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I find it hard to believe veterans day would leave you without finding steelhead at least in the tribs of Erie,Pa. Maybe you just found a trib that was not open yet. As the water cools, they stage off the mouth of the tribs and wait for the the streams to open. Early Sept. Seems they enter from the Ohio side first then move along to New York side. So you will find them in these tribs W. and not any in the eastern tibs yet. This is when a boat is needed to get to them. Most of the summer months bring sand/silt down and close off the mouths but for a trickle. Once a good rain opens the mouths, they make the trip in. Mostly the end of September is a good start as colder weather sets in with more rain. It is raining in Erie right now and has been the past week. The streams can get high and unfishable but since most of them are short, they clear up fast. A day or so. If I could only go once a fall, I would go in about the middle to late October when the leaves are at peak color or just off trees. I have never found this time to be without a few runs already made with lots of fish in tribs. If you can find a day with the wind from the South, the mouth of Trout Run in the lake itself will hold tons of them. Just be sure to know regs there. Trout run is off limits to fishing but the lake in front is open certain hours but real hard to get the weather/ waves to cooperate. In these cases, there are train tunnels you can duck under that hold lots of good dry fishing. Chest waders are a must have to get to the good spots although Walnut creek (called the Nut for reasons other than creek name) is most visited trib and gets crowded but you can fish off the wall there. There has been the early birds entering the tribs now but the larger ones seem to be still on the way..Problem is Pa hunting seasons get underway just as the good steelhead fishing does too. This is when I have to blow off a day hunting to get north with those friends that don't hunt. Gotta have the surf and turf and speaking of surf, the smoker has been going today with about 1/2 hr left to remove my last batch of smoked steelhead.
The fish are in the tribs all winter long and can be found till warmer weather sets in and they head back to the lake until next fall. About March/April. Fishing has been great there in winter when pushing snow with the bumper of my truck and Erie can get some snow storms from the lake effect. Good fishing anywhere you go but do try to make it there this fall. Like hooking a torpedo. Great inland place to fish. Have to try the perch fishing in summer too. Good family vacation aboard the Edward John charter and only $28 for adults $18 under 12. Can enjoy the sand beaches with the family while not a day fishing. No sharks in the water either so the kids won't be fishfood.
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mugrump
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