Lots To Do In Brown's Town...

It should be an exciting next couple weekends for local steelheaders with some can't miss local events.

First, OCBS will be holding it's annual fall steelhead expo.

Date: Oct 1, 2011
Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM doors open at 8:30 AM
Place: Cleveland Metro Parks Rocky River Nature Center, 24000 Valley Park Way in Rocky River Reservation

I don't have many details about the event, but all you need to know is that year after year OCBS puts on a great show.  Admission is free, so don't miss this chance to interact with lots of local steelheaders and some seasoned experts!  More information on the event can be found at www.ohiosteelheaders.com.

Secondly, Chagrin River Outfitters will be holding their annual Fall Steelhead Shop Day the following Saturday.

Date: Oct 8, 2011
Time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Place: Chagrin River Outfitters, 100 North Main Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44120  


The schedule of free seminars and events for the fall shop day is as follows:


Seminars:
Brett McCrae - 8 am: Early season tactics and Lake Erie Browns. Learn early season guide secrets to putting more fish in the net this Fall and improve your chances of catching a trophy Lake Erie Brown Trout.

Jerry Darkes - 9:30 am: Learn why a switch rod must be in your arsenal if you are serious about steelheading the Lake Erie tributaries. Reach more fish, extended drifts, effortless casting, better line management, fighting and landing fish are all made easier by these versatile fishing tools.

Jeff Liskay - 10:45am: Switch rods for swinging streamers on Lake Erie tributaries. Learn the proper casts, rod and line combinations, sink tip essentials, and fly patterns to make swinging streamers your go to method for targeting steelhead.

Brett McCrae - 1pm: Steelheading 101 seminar. Learn from a veteran steelhead guide secrets to make you a more successful angler this season. Topics covered will include choosing the right rod/reel/line combinations, locating fish throughout the changing seasons, what steelhead are eating and why, understanding river flows and conditions, rigging for success, choosing successful fly patterns, properly fighting and releasing fish.  There is something that will benefit everyone in this presentation!

Events:
Greg Senyo - Fly Tying - 10am-12 noon. Learn from Greg, the 2008 Orvis Fly Tier of the Year, how to tie flies that trigger more strikes: nymphs, eggs, and minnow imitations for catching more fish this season.

Jeff Liskay and Jerry Darkes 12:15: Switch rod casting demonstration for better understanding how these rods work and why they are such a great tool for steelheaders.

Greg Senyo - Fly Tying - 2pm-3:30 pm: Greg explains how to tie and fish some his deadliest extended hook streamer patterns and why they hook more fish.


Representatives from Simms, Mystic Rod Company, Orvis, Ross Reels, Scott Rods, Scientific Anglers fly lines and more will be on hand to answer questions about gear and steelheading.


The SAO staff will also be well represented at this event, so come on down and meet some of the guides and pick up some tips to make you a more successful steelheader this year!


Now for a quick fishing report...

Life's a beach!

On the metalhead front things are looking up.  The past few doses of rain have got some fish moving up the tributaries, with some fish being caught surprisingly far upstream for this time of year.  With any luck, we'll keep getting this precipitation and our fish will continue to spread out nicely and set us up for a great fall.  Despite the amount rain we've had, the window of opportunity for prime fishing conditions on the rivers this time of year is pretty small.  With that said, anglers that hit it just right can be rewarded with some great early season fishing.  If you're interested in getting out for some early season steelhead, let us know.  We have guides available, and there's no better time of year to catch chromers at the absolute peak of their physical condition.


Anglers have also been experiencing some sporadic success fishing the beaches and river mouths along steelhead alley.  Keep a close eye on weather/wind conditions, and fish early and late.  Hot flies have been baitfish patterns in white, olive, blue, grey, and silver with a moderate amount of flash.

Check out the new Senyo's Gangsta Minnow fly tying tutorial.

Good luck out there, and we hope to see you at one of the upcoming local events!

Fly Tying This Saturday At Chagrin River Outfitters...



100 North Main Street
Chagrin Falls, Ohio 44022

Any fly tiers looking to learn new patterns and improve their tying skills we still have a few spots open for our afternoon fly tying session this Saturday, September 10th in the shop. Class is from 1:30-3:30 and will focus on nymphs, baitfish, and egg patterns, cost is $25 and includes materials. Students need their own tools and vise. To RSVP please contact the shop at 440-247-7110.

Streamers and Swung Flies!

Nymphs and Eggs!

Return To Alaska!

Alaska's Awesome Scenery!

Over the past 3 years we have hosted 4 successful groups (over 70 anglers) to Alaska and Jim Johnson's Naknek River Camp to fish the peak of the Silver Salmon runs, and to chase beautiful Rainbow Trout and Char. We are really excited about this years trip, as we will be filming our groups entire Alaskan experience from start to finish. We will be out of the office from August 16th through August 30th, and I will return all emails and phone messages on my return.

