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