Its been smiles all around this week....

Swinging string leeches on the Grand with CPX switch rod...

Fresh chromers like it on the swing...

Had to break out the flask on a few occasions this week....

Fishing has been pretty darn good on a few area streams, others not so much. We are really in need of some rain to bring in the next push of fish that has to be chomping at the bit but it doesn't look like we are in store for much until later in the week. In the meantime some fresh fish have been trickling in and those all ready in the creeks have been keeping anglers busy. Smaller egg patterns, sparse streamers, and natural non flashy nymphs have been great, especially stone flies and caddis larva. Don't hesitate to stop in the shop if you need a little help with whats been working. In the meantime stick to mornings and evenings because once that sun is on the water the fish get fussy; also don't overlook the deeper faster water as fish seem to be holding in these areas. Good luck as always...Dan and Pete

"Swinging" Pete hooked up with a big sucker on the lower Grand earlier this week.

Local outdoor and sport columnist D'arcy Egan shared some time with us on the water yesterday and filmed a TV show for Outdoors Ohio with some of the crew from Chagrin River Outfitters. We floated the Grand River in Pursuit of steelhead with his Film crew and Guest host Joe Thomas and had a pretty decent day. In all we hooked about 12 fish in 4 hours bringing most to the net. Look for the show to air in about a month.

We decided to let Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns tag along as well. We were undecided weather we would let him join us due to the fact that he beat up our beloved Buckeyes defensive line so badly while playing with the Wisconsin Badgers in college(boo). In the end we decided since he is now with our hometown team and he is bigger and stronger than all of us put together the wise thing to do would be to take him out and show him a good time. In the end Joe was a class act and a great person to spend time with on the water. Though out the day it became obvious that this Wisconsin native has a true love, passion, and understanding of the outdoors. It also became very clear very fast that he is a good angler.

River Reports

As most of you all ready know our rivers are very low and clear; we need rain badly. It looks like it is on its way just in time to coincide with some lower air temps that will help lower our warmer than normal water temps for this time of year and should bring in another good run of fish as well. Right now our steelhead tribs do have good numbers of fish present but they have been hit pretty hard for a while now and are becoming wise to the usual fly offerings. For continued success in these conditions try going small and natural with egg and nymph offerings and look for fish in areas with very good holding water, gravel, and cover such as log jams. The best fishing seems to be on the Grand and Conneaut on the East side and the Vermillion river on the West side has been very good as well. Good luck as always and tight lines...Dan and Pete

Gauge malfunction has the Grand reading higher than it is. Grand is around 350 cfs as of this morning, Friday April 9th.

Harry sent us these pics from a recent family and friends outing.

Looks like everyone got in on the action and had some fun.

A hefty spring steelhead wrangled from the Chagrin. According to the e-mail that came with the pic the purple stone from the shop has been on fire.

Warm temps, bright sun, clear water and heavy angling pressure adds up to spooky steelhead. They are plenty of fish in the rivers right now but they are a little tight lipped. They seem to be doing there spring thing mostly at night and are resting in the holes and runs during the day and not doing much eating while they are there. Anglers have been having the best luck on streamer and egg patterns in the morning and stonefly and various nymph patterns in the evening. Right now all rivers are fishable and have good numbers of fish present. The Chagrin, Rocky, Vermillion, and Conneaut are all getting on the low and clear side. For best results consider going to one fly and downsizing fly and going to Fluorocarbon leaders and tippet. The Grand is at a very fishable level and fisherman are enjoying this window to fish what many consider Ohio's best steelhead river. Tight Lines....Dan and Pete

A big thank you to the film tour group that included Mark, Thad and Jay.
It was a pleasure to get out on the water and fish with you and looking forward to

doing it again next year.

This 2 pound Lake Erie steelhead may have been the most celebrated fish of the season. It was Jay's first Lake Erie steelhead that whacked a Chart/White Sculpin he was swinging on a 7/8 Bealuh switch rod. While this may be the smallest fish i have seen all season it may have had the biggest fight in it. Clearing the water three times and running up and down the river this little guy did us great lakes steelheaders proud by showing a West Coast Native that these fish had some fight in them.

You don't want to be a steelhead west or east when Jay is swinging...

Pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoyed is how i would describe the film tour groups half day of fishing. We mostly took turns swinging streamers on switch rods while one guy swung and the others watched and hoped for a tug for our fellow angler. In total we swung three runs on the Conneaut with good success. I think in total we had nine arm wrenching grabs in what amounted to maybe three hours of fishing, not bad.

Thanks again to the film tour and good luck guys.

On to the rivers reports, here it goes, are you ready? You should be fishing right now. The Chagrin is in Great shape and has plenty of fish distibuted throughout. The Conneaut is the same with plenty of fish, above average flows, but great color to the water. The Rocky was great before the rain and i expect it will be even better over the next four to five days. The Grand is up and off color but with the looks of the forecast and other factors should be fishing for us fly guys by Sat/Sun.

Hot fly patterns have been changing with water temps, light levels, water color, and flows. Really alot to get into here but stop into the shop for whats been hot.

As always tight lines. Dan and Peter 440 247 7110

Like father like son...here's dad with a Grand river steelie from Sunday.

And here's the next generation with the first of many fly rods...Thanks Dad!!

Well the forecast was for no rain, them for rain, and we got some rain and some bonus snow. I think they have a big roulette wheel for each months weather patterns and just give it a spin every few days, where it will stop nobody knows. Everything bumped a little bit and set back the fishing for a few days on the bigger tribs. Some of the smaller stuff will fish this weekend and even today. Elk is in great shape as of this morning and there is still a few fish in this PA trib. The Grand Tribs should fish this afternoon and for the weekend as well. The Chagrin may fish Sunday and we are waiting to here back this morning on what the Conneaut looks like. The positive to this freak cold snap and snow is it will lower the water temps for a while and push all the fish on gravel into the runs and holes were they should be stacked up and willing to eat a well presented fly.

Good luck and check back for the latest. Dan and Pete 440 247 7110

Sat 27th update: The latest on the Conneaut is it is running high and hard but the color is sweet and fishing is decent...sounds like a good day for swinging. Remember in Faster or off color flows go bigger and brighter than normal when indicator fishing so fish can see and react to your offering sooner.

Sat 27th update: The Chagrin is still up as well but color on the Upper Chagrin will be great by late Sat. Sunday should be prime time on the Chagrin and Conneaut.