and away the best steelhead stick i have seen, think XP but lighter, little softer tip and more responsive, it's phenomenal. Pair the VXP up with a Bauer or Lamson with rio steelhead line and you have a rig that can't be beat.

The other thing you should all be doing right now is exploring the possibilities of public access on the Chagrin right by the shop. The South Chagrin Reservation has about 4 miles of continues public access from South Woodland rd south to Miles road with some great water to explore. Find it now, where to park, etc. fish it when the river comes down.

Tight Lines, Dan and Pete.

2011-03-01T22:03:00.000-05:00

After the flood...Sweet feathers.

2011-03-01T18:15:00.004-05:00

Some perspective.

This is the view in Gates Mills for the last 104 yrs.

This is what it will look like from now on. How things change. It will not be long until steelheaders are recalling piscatorial pursuits that start with the phrase "I remember when the dam was still in Gates Mills I was......". Remember when.

We recently scored some sweet rhea feathers but not many so get em' quick. Perfect for tying intruders!

Normally hear i would add some river reports but we just got done with a fly tying class and Matt broke out the whiskey so i am out.

New Simms camo packs, Euclid sportsman show This Sat. Fishing outlook. Call and book your guided spring steelhead trip today.

2011-02-24T17:36:00.006-05:00

Simms new camo packs come in both a waist pack and a sling pack and are available at the shop.
Very cool piece of gear.

The Euclid Sportsman Show is this week starting tomorrow and running thru Sunday at the Great Lakes Expo center off of rt 90 and Babbitt rd. Saturday is packed full of seminars including our own steelhead seminar at 7pm. If there make sure to stop by our booth to say hello.

On the fishing front the good news is the rivers are wide open and some fish are being caught. The flip side is a winter storm is going to dump a bunch of snow tonight and make for a nasty weekend which is then going to melt and blowout the rivers early next week as temps hit the 50 degree range. However the outlook is very good as it seems we are going to have just about all of March available for great fishing here on steelhead alley and that should make everyone very happy. We have just opened up the books for our guided spring steelhead trips and are planning on starting March 8th so call the shop and reserve your spot today 440 247 7110. Tight lines Dan and Pete.

Maybe we will get lucky this spring....

2011-02-20T16:10:00.004-05:00

and have a nice long season. With the recent warm up and rain on the way it looks like we are in for some fishing in the near future. The question is how long will it last? The answer is i don't know but i will be on the water while it last. I am hopeful that we will have open water from here on out which would make for more than 2 months of spring steelheading which sounds great after the poor Fall we had.

The Chagrin was raging in Gates Mills. I literally saw three whole trees floating down the river.

Around the bend at Wilson mills Rd things are wide open.

I went to Pete's house to steal some fire wood and found him shoveling snow which made my day.

River Report:
As of now all the rivers have opened up and fishing is in our future. The Grand Tribs, Elk Creek and other small tribs are fishing today while the bigger stuff is still high and dirty. With a 1/2 inch of rain expected tonight look for later in the week and weekend to be fishable on many of our tribs. As always when it comes to conditions and catching we will keep you up to date. Here is to hoping for the best Spring in recent memory. Dan and Pete

Trout fishing with George Daniels Sat Feb. 19th @ shop, spring is in the air.

2011-02-16T10:12:00.002-05:00

Attend this event and your trout fishing knowledge will triple, seriously.

Saturday February 19th

Chagrin River Outfitters welcomes George Daniel (Fly Fishing Team USA) to present three brand new presentations to make you a better trout fisherman. Programs begin at 10am and begins with techniques to effectively cover water and catch more fish when fishing a "dry/dropper" combo. This will be followed up by "Small Stream Fishing" which focuses on tips and techniques for becoming a better small stream angler. Learn ways to better present your fly and approach the water without spooking wary small stream fish. Lastly George will share with us some highlights and adventures of the past few years fly fishing has provided for him, including the great Cicada fishing in central PA that occured in 2008, Penns Creek, and New Zealand nymph fishing. Be sure not to miss as George reveals a few of his secret techniques and shares stories that make him on of the best fly fisherman and teachers in the world year in and year out.

George began fly fishing at age 6 while growing up in Potter County, PA and credits Joe Humphreys for the bulk of his knowledge along with many national and international industry professionals. George has been seen on ESPN and OLN while competing in the Great Outdoor Games and the Fly Fishing Masters and is a certified FFF Fly Casting Instructor. George’s passion is in Fly Fishing Education and teaching others to enjoy this leisure activity. He logs over 200 days a year on trout waters near and far from his home in Lock Haven, PA.

Also lets not forget about spring steelhead season and this weather has it coming to mind. This nice warm up has snow and ice rapidly melting and loosening up our waterways. With the warmest temps and rain still to come we will have to see what happens. No doubt there will be plenty of high dirty water by the weekend. The question is will we have decent weather to fish in when the rivers become fishable next week????? We will keep you posted. See you Saturday.

Fly tying with Greg Senyo this Saturday.

2011-02-08T21:31:00.002-05:00

Come on down...

Saturday February 12th

CRO welcomes Greg Senyo for fly tying demonstrations that include some of his old standby's as well as hot new fly patterns for targeting spring steelhead. Greg will also explore some of the new fly tying materials on the market and how they are best used to tie more realistic and productive fly patterns. Program runs from 11am to 3pm. This is a can't miss event for all us fly tiers and will have you spinning your best bugs ever.

New Simms Freestone wading boot in stock, new fly tying materials, wading jacket sale.

2011-02-01T17:58:00.006-05:00

The new simms freestone wading boot arrived today and it looks like it was worth the wait. Decked out with toe guards, heel guard, pull on tab, vibram soles and only $129.00. Can't go wrong with this one.

We also have a few of the new Orvis superfine touch fly rods which replaced the way to stiff trout bum series of a few years ago. This one will take you back to the original superfine rods that were the full flex, gentle rods that delivered a fly perfectly with very little effort. If you are in the market for a smaller stream rod that delivers on both style and function come on down and check them out.

Continuing with Orvis the new hydros and access reels have arrived and while not having fished them yet they appear to be a great reel for the money. Very similiar to the mid and large arbors but with a more modern spin on the design.

