Steelhead Hotspot #2

[JoeW]

Back to 18-Mile Creek in WNY. Lowest water levels of the year- great for scouting hotspots that you can't see when water levels are back up. This stretch will be three feet deeper come Steelhead time!

OK- Steelhead move up through fast water in upper right of picture, then pause and rest at tail of pool (that was Hotspot #1). When the fish start to move upstream again (probably under the next low-light situation), they will travel through the water offering the most cover- remember these fish are used to living in Lake Erie in 80 feet of water! Notice in the picture, the darker strip of water (arrows). That's a channel of deeper water. In this case, it runs pretty much up the center of the creek. Remember, when the water is higher, this channel can't be seen! In some cases, a channel like this may run closer to one side or the other. This channel is shorter ( maybe 50 feet long) but I've seen them running hundreds of yards.
Point is: when the fish are moving, they will be in the channel of deeper water! That's hotspot #2. To fish outside of the channel is a waste of time. That exposed rock on the left (it will be two feet under water come Steelhead time!), looks like a good spot, but it's out of the channel, the water is shallow all around it, and it won't hold fish!
Still a long 5 or 6 weeks before the Steelies are here, but early low water scouting provides a lot of information for that long awaited time! Best--- JoeW :)

[Razor]

Thanks for that one joeW! I never went steelhead fishing before... I hear that when people go on the upper columbia, they only get only 2 or 3 steelhead. Right now I am trying to learn the ways of whitefish so I can catch them.

[RAK]

Joe, You should take me Steely fishing.

The problem is that your about 2500 miles away.



Do you ever fish for Sturgeon??

[JoeW]

I'll swap you a guided Steelhead outing (if you ever get out this way!), for a guided Sturgeon trip (if I ever get out your way!;)). Steelhead fishing here is mostly small to medium size river fishing from shore. Boat trollers saty out in Lake Erie and during Oct that gets pretty cold! No sturgeon around here, but I did read where they ARE good to eat! I don't think I'd ever try eating a fish that looked that nasty! And how the heck do you get that armor plating off them to fillet them! LOL! Best---- JoeW

[bui boater]

hey joe, there are sturgeon here.just exteremely endangered.one was caught last year on the perch charter "the edward john". it was only 37 inches long, but they still lurk in lake erie.4-5 years ago they found some laying on the beach,in the 5-6 foot range.it is doubtful, they will ever make a real comeback.someday ill go back to barcelona harbor in new york(just south of dunkirk)and get to troll for those lake trout.i spend the 70 bucks for an out of state fishing license, and ill have to see if you can make the trip from buffalo.its fun to catch 20lb trout in open water, where they can run and fight.the creeks are convenient, but being in a boat and catching them is whole new experience.