Quite recently, a few of the fly fishing magazines have been running articles about the fantastic fishing in Steelhead Alley. Alley refers to the highly industrial region lining the south shores of both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. It seems that only a few years ago these lakes were beyond recovery (my impression, not fact). But after only a few years of restoration they have made a remarkable comeback. The food-base is currently there and the steelhead stocking efforts have been quite successful. Considering the numbers of fish available and the ease of access, the Great Lake tributaries probably provide more of an opportunity for steelhead than the West Coast Streams.

A number of Ozark Members have been making the Spring and Fall pilgrimages to the Lake Michigan Tributaries for years and I have long since had a hankering to try that. However, the abominable amount a lead reportedly required for that type of fishing dampened my enthusiasm. It's not the case that I was unwilling to try it, I just haven't gotten around to it yet. It seems that the Lake Michigan techniques of heavy shot and full running lines (some folks use just mono on their fly-rods) are due more to the nature of the rivers rather than the lack of sportsmanship by the anglers.

The recent literature on the fishing in Steelhead Alley stood in contrast to the reputation of the techniques used on the Lake Michigan Tributaries. A concerted effort by fly fishers in Steelhead Alley is evolving that encourages more traditional West-Coast fly-rodding techniques when permitted by the water conditions. Moreover, it is encouraging to note many of Steelhead Alley streams can be fished with floating lines and unweighted flies when conditions are right (sometimes even dry flies are used). Also, some of these streams are reporting huge runs of large steelhead. For example the Cattaraugus Creek just outside of Buffalo New York has been receiving over 40,000 steelhead per season. Unfortunately, fly rodders are still in the minority on those streams and the fall water conditions are sometimes unpredictable. Most of the streams require good rainfall to bring in the fresh runs of fish but they can muddy up if the rainfall is too heavy. Luckily, there are several rivers in the area and hopefully at least one can be found to be in good enough shape for the visiting angler.

I was resolved to take my first steelhead in the "Alley". Although the weather conditions were unusually mild during the fall of '99 in the Northeast, as the holiday season drew near, I was becoming more and more concerned of not having liquid water conditions available. To improve my chances for success, I decided to hire the services of a guide (Michael Prairie, 716-835-5956).

By Christmas I found out that the Lake Erie Tributaries were are all frozen over and my guide decided that we would fish Oak Orchard Creek which is a Lake Ontario tributary. Oak Orchard is a stream that has been written about in Fly Fisherman Magazine (or was it their web site). I remember paying attention to the article because I noticed that the stream was close to Buffalo. The stream has a reputation for huge brown trout runs in fall along with very crowded conditions and problems with snaggers. When we arrived at the stream however we had the famous Archery Pool to ourselves. We fished only that hole plus maybe 50 yards downstream the rest of the day.

The water conditions were extremely low, slow, clear, and cold (air temperature was 17 degrees F, water temperature was 34 degrees F). The deepest part of the river was perhaps only waist-high. We were hard pressed to find deeper than knee-high water but where we found it we found fresh steelhead. Unfortunately, I found out that it's hard to get steelhead to bite flies when the water is that cold.

The technique that the guide had me use was to swing-drift various wet-fly patters (mostly tied on about a #10 size hook) through the holding water. To make sure the fly was on the bottom (necessary for the very cold water conditions) a slit-shot was tied about 18" above the fly. The guide instructed me that the takes would be very settle and to set the hook if I felt anything. Well I did and I promptly foul-hooked my first three steelhead. This was very discouraging. I told my guide that it appeared that I had the snagging technique down and I thought to myself that I would be in for a very long day. All three fish were small about 4-5 pounds. My guide then had me use a dead-drifting with an indicator technique. I couldn't get any of the fish to bite.

The guide then rigged me up as he first had done without the indicator and bang! I had my first fair-hooked steelhead (the one pictured). This occurred at about 10am in the morning and perhaps the water warmed up just enough to make the steelhead more active. There was nothing settle about the take - it nearly ripped the rod out of my hands. The fish was fairly fresh and made a couple of spectacular leaps. Eventually the guide was able to net the fish and then he snapped a couple of pictures of me holding it. I thought wow! This steelheading stuff could be addictive! A couple of casts later - bang! Another solid take! Four high leaps told me that this fish was fresher and bigger! Then - just as sudden as the take - the fish was off! The hook just pulled loose! What a disappointment! I learned that losing steelhead was so common that lost fish are counted in the score. For example I was ended up 1 for 2 for the day - two fish on, one landed.

The balance of the afternoon was fairly uneventful. However, at the very end of the day, a fish of about 5 pounds took my fly fairly in the mouth. After several splendid jumps the guide netted the fish. I wasn't sure exactly what I had just caught. The guide seemed a little puzzled also. The fish appeared to be a cross between a coho salmon and a brown trout. Finally the guide concluded that the fish was an Atlantic Salmon, another species that biologists are trying to restore to the tributaries of Lake Ontario.

On the jeep-ride back to town from the stream we were treated to one of the lake-effect snowstorms famous in the region. Honest, the storm dumped 6 inches on snow in less than a half-hour! I've never seen anything like it!

The guide told me that the end of October is the prime time for the steelhead in that area and hopefully I'll be able to make it back then. Am I hooked on steehead? You bet I am!