Some great deals remain on Patagonia and Orvis wading jackets as well.

That's about it around here, oh we did get a bunch of new tying stuff in as well that i almost forgot about. Also upcoming seminars include Greg Senyo fly tying demos on the 12th and George Daniels "trout master" presentations on the 19th, for more details on these check out the events page. Until next time, Dan and Pete.

Kevin Feenstra at the shop this Saturday Jan. 22nd, new simms G4 and guide wading jackets have arrived and they are sweeeeeet!!!!

2011-01-18T11:30:00.012-05:00

Saturday January 22nd

CRO welcomes Kevin Feenstra as he will be presenting on swinging flies for great lakes steelhead and tying with synthetic materials and how to incorporate these materials into steelhead flies to catch more fish. Presentation is from 10am-11am with fly tying from 11:30am to 2:30pm. Kevin ties some of the most productive and innovative flies patterns found anywhere and is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to catching steelhead. No matter how you fish for steelhead this presentation will help you be more successful.

If you want more of this make sure to be here for the seminar on Sat.

You know what big fans of simms we all are here at the shop and they are doing it again this year. Continuing to improve on the best fishing gear there is and lowering prices. Much of there core gear is all new this year and less expensive. New guide jacket now only $299.00 in simms orange will blow your mind. Check it out.

Fish pics form last week, river report, shop news.

2011-01-13T10:31:00.011-05:00

Many of those who got out on the water last week found some very good fishing in both Ohio and PA. Here at the shop we hit Elk hard early in the week, doing very well and then stayed closer to home as the Upper Chagrin conditions became more fishable and found some good fishing there as well. Other reports came in from anglers on the Rocky and Conneaut that managed to catch a mix of fresh and older steelhead on both spinning and fly tackle. Again it was anglers in the know who got out and took advantage. These windows of opportunity to get out and catch fish this time of year are fairly common but can be hard to recognize and are missed by many would be anglers. If you need to know the actual conditions and what is actually happening on the rivers when the going gets tough just check out our blog or call the shop, we are always happy to help and with our dedicated staff of anglers and great customers the info is always firsthand and up to date. Speaking of up to date the rivers are currently built back up with shelf ice and slush. Not much open water and what is there is hard to access. Time to tie flies again.
Dan and Pete

Yes Skagit Master II is in the shop but going fast. Have about 6 left.

This group of pics are from a new client i had last Tuesday.

His name is Marshall from Co. and walked in the shop around 11am Tuesday Morning looking to go steelheading.

It took a little doing but after a few phone calls and throwing some gear together we hoped in the fishmobile and made our way to the river.

As a guide i am always a little hesitant about fishing after a three week freeze up without any scouting because the fact is you are fishing in the dark which is ok if you are not paying for it.

But he insisted on going and who was i to deny a guy from Co. his first chance at a Lake Erie steelhead?

It may have been a little bit luck but we ended up having a great afternoon of fishing, we hooked 11 and landed 7. I will take luck any day, also this was not the first time Marshall took fish with the long rod. In fact i was impressed with his angling all day as he made all the casts and mends he needed to in order to have a successful day on the water, it was a pleasure to watch.

Brett and Fabian know when the gettin's good. They went out and had some ridiculous days of fish catching. I will now throw numbers around but Fabian said it was on of the best days in years.

Here is John with one of many fish landed last week. Knowing the conditions and when these opportunities exist is about paying attention. So pay attention because these windows come along and John and Brett are getting tired of catching all these fish by themselves.

Big shop sale, Skagit Master II arriving this week, river report.

2011-01-03T17:24:00.005-05:00

Having a great big sale at the shop this week, up to 40% off on fleece tops and bottoms, wading jackets, and some discontinued rods and reels as well. If you want to get in on the action don't wait because it's all great gear at great prices and will go fast. Sale runs from Tuesday Jan. 4th thru Saturday Jan 8th. There are some great steelhead and trout rods we need to move as well as some great reels for everything from trout to bonefish.

Also got a call from our DVD supplier today and he is sending us, hot of the presses, the much anticipated Skagit Master II. Should arrive by Thursday. I can't wait.

Rivers are very much open from Vermilion to Erie but cold temps have them a bit slushy until early afternoon. Afternoon fishing today was good on Elk creek and a few smaller tribs that have cleared up. I wish after one of this mid winter blowouts we have the temps would stay moderate for a week or so to get in some fishing. Lets hope for some mild temps somewhere in the next couple weeks so we can get on the water. We'll keep you posted. Dan and Pete

Fish pics, Chagrin Report, Happy New Years, Shop Closed New Years Day.

2010-12-30T18:10:00.013-05:00

Went out on the upper Chagrin with a friend from the shop to try and swing up a steelhead on some flies that were gifted to me over the holidays from the best fly dresser i know. I know you can't catch fish swinging when the waters cold, Oh you heard that also, well lets give it a try anyway.

When swinging in colder water try lots of flash and movement to wake em up. I would say we have it covered with this bug. These types of flies are also great conversation pieces in the shop or on the river. The conversation usually starts like this when you meet a fellow angler "what the hell is that thing"

Waiting for a grab. Toes are getting chilly.

Took a walk to try a new spot and saw this furry fellow on the shelf ice. Gotta like a good beaver shot.

Still waiting for that grab. Come on fish, don't you know who tied this fly. Then again we all know the phrase "it's not the arrow it's the Indian" In this case it's not the fly that's not doing the job but this spot is usually money. In my defense there was a bunch of ice so i couldn't fish it like i wanted.

There he is. Nice healthy buck that couldn't resist all that fishy flash and wiggle. Also would like to thank Simms for making the best fishing gear on the planet. Water temps like today make you appreciate great performing gear that much more.

Without the extended hook in the cold water i probably wouldn't have hooked this guy. Having learned the hard way this is the way many of my cold water swinging flies are now tied. Otherwise you get the old swing and miss. That is a great grab or tug is followed by not hooking the fish because it got a mouth full of feathers or rabbit but no steel.

Kurt battles a hard earned fish.

