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FISHING ARTICLES
Steelhead and an Early Thaw By Roger Bohner An
early thaw in February has Ohio steelhead anglers
lining the streams. The rivers are normally frozen
during the months a January and February leaving
little opportunity for fisherman to catch the
ever-present steelhead. The steelhead typically run
upstream in the fall and remain under the ice waiting
for warmer temperatures to spawn. The unseasonably
warm weather has opened up Ohio’s rivers and allowed
fisherman the opportunity to catch large numbers of
quality steelhead. Lake
Erie, most famous for its walleye, smallmouth bass and
perch, has a relatively untapped fishery in steelhead.
Thanks to aggressive stocking programs by Ohio,
Pennsylvania and New York, steelhead are plentiful in
the rivers feeding into Lake Erie. Ohio rivers such as
the Rocky, Chagrin, Grand and Conneaut receive the
bulk of the states stocked fish. Smaller feeder
streams occasionally will have some fish stocked in
them as well. The
Ohio steelhead stocking program began well over 10
years ago. Ohio stocked mainly the “london” strain
of steelhead. Return ratios weren’t as high as
biologist expected and they introduced the
“manistee” strain of steelhead approximately three
years ago. The “manistee” run up Ohio’s rivers
from early September through march to spawn. Scattered
fish remain in the rivers well into May. The
“manistee” are characterized by long, slender,
muscular bodies. Their fight is nothing less than
spectacular with drag screaming runs and gravity
defying leaps. Steelhead
fishing in Ohio has historically been a well kept
secret among local fisherman. Few places in the world
offer the opportunity to catch the size, quality and
quantity of steelhead that are available in Lake Erie
tributaries. The popularity of the sport has boomed in
the last three years. You’ll seldom find a spot in
the rivers where you can fish alone. The good news is
that there are more than enough fish for everyone to
catch. Local fishing stores offer maps and information
to anglers who are unfamiliar with the area. A number
of guide services are also available to both first
time and experienced anglers. Take advantage of the thaw while you can. The window of opportunity can be brief as Ohio weather is extremely unpredictable this time of year. Good Fishing!
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