Chasing and sight fishing to big Char is a guest favorite!

Our 2012 Alaska dates are August 18th to 25th! We already have several RSVP's for this week, so if you are interested in going to Alaska next summer with our experienced hosts, we can be contacted with any questions at 888-453-5899 or email us at team@steelheadalleyoutfitters.com.. We have alot of great projects in the works for this fall, that promise to offer exceptional customer care, great new flies and products, and exciting fly fishing destinations worth fishing!

SAO Guide Brett McCrae with some early

season chrome last year!

Yes! The fall runs are right around the corner, but don't get to excited yet.... We will not see anything worth fishing in the Lake Erie Tributaries until early October.. If you noticed I said in the streams? In mid September start looking for Steelhead and Brown Trout on patrol and cruising the surf. The beaches in the east will be your best bet! Early mornings just at sun-up and the evenings after sun-set are the best times to pick up an early season chromer...Also look for good action just before and after storm fronts moving over the lake. Large fly patterns that imitate shad, emerald shiners, and goby are good choices. Our fall steelhead guide schedule is filling nicely, with a few guides only having a few dates left open on their fall calender. If you plan on fishing with us this fall, and need to RSVP and request a guide please let us know. You can fill out our online trip request here Online Guide Trip Request We will have more for you on our return!

Happy Holidays From SAO!

From our family to yours we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We greatly appreciate your support and continued business with our outfitter each year.

We have extended our holiday fly sale through the New Year for those of you who would like a great deal on fly patterns for the spring steelhead season. Please visit our Online Steelhead Alley Fly Shop for more details and offered selections.

Our prime spring 2011 steelhead dates for March, April, and May are starting to fill, so if you are planning a trip to Steelhead Alley please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions, or to book your dates. If possible RSVP early to insure your preferred dates will be available. To request trip information quickly please use this fast and simple Online Request Form. Or contact us by email or phone by using the contact information on the side bar of this blog.

Are you interested in learning to Spey Cast? SAO Guide and Operator of Midwest Spey Will Turek will be offering Spey Casting and Swung Fly Tactics each weekend this spring. Sign up is limited so if you are interested please contact us for more information and to RSVP your spot on the roster. 

This Lake Erie Tributary Brown Trout Made For An Early Christmas Wish Come True...

Landing A Beautiful Lake Erie Steelhead Will Make A Great Holiday Gift. Steelhead Guide Trip Gift Certificates Are Available Year Around. Please Call 419-466-9382 for more details...

Our first stop of the new year will be at the Indiana On The Fly Show  in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 8, 2011. We look forward to seeing you at the show!

Happy Holidays!

Greg Senyo

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

SAO Spring Update And Thank You!

Well as most of you already know the steelhead season is over! For us it was an extremely busy year with 214 steelhead trips completed from anglers across the country. The staff would like to thank each and everyone of you that fished with us this season and for a ton of great memories on the water! We look forward to servicing your fly fishing needs in the future and wish you all a great summer.

Busy or not I still took a few days to catch some silver of my own.

Looking back through all the photos I was amazed at some of the big fish this year! We were grateful they found the bottom of one of our nets and were not one of the many that got away. Even though the season is over our bookings are quickly filling now for prime fall steelhead days. If you are interested in fly fishing the 2009 Fall steelhead runs on Lake Erie Tributaries give us a shout we would love to get you into some silver of your own. Call us at 888-453-5899 or email us at team@steelheadalleyoutfitters.com to RSVP.

JP hit this big buck while fishing with guide

John Miller! One of many this year!!

Currently we are guiding the tributaries for Lake Erie Small Mouth Bass, and we are catching good numbers on a variety of tactics from top water to stripping large streamers, leeches, and tube flies. Our Small Mouth range from 2 to 5 pounds and the fishing is best until about Late June, when our focus changes over to other warm water species. If you are interested in wet wading and big bronze backs give us a shout at the above contact information.

Swinging and stripping streamers for Small Mouth is hot right now!

We will be hot and heavy on the fly tying Blog this summer with a variety of fly pattern tutorials put up weekly. Look for our newest installment here in the next couple of days. The Fly patterns we will focus on are guide patterns and custom ties for Lake Erie Tributaries and ties for around the region.

Next Tutorial Senyo's Elk Creek Craw Tube

Pretty soon you will see some new faces and some well known faces with the SAO family. These new editions will help us keep up with the top notch services you have come to expect from SAO. We will always continue to serve you the angler with the best possible experience and surround you with knowledgeable and professional fly fishing guides everyday of each season. I would like to end with a final thank you to Orvis, Eumer, and Hare Line for their constant support...it has been an awesome year!

If you are new to fly fishing take a moment to check out our Fly Fishing Reports history. Over 120 posts and 1200 pictures with guests and SAO experiences around the country on the fly!!!

See you on the water!!!

Greg Senyo Owner/Operator

Steelhead Alley Outfitters