A beautiful hen that decided to eat just as we were about to call it a day. Kurt i will not tell everyone what transpired to keep your secret technique safe but it was one of the most interesting ways i have ever seen a steelhead hooked and i appreciate your sharing it with me.

Today was a great day to be outside on the water after that horrific cold snap we had. There is not a ton of water to fish but plenty to get out, wet a line, and maybe if your lucky hook a few fish. As for angling traffic lets just say it was minimal. The water itself was on the clear side with good flow. For indicator fishing this time of year it is hard to beat an orange, yellow, or pink glo bug with a stone fly or white or olive buggers. Happy New Years from Dan and Pete

Have a cool Yule form Chagrin River Outfitters, pics, river report.

2010-12-23T17:00:00.011-05:00

With nothing of consequence going on around here thought i would share with you some of the events and favorite pics from the past year. Hope everyone has a great Holiday season and Happy New Years from Dan and Pete.

We would be remiss if we didn't remember the new state record steelhead pulled from the big lake this summer.

Blooper pic from an outing with my wife this fall. Fetch..

One of the fish i managed to catch this year that left a lasting impression from the fight it gave.

I loved the reaction of this little girl when i tried to get her to kiss her first steelhead before releasing it but she was having none of it.

These next couple of pics are from a ccokout we had when all the rivers were blown but guys wanted to spend a day on the water anyway. Spam in a can was the low point of our stream side feast.

Chicken and sausage chili with campfire cornbread was the highlight.

Got a chance to get into some early chromers with my oldest brother which is always a treat.

Lastly my niece Abby with a healthy brown from the yellowstone river this summer. It was here first western trout trip and she proved once again that sometimes it takes a womens touch.

We have heard some rumblings here at the shop of open water on the Grand and Chagrin with anglers who are braving the elements having good success. The latest report came from the Grand today with two anglers catching a dozen fresh fish on eggs. We cannot confirm or deny any of these reports but after you keep hearing things you begin to become interested, we will be doing some investigating over the holidays.

Happy Holidays, new gear pics, 10% off through Christmas.

2010-12-16T18:49:00.009-05:00

Since it looks like the fishing is going to be on hold for awhile thought i would share with you some of the great gift items we have in the shop. Don't forget to take 10% off through Christmas. Happy Holidays from Chagrin River Outfitters.

The new lineup of Regal vises have been well received and sell from $165-$250. If you are in the market make sure to check them out.

New Steelhead Buff, who doesn't want one of these.

Reels from Sage, Hardy and Bauer makes your Christmas merrier. The new Sage 4280 is one of the best steelhead reels on the market for $309.00. The Hardy is a classic for $329.00 and is a great match for a 7 or 8wt switch rod. I have been fishing one all fall on my Powell 8 wt switch with the skagit flight and it's been fantastic. Everyone knows about the Bauers, the cork drag makes it the smoothest reel you will ever own.

Figured i would throw in a few dvd's since it looks like we will not be on the water for awhile. I like all the ones pictured here but Rivers of a lost Coast and Metalhead may be my favorites.

The Scott A3 10 ft 7wt sells for $335.00 with a lifetime warranty and is the most popular steelhead rod on the Great lakes, match it with a Lamson Litespeed and your set for life.

River report updated 12/15/11,shop sale, Happy Holidays from Chagrin River Outfitters.

2010-12-10T13:54:00.006-05:00

Cold temps have anglers staying home and rivers getting icy. Will be back later in the week with more up to date info but the outlook is bleak.

Shop Specials: Free taco bag with simms G3 waders.
10% off all Patagonia fleeces and wading jackets
Free fly line with any rod/reel combo

River Report: Shelf ice, cold dirty water and frozen guides is what you will find on the rivers right now. The temps for the next week are on the cold side. The good news is there are plenty of fish in the rivers to pursue if we do get a warm. Happy Holidays, Dan and Pete.

River report update for 12/7/10, fish pics, steelheading in the snow.

2010-12-04T13:34:00.012-05:00

It's that time of year again that separates the true steelheaders from the fair weather fisherman. Many anglers don't like cold toes and some ice in the guides. To be honest i don't like cold toes or ice either but i do like catching fish and solitude on the rivers.

My best fish of the year so far, 33" eggwagon that if hooked in warmer water i don't know if i would have landed. Three cartwheels, into the backing and chased downstream the hook was barely holding on when i beached her. Al Green string leech was her undoing.

Barry from South Carolina with a pretty little buck.

Another beauty from yesterday that ate a swung white rabbit. Not as big as the first but i will take it.

Colors of a steelhead.

A fresh little skipper that likes orange psycho princes provides a nice battle before being released.

Another fresh hen from Friday goes safely home. Great lakes sparrow in a deep run got this one.

Report update for 12/7/10

With all the snow and cold temps the rivers are getting some shelf ice and are a bit slushy. Look for best fishing in the afternoon. Friday and Saturday are looking good with highs around 37 degrees. Egg patterns have been the hot fly with black stones, princes, copper johns, white dude friendlies, and purple buggers also producing. Good Luck Dan and Pete

Great gifts for the holidays, river report, shop specials, cold weather with hot fishing.

2010-12-01T19:07:00.009-05:00

Shop is stocked with great gifts for both giving and receiving this holiday season. Remember to support your local fly shop, whoever that may be, during the holidays.

Matt sent us this pic of a newly arrived steelhead. Congrats.

Brett and a happy client. What a beautiful stripe on that fish.

Orvis mid and large arbor battenkills 30%off while they last.

Scott and i fished on Monday with a decent amount of hookups but only one landed. When you are dealing with fresh fish the hookup to landing ratio sometimes goes down. Also it looks like the flow on the Conneaut is pretty good at 280 cfs and dropping. The flow was high but color was great.

A quick reminder to remember to support your local fly shop this holiday season. As a dealer of all the top brands if we don't have it we can get it and would be happy to do so.

River report:
Blown.

No Seriously it looks like by Thurs. the Elk and grand tribs will be good with the Chagrin and Rocky being fishable by the weekend. With the colder weather forecasted look to fish mid day and have a lot of the river to yourself. Also look for lots of fresh fish as they began coming up with the rain before and during Thanksgiving and this last rain was on the warm side which should have brought many more fish into the rivers. Good luck, Dan and Pete

Rivers are blown, come check out new vises and fleeces, fish pics.

2010-11-24T09:49:00.008-05:00

Plenty of great fleeces to choose from including Patagonia, Simms, and Redington.

Come check out the new line up of regal vises. They are fast becoming many tiers new favorites.

Here is a nice fish from this week past week.

Another beauty from this week caught on a windy, rainy day that few others ventured out in.

River Report:
Well we have been asking for rain and we got it, Currently all rivers are blown but dropping. Good news Chagrin and another smaller Ohio trib will fish by Monday, bad news is another 1/2 inch of rain on the way early this week which may make for a small window to get some fishing in. Right now small tribs to the Grand, smaller Ohio tribs, and PA tribs will all fish today and tomorrow and possibly the Chagrin in the afternoon.

Happy Thanksgiving, free reel offer, more rain on the way, December to remember.

2010-11-23T08:41:00.006-05:00

Stop in or call the shop to take advantage of this great reel offer on a new rod purchase, we will also throw in a free fly line for supporting your local fly shop.

It has been a long time coming but the Ohio tribs finally have some fish in them. Had to break out the scuba gear this weak to check out some holes that changed over the summer and wouldn't you know it the steelhead decided to make an appearance.

Another pic in the same hole that fish were piled into. Things have picked up here in a big way, all the Eastern Ohio tribs received a good run of fish that has kept anglers very busy the last week. With alot more rain in the forecast look for great December steelhead fishing, it's gonna be epic.

River report:
It was a long time coming but the fish finally showed and the slow start to the Fall seems like a bad dream after a phenomenal week of steelheading here in Northeast Ohio. Steelheaders finally got the run of fish they have been waiting for from the Chagrin to the Conneaut and are now looking for more. With heavy rains on the way for the Holiday it would appear we will be set up for another great run of fish to enter our area tribs and allow the ones in the rivers to push further upstream. This is good news on many levels as it will help spread out the angling pressure on the lower rivers and give people plenty of options when they decide to get on the river.

We got some rain here yesterday so for today look to the Grand Tribs, elk and the smaller Ohio tribs. Tomorrow the Chagrin will be back in good shape and the Grand in the afternoon. The Conneaut is blown out. Good luck.

River report, great water and weather for the weekend, this could be the run we have been waiting for.

2010-11-18T09:21:00.004-05:00

Overview: The last rains we received in Ohio improved the fishing some but not much, that may have changed. Based on reports from just before the rain and this morning things are looking way up. Anglers fishing down low on the Eastern streams were seeing fresh fish Sunday and Monday moving upstream and reports from this morning have all been great fantastic, this could be it.

Was out yesterday and got a good look at all the rivers and smaller tribs in the area and here is what i know that you need to know to get on some fish.

Today Thursday Nov. 18th your options are gonna be the tribs to the grand. Very small tribs to lake Erie, you know the ones i am talking about, the mile streams in PA and Elk Creek will all fish.

For Friday and Saturday look to the Chagrin for fresh fish fish pushing in from the Lake as well as Elk, by Saturday the Conneaut will be rocking as well.

The Grand is way blown out at 2100 cfs and rising and that is good news for us as steelhead anglers. Hopefully the Grand will return to glory when she is fishing again mid next week.

Usually i just say good luck but i need to say get your gear and go fishing because this could be very good.

River report, week long forescast.

2010-11-16T11:23:00.002-05:00

This
Afternoon

Rain

Hi 52 °F

Tonight

Rain

Lo 45 °F

Wednesday

Chance
Showers
Hi 48 °F

Wednesday
Night

Slight Chc
Showers
Lo 36 °F

Thursday

Showers
Likely
Hi 45 °F

Thursday
Night

Chance
Rain/Snow
Lo 30 °F

Friday

Mostly
Sunny
Hi 46 °F

Friday
Night

Partly
Cloudy
Lo 35 °F

Saturday

Partly
Sunny
Hi 48 °F

For now things remain on the slow side for steelhead anglers in northeast Ohio. On the sunnyside we have some much needed rain in the forecast that will help turn things up a notch in the catching department for late in the week and the weekend. If we get the rain they are calling for it will make for great conditions late in the week and over the weekend and increase the numbers of fish on the rivers. Good luck

Updated river reports, pics, new Powell switch rods and Hardy reels, new flow gauge for Conneaut Creek on USGS water data site.

2010-11-10T18:34:00.010-05:00

For anybody looking for new toys to play with we have recently added some very nice Powell switch rods and Hardy reels to our lineup. Put the two together and you have a match made in steelhead heaven.

Cool underwater shot of a steelhead heading home.

Hooked up on the upper Chagrin. Not many fish up near Gates Mills yet but there are a few.

Paul Bunyan and babe the blue ox heading home after a slow day of swinging on the lower Chagrin.

Guide John with a sweet fish from Tuesday. This pic is a good example on the proper way to hold a fish for a photo so it doesn't get dropped. One hand around the base of the tail and the other supporting the fish under the belly by the pectoral fins.

Conneaut Creek now has a flow gauge on the USGS water data web site. I do not know what flows to look for yet as it just went online but it will be a great resource.

River Reports:

Chagrin River: Chagrin is getting low but has color in the holes and fish are scattered throughout the system fairly well with the majority in the mid to lower reaches.

Grand River: The flow on the Grand has dropped quicker than expected or hoped for but fished pretty well today(11-10-11) for some anglers. Expect fishing to improve for fly anglers on Thurs. Fri. and thru the weekend as visibility improves. Fish are spreading out thru the river system so don't be afraid to start looking further upstream.

Conneaut Creek: The Conneaut has a nice steelhead green color to it with good flow that should hold thru Friday with any luck and inot Saturday. The fishing has improved with this last round of precipitation but is still not great. Fish are spread out from mouth to well above rt 90 so do some exploring.

Overview: Fishing over the next few days and thru the weekend should be the best we have seen all year but don't expect any record days. Overall it still remains on the slow side for this time of year but it is improving. Our best advice is if you are not on any fish keep moving until you find some. They are scattered and not really concentrated in any one are so being mobile is your best bet.

Hot flies: Psycho Prince, hot spot bugger, white buggers, oregon cheese sucker spawn, black stone flies, prince nymphs, orange sucker spawn. Good Luck

River Reports for 11/9/10...sorry no pics in a rush to go fishing.

2010-11-09T10:01:00.003-05:00

River report:

Chagrin: Great flow and color that should provide good fishing thru Thursday. Found a few fish yesterday on both the lower and middle river.

Grand: Blown out but should be perfect for anglers who can make it out on the weekend.

Conneaut: Was high and off color yesterday. Today flow and color will be good and tomorrow should be just about perfect and make for good fishing thru the weekend. Look out for those brown trout on the East side streams.

Elk: Plenty of fish but getting low and clear.

River report, swinging on the Grand pics.

2010-11-04T16:51:00.013-04:00

We had a dream job the other day. Three anglers all fishing 2 handed rods, all swinging flies, sweet.

A really blurry picture of a really good caster and angler.

Here a patient angler waits for a grab on the dangle. Was the patience rewarded?

Hey here we go.

A nice chromer swung up on a purple string leech.

Hooked up and chasing one downstream that whacked a white hackle flash streamer.

Another fresh hen that couldn't resist. Steelhead will aggressively chase down a protein snack this time of year.

Another one comes to the net that hammered a swung fly. You don't catch a bunch fishing this way but the takes are electrifying.

Oh by the way, large aggressive steelhead are what you are after when swinging.

River report:
Rivers are once again on the low and clear side except for the Grand which is low but has decent color. The fishing has not been spectacular anywhere that i know of but is improving over the last few weeks. The best action has been on the Grand and on the Conneaut. With more rain in the forecast look for more fish to make their way into the system and improve angling success. The one bright spot has been the major increase in large brown trout being caught by anglers on Elk creek and some Eastern Ohio tribs as well. These fish were stocked two years ago by PA into Elk creek and are all ready returning in good numbers and averaging 25-26 inches.

Angling Tip: With fishing the way it is right now, which is on the slow side anglers can increase there chances by targeting streams with the best conditions for catching fish. Also cover water, if your not catching fish in one area or section keep moving until you find some and when you do find them pay attention to the type of water they are holding in and look for similar areas for repeated success. Good Luck

Shop day pics, a day off ,rivers report.

2010-11-01T19:27:00.009-04:00

An enthusiastic angler gets some personalized one on one instruction on switch rods from Jeff Liskay. Jeff may be the nicest guy on the planet and loves sharing what he knows about fishing spey and switch rods for steelhead on the great lakes tributaries with anyone who wants to learn. We were lucky to get him into the shop for the day this time of year when he would much rather be fishing. Thanks for your time Jeff.

Fly fishing guru Jerry Darkes shows some great steelhead patterns to interested fly tyers. Jerry and Jeff put on a great seminar on Saturday at the shop and Jerry took time to show some great new patterns and share some tricks off the trade when it comes to tying flies that catch fish.

The smile tells it all. My wife Megan and i got out to do a little fishing together for the first time in a long time. It was great to see her back on the water and nice to see that she still knows how to handle a fly rod. She was a little rusty at first but picked it up again pretty quickly.

I am proud to say that she out fished both myself and Pete on this day when fish were hard to come by. It wasn't for lack of fish but the low clear conditions made them tough.

I did manage a couple fish throughout the course of the day which was plenty. The real joy was spending time with Megan again on the water which seems harder and harder to come by. If i learned one thing on this day it was that we will be doing this a lot more often.

Say hi to Evan from Oregon who was in town and decided to try some great lakes steelheading with Chagrin River Outfitters. Even had a great day of fish catching, was thoroughly impressed with the quality of our fishery and the beauty of our rivers. Evan thanks for the pic, glad you got home safe and hope to see you again your next time thru.

River reports:
Chagrin is on the low and clear side but fishing ok for the conditions. Grand and Conneaut are in good shape, both have good visibility and flow right now though a little tannin stain is present. Elk is getting low and clear as well but as always large numbers of fish present. If i was fishing the next couple of days, and i am, i would look at the Grand or Connie as they have the best conditions. Good luck.

Fly fishing the great lakes seminar this Sat. Oct 30th, Spey and switch rod discussions, hot new tube flies, pics. Updated river report on 10-28-10

2010-10-24T20:17:00.010-04:00

Steelheading the Great Lakes:10-3:30 at Chagrin River Outfitters Sat Oct. 30th. Jeff Liskay and Jerry Darkes examine new steelhead, trout, and salmon, fishing opportunities close to home. They will also be tying hot tube fly patterns and answering all your steelhead questions.

Steelheading the Great Lakes seminar this Sat. Oct 30th at Chagrin River Outfitters from 10-3:30 with Jeff Liskay and Jerry Darkes. Jeff and Jerry will take you on a fly fishing tour of the Great Lakes from Superior to Ontario and uncover some truly fabulous fishing opportunities close to home. Also be on hand as they discuss spey and switch rods best suited for the Great Lakes tributaries, tie great new tube fly patterns, and answer any of your steelheading questions. See you on Saturday.
Chuck and Dan pose with a pair of trophy steelhead caught this past week with Chagrin River Outfitters. This is a picture they will cherish for a long time. Nice job on a double, it doesn't get any better than that.

Luke and Chuck pose with Lukes first ever Lake Erie Steelhead. It took a few hookups to bring this first one to the net but all in all a pretty good job for this new steelhead addict. Good job Luke.

Luke is getting the hang of it now. Another one landed and holds still for the camera before being released back to the river. A great day on the river with some old friends and some new. Looking forward to doing it again real soon.

River reports: Updated 10-28-10
Thur. Oct 28th after the rain river update.
The rain has come and gone and the rivers are in great shape for the end of the week and the weekend. All the rivers will fish for the weekend with the Grand and Conneaut looking to be in prime condition. The Chagrin should fish well over the next few days and have spoken with a few anglers this AM having success on the lower and middle Chagrin, and the lower Grand. Leaves will be a problem in some areas but hang in there and you should be rewarded with a silver bullet hook up. Good Luck. Stop in for some great new fly patterns

Fly Kids, Pa Grouse pics, river reports...

2010-10-19T11:35:00.015-04:00

Guided trip with Chagrin River Outfitters for the day $350.00
Lunch, gas, licenses, flies, $75.00

Skipping School to go fishing with Dad, Priceless.

Matthew shows off a great catch from Sunday while fishing with his Dad and CRO guide John Fabian.

Matthew and John hold up another one for the camera. Great job guys.

Some pics from my little brother who went out in search of fan tailed thunderbolts in the PA woods with some long haired friends.

It must have been a great day of Grouse hunting for Ernie to put down the shotgun and capture these images.

An opening day limit of Pennsylvania Grouse and a double gun. I can smell the powder.

Walking up on a point. Can you spot the 4 setters in this pic? Two on point and two honoring. Thanks for the pics.

River report:
All rivers are currently getting low and clear again after the recent rains. No great reports from anywhere specifically but the grand seems to be the best bet right now for conditions. There is more rain in the forecast over the next week that should turn things up a notch when it gets here. Right now leaves are a problem for anglers so fish those flies a little shallower than you normally would to avoid snagging said leaves. Morning and evenings are best due to the water conditions. Good Luck

More cool fish pics, updated river reports, gearing up...

2010-10-14T19:18:00.013-04:00

Lets start it out with some pretty fall colors on an Erie trib. Great time of year to be on the water and experience the vibrant colors of Fall. Some gorgeous yellows, reds, and oranges for all you leaf peepers. Oh yeah, hopefully some silver as well.

Here we go. A nice steelhead to start the day that had no problem taking a tiny(for steelhead) size 14 caddis psycho prince fished under an egg.

Check out the kype on this little guy. He is getting ready to battle it out under the water for his chance to dance.

Talk about your silver bullets. The ariel display and runs put on by this new arrival were amazing. Not the biggest fish we caught but pound for pound maybe the strongest.

Another fresh arrival from the big lake that had the drag singing. The gear got a work out on this day. Many more fish hooked than landed but when you have fresh fish on small hooks and light tippets you'll have that.

Talk about your early arrivals. This large colored up hen was already spawned out and heading downstream when we briefly interrupted her journey back to the lake, only to let her swim free again and be on her way.

River Reports:

The Chagrin and Grand seem to have gotten the most rain. The Grand is up with color which is good news but no fishing there for the weekend. The Chagrin is on the rise but not to hard, it looks like she will level off tonight and begin to drop again tomorrow and fish for the weekend, reports from the lower Chagrin have been good and this rain i think will have a nice push of fish in both the Chagrin and Grand

East of the Grand there was spotty heavy rains, the Conneaut is still on the low side with a little color and the Elk is blown out. Elk is still your best bet for numbers but reports have been trickling in about smatterings of fish on the Ohio tribs. Things seem to slowly be picking up here and this weekend may be a good time to get out for that first trip of the season. Chagrin should be in great shape Saturday and Sunday.

Gearing Up:
As always we have everything you need here at the shop to make your next trip a successful one. Make sure to stop in and check out the great new selection of steelhead flies. We have expanded our selection again to bring you the best in nymph, streamer and egg patterns in the area. So stop on in, say hello, find out where the fish are biting, and grab some new flies.
Good Luck Dan and Pete

Bring in your Orvis Coupons, 40% off reels, new pics, river report and conditions....

2010-10-09T11:43:00.019-04:00

40% off Battenkill mid-arbor trout and steelhead reels this week.

Bring in those annoying Orvis coupons to CRO for savings on gear, leaders, tippets, etc. and gear up for steelhead season. Also Battenkill Mid-Arbor trout and steelhead reels 40% 0ff. While your in check out all the new Simms and Fishpond gear.

Lake Erie Chrome from Friday.

Pretty fall fish.

Father and son team score a nice steelhead.

Small pic of a big fish...pictured weighed 4 #'s

This fish tried to make it back to Lake Erie after being hooked.

River Reports:

For early season steel head keep on the move until you locate the fish and fish low light conditions found in the mornings and evenings. Look for fast water with 2 feet or more of depth. Also be prepared for big hard fighting fish as this time of year, they are supercharged.

Your best bet for Ohio Steel continues to be on the Conneaut river in the lower stretches. Conneaut still has some color but very fishable and will have good conditions for the weekend.

Grand and Chagrin are holding fish in the lower and middle stretches though not in any numbers to speak of. Look for numbers to improve as days get shorter and more rain raises the water levels.

Elk creek in PA still has the most numbers and water conditions are good. There is some color in the holes as off today and fish are up past Folley's Camp ground.

Hot flies have been small natural colored egg patterns, caddis larva, white buggers, and small stoneflies.

Great new fly lines and tips for spey and switch, chromer pics, river report...

2010-10-05T12:32:00.013-04:00

Fishing the high muddy waters of a PA trib.

It was tough going in the morning but as conditions improved so did the fishing.

Nice little guy that ate a high water worm.

This 16 incher wacked a 4 inch string leech on the swing

True chromer fresh from the lake, again on a high water worm.

Fish on.

Hooked up again.
New Rio switch for indicator fishing with your switch rods.

Full compliment of mow tips for you swingers available at the shop.

Steelhead Report

Ohio rivers are getting some rain and on the rise. They are not blown out but clarity is poor. There is fish in all the rivers but not in any great numbers. Right now the best bets are the Conneaut and Elk for numbers. Look for a more up to date report tomorrow as i will be out getting a first hand look at all the water.

Fishing with lefty, cool new fish pics, surf steel, and steelhead update...

2010-09-28T20:43:00.010-04:00

Had to throw in this picture of Justin in the latest Drake magazine. Unlike most fly fisherman who would love to have their pic in any magazine Justin is looking away so you can't tell it's him which makes it that much better.

Mike sent in this pic of a monster marbled trout caught in Slovenia. That thing is frightening.

My little brother Ernie sent a pic of one of his favorite clients, Lefty Kreh. He says he always looks forward to fishing with lefty because of what he can do with a fly rod, which to hear him tell it is whatever he wants to, and if you have ever seen Ernie cast or fish you know it must be very impressive.

Another of Lefty and Scott Lockner chillin' in the drift boat. Ernie says chillin' is one of Lefty's favorite words,

These guys are being caught pretty regularly from the surf, any takers.

Steelhead Report:

Steelhead have been staging at the creek mouths of Elk, Conneaut, and the Mile streams for some time now and anglers have been enjoying pretty good surf success. The cool air temps have water temps down but we need more rain for them to push into the rivers in good numbers. Right now anglers looking for chrome should hit the mouth and lower stretches of Elk, any of the Mile streams, Cattaraugus creek, and Conneaut. Their have also been a few fish taken in the Grand and Chagrin in the lower stretches and off the breakwalls but not in any numbers and you are better off heading East. Slowly stripped baitfish patterns have been the best bet in both the surf and rivers. Todays rain has the rivers on the rise but we need alot more to flush them out good and keep them from dropping to quickly. Expect them to recede quickly and still be a murky for a few days even though the flows may look good.

Something for everyone at Shop day this Sat. Sept. 25th 9am-4pm

2010-09-20T08:38:00.010-04:00

Check out the latest in simms fleeces, windproof gloves and jackets and be on hand for all the great simms gear giveaways during the day including pair of G3 waders.

All new packs and vests from fishpond and simms.

Also we have expanded the fly selection again this year and now have over 300 great steelhead patterns. Come on down and find a new go to fly.

No Matt's not one of the door prizes, but a new pair of the simms G3 waders both anglers are wearing will be.

We have got buggers galore.

Rod selection is the best around for steelhead. Orvis, Sage, Redington, and Scott to name a few.

Also lots of new tying materials for creating new patterns or changing up the old standbys.

Including lots of hard to find tying items. Like Prince Albert in a can we have Lady Amherst in a boot.

There will also be fly tyers on hand all day tying up the latest in steelhead patterns and the seminars are all new and packed with great info to help you become a better steelhead angler. Day starts at 9am and goes until 4pm. Seminars are listed below.
See you Sat. Dan and Pete

9:00 AM: Dan Pribanic will explore the history of the Lake Erie steelhead fishery from it's beginnings up to the present day. Dan will discuss proper gear, equipment, time of year, and locations to target these wonderful gamefish in Lake Erie's tributaries from Ohio to New York.

10:30AM: Brett McCrae will present Steelhead 101; this presentation will include guide secrets for fishing for Erie steelhead. Topics covered include:

strategies for different seasons - locating fish in fall, winter, and spring
feeding fish - what they're eating, and why
local watersheds - understanding flows and conditions
rigging for success
hooking, playing, and releasing steelhead

12:00 PM: Matt Hynes will walk anglers through the basics of switch rods and explain why these specialty rods are gaining popularity in the Great Lakes region. Matt will also clarify rod, reel, and line options, as well as casting techniques, sink tip choices, fly selection, and much more.

1:30 PM: John Rochus will present "Matching the Hatch for Erie Steelhead". John will explain the variety of food choices steelhead have available to them while in our streams, and how to effectively match them to catch more fish.

9:00 AM and 11:00 AM - Single hand fly casting demonstrations

10:00 AM and 12:00 PM: Spey and switch casting demonstrations

1:00 PM: Distance and accuracy casting competitions. Casting will be done with a 7 wt. fly rod and a WF floating line.

The staff at the shop is looking forward to seeing all of you there!

Shop Day, September 25th at Chagrin River Outfitters

2010-09-10T13:57:00.011-04:00

It's almost that time of year. Fall steelhead season is quickly approaching, and CRO is having a fall shop day featuring presentations, seminars, fly tying, casting contests, free casting lessons, and single hand and spey casting demonstrations. Stop by the shop for some great deals on steelhead necessities, and to see all the new gear coming out for fall 2010. Manufacturer representatives will be on hand to showcase their product lines, new items coming out for fall 2010, and will be answering questions from customers. There will also be a raffle held on that day with multiple prizes available highlighted by a pair of Simms G3 waders!

The seminar lineup is as follows:

10:30AM: Brett McCrae will present Steelhead 101; this presentation will include guide secrets for fishing for Erie steelhead. Topics covered include:

strategies for different seasons - locating fish in fall, winter, and spring
feeding fish - what they're eating, and why
local watersheds - understanding flows and conditions
rigging for success
hooking, playing, and releasing steelhead

9:00 AM and 11:00 AM - Single hand fly casting demonstrations

10:00 AM and 12:00 PM: Spey and switch casting demonstrations

1:00 PM: Distance and accuracy casting competitions. Casting will be done with a 7 wt. fly rod and a WF floating line.

The staff at the shop is looking forward to seeing all of you there!

Simms wader rebate program is back...what's happening on the fishing scene around the way.

2010-08-31T12:55:00.012-04:00

Just in time for steelhead/salmon and fall saltwater blitzes the simms wader rebate program is back. If you have been wanting to get into the most comfortable, best performing wader on the water now is your chance. Bring in any old pair of breathable waders you no longer use to the shop and walk out with a new pair of GoreTex simms waders for $50.00 off. You'll be glad you did.

Since it's late August in Ohio and not much is happening i figured i would share some family pics from the last couple of weeks that i received. Here Justin is about to release one of my favorite catching and eating fish, the Atlantic bonito. These guys are speedsters and challenging quarry on the fly pole.

We tried for some Pike again yesterday on a new stretch of river to no avail.

But we had a nice boat ride.

Here my niece Abby kicks back on the Madison after some great early morning fishing.

Another of Abby with a Beauty from the Yellowstone river.

She even let her dad and uncle catch a few as well. Even though it looks like one of them may still be under the influence from the evening prior. Can you guess who it is.

Hopefully in the near future we will have some surf steelhead pics which should be just around the corner and the recent reports of fresh Salmon in the lower Pere Marquette seem to be legit for those chasing Kings. New gear and old standbys have been coming into the shop everyday and the fly selection is better than ever with more on the way so stop in, check out some new stuff and say hello.
Dan and Pete

Burning river pike expedition....

2010-08-24T12:06:00.010-04:00

Being our first time targeting pike we were not sure what to throw but figured big, noisy, and gaudy was a good start.

Intermediate lines, wire leaders and flies that are not fun to cast all day.

There's one.

Had some pretty sweet takes.

Brought three small guys to the boat, missed 4 or 5 others and moved a few bigger ones in about three hours. Not bad for first time prospecting

And had a great time in the process.

Oh yeah we saw John Wayne, one of my all time favorite bad asses.

And an alligator, which would not eat anything we threw at it.

Usually impromptu "Hey lets go Pike fishing" trips seem like a good idea at the time but end up with poor results in the fish catching department. Today we had some success and were very satisfied with our first time efforts. The fish we landed were all pretty small but we did move a few large ones that didn't eat and figured a few things out in the process that make fishing fun. For instance Chartreuse was a good color while red/yellow were just marginal and what kind of cover we were getting strikes around that the fish seemed to prefer. We are all ready talking about trying a different stretch of river this week, will let you know how that turns out.

What we have been up to lately....New fly pattern in fly blog

2010-08-12T17:29:00.021-04:00

"Invasive Species"
New in Fly tying Blog

Took an Ohio steelheader in search of wild PA browns for his first trout fishing experience

Saw some beautiful sights

Caught a bunch of wild PA brown trout

Had decent dry fly action with trico spinners

Not a bad way to spend a few days in August.

Spent some good quality family time with the girls and my little brother.

And we even took some time to do some personal fishing which is rare these days.

That's what we've been doing. Now it's time to start thinking about steelhead, do we ever stop. We have been getting the shop stocked up with a bunch of new fly tying materials and fly patterns and thinking about a cool wet September. Hope everyone is having a great summer and see you in the shop. Dan and Pete

Big shop sale this Thur thru Sun., more float trip pics...

2010-07-28T11:05:00.016-04:00

Simms freestone vibram soled wading boot, on sale for $89.95 from $129.95. Get em while there hot

Redington fishing shirts and wet wading pants 30% off.

Stop by the shop Thursday July 29th thru Sunday August 1st for savings up to 50% off on hats, t-shirts, fly tying materials, fly lines, books, dvd's and more.

High sticking nymphs thru a productive run.

Hooked up to a rainbow that was sipping midges in slow foam...

A nice bow using the current...

Another rainbow that took a black stone off the bottom...

Bassin' was fast and furious in the am.

Respectable brown that took a fast moving streamer...

Sunset smallie...

The sun sets on a great day...

Topping the mountain....

Fished the Chagrin last night with a friend and didn't do so hot. Water was still a little murky from recent rains but overall the smallmouth fishing has been better than average with some very nice fish willing to take flies.

Tight lines, Dan and Pete.

Youghiogheny river float trip photo journal....

2010-07-14T16:55:00.021-04:00

Not many options for putting in and taking out on this river that runs through very steep Appalachian terrain.

Lets get these boats rigged and on the water.

Choose a fly but choose carefully, trout and smallmouth have a definite preference on this river and fly selection is critical.

We chose well, at least well enough, streamers were the ticket for chunky river smallies.

Others opted to pound the banks with a dry dropper combo and work for the rivers large rainbows.

Not one of the big boys but a 15 inch rainbow isn't a bad start.

If you aren't sure about picking smallmouth patterns any from Bob Clouser are hard to beat, this smallie pounded a Clouser floating minnow fished on an intermediate line.

Bringing another smallie to the boat.

and another, smallie fishing was good.

Trout ninja and rainbow that slurped a size 6 stonefly.

Color palate of a tailwater bow.

Pulling streamers thru a nice deep hole that yielded both rainbows and smallies.

This river doesn't give up its finned prizes very easily and each fish is earned. Sure there are days when the fish are stupid and if you fish it on one of these days be thankful. But in the end each trip down the Yough supplies some great memories.

Thanks to my brother Ernie at Laurel Highlands Guide service for another great float on the Yough. Dan and Pete

Hot weather and some pretty hot fishing as well....

2010-07-09T16:27:00.010-04:00

Locally the carpin' has been solid, this pic was sent via e-mail that told of many opportunities at tailers in the shallows with quite a few hookups.

Another pic we received via e-mail that shows a dandy of a smallmouth caught recently on the Chagrin.

Another chunky rainbow courtesy of of my little bro in PA.

Looks like Justin is at it again as well....

sight casting to shallow water stripes is fun and frustrating at the same time, sometimes they just won't eat, but sometimes they do.

Another float trip river smallie from this past week on a clouser crippled minnow.

It looks like we have a trend here, plenty of anglers out on the waters with the long rods finding plenty of angling opportunities both locally and around the country. Locally the smallmouth and carp have been keeping anglers busy on the rivers. The better smallmouth fishing has been in the morning and evenings while the sight fishing for carp is best mid-day when the sun is overhead and there is not much glare on the water making spotting fish easier. If you have not tried fishing the rivers in the summer for either of these species give it a try. You will find that there is plenty of opportunity there in the summer months and you will also make yourself a better steelheader by default because you will learn the rivers structure and holding water in the low clear flows of summer much better than you can during the off colored waters of Fall and Spring. If you need some advice on flies or where to fish stop in the shop and we will get you started. Until next time be safe and don't forget the sunscreen, Dan and Pete.

Fish Porn, New Ohio State Record Steelhead, Happy and safe Independence Day....

2010-07-01T17:17:00.008-04:00

Pa river smallmouth.

New State Record Steelhead caught last week by angler Jason Brooks on the big lake. Measurments on this beast were 38 long 22 girth and weighing in around 21#'s 3 oz. Congratulations on a hell of a catch Jason.

Atlantic Salmon fishing proved productive from some guys from the shop on the St. Mary's this week.

Close up of a wild PA Brown just before release.

From the looks of the variety of pics we have been receiving here at the shop plenty of fly anglers are out there having a great summer, keep up the good work. Locally the bass fishing has been pretty good both in the ponds and on the rivers. Carp fishing was coming into it's own as well until the cool night arrived but is still solid mid-day once the waters warm back up.

On another note hope everyone has a great independence day, the holiday with best name i think as it implies we can do whatever we want really which is usually how i treat it, at least to a certain extent.

Until next time Dan and Pete