The Hemkens School Of Nymphing....

The Orvis gang was up fishing with us this past weekend, here is a short video shot with an iphone.

Our Spring Season Is Off To A Good Start......

A Snow Covered Elk Creek

Elk Creek Steelhead that took a Black/Blue/Chartreuse Craft Fur Intruder...

Swinging Streamers Through A Nice Run This Afternoon. 

A Nice Brown Trout that took one of Senyo's Egg Raiders On Elk Creek.

Orvis Mirage Reel & Helios Switch Rod And A Box of Dirty Water Streamers.

The season has started! If you are looking to spend a day or two on Ohio or Pennsylvania's Lake Erie Tributaries for steelhead this spring, we would love to spend it with you! Our guide schedules are filling but we still have plenty of room if you are interested in going! Please don't hesitate to call us at 888-453-5899 or email us at team@steelheadalleyoutfitters.com.
Have A Great Spring!

Greg Senyo
Steelhead Alley Outfitters

A Little Snow Doesn't Hurt, But Watch Out for the Egg McMuffins...

This past weekend we had the opportunity to hook up with a few of our friends from "O-Show" HQ in Vermont. Guys were driving and flying in from all over the region to catch a few Lake Erie Steelhead and to catch up with old friends. Severe weather, icy conditions, and snow storms made the travel slow going from the start, but we all managed to arrive in one piece and in good spirits.

Now here is the part where it gets good or should I say bad? Everyone headed out on the rivers and had a good time, caught a few decent fish, shared a few laughs, and overall had a pretty good day on the river. After the day was done, we headed over to a local bar and grill for some serious grub  It was about that time that I started to feel like I just got knocked out by Chuck Liddell. I couldn't even look at my wings and rings, and I was drinking fluids like I had been stranded in the desert for 7 days. I started sweating to death and shivering at the same time...been there?  I was thinking what the hell is wrong with me?

I decided to excuse myself and headed into the nearest emergency room. After a few minutes the doctor stepped in.  I didn't waste any time describing my symptoms to him.  In a split second, he looked at me and saed that I most likely had food poisoning. I told him I had not eaten anything since nearly 4am with the exception of some beef jerky while on the river. So after a few quick tests, my doctor came walking in with a smile on his face and says he found the problem.  Apparently I had eaten food or put something in my mouth that was contaminated with a bacteria, and it was growing and infecting my stomach. In dumb terms he tells me that someone took a dump, didn't wash their hands, and prepared my food!  

 So I spent the rest of the weekend wishing I was not alive after drinking the nastiest half gallon of antibiotic laxative and sleeping on a cold tile floor.  Friggin' Egg MacMuffins!!!  As you can see from the pictures and video below it was a fun time had by most everyone but me.  So, wash your hands....somebody's good time may depend on it.

 Some of the SAO guys talk with the boys from Orvis 

shortly after their arrival on the Alley....topic: Steelhead!

SAO guide Brett McCrae holds a small buck that was 

willing to play with some flies in cold water.

Christine fishes a nice cut.

Jim Lampros and Tim Daughton pull a nice double 

while the snow flies.  This is Steelhead weather!

Christine poses with a nice fish and

SAO guide Brett McCrae

Shawn pushes the rod to its limit to see how much 

abuse it will really take....looks like plenty!!!

Shawn Brillon and Greg Senyo pose for a quick grip and grin shot.

Doug Bear with a nice winter Steelhead

Christine slams a nice hen on the Alley

While on the water, Pat also had a chance to pull the camera out and get some footage for the "O-Show" crew to help them highlight some new gear that is pulling down some really good reviews.  The weekend may have been cold, but with friends, fish, and some film, the weekend warmed and everyone had a blast.  We are already looking forward to another outing.

 The newest short flick by Flybum Media Productions for The 

Orvis Company's new boot foot that is getting rave reviews across the country. 

In closing, don't forget to check out our fly specials in the fly shop...we can get these out just in time for that special person you want to impress this Christmas.  

Also, conditions are changing quick, but some fish are still available.  We are watching the conditions daily and getting out with clients when conditions warrant.  If you are a die hard fly fisher who wants to experience Steelheading in late season, let us know.

Looking forward to next year, minus the Egg MacMuffins....

Greg Senyo

Owner/Operator

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

Fly Fishing The Adirondacks

Less than a week after returning home from out west, we were already back on the road headed east. We had made plans earlier this spring to fish a few remote streams in the Adirondack Region of New York. I was still pretty whooped from my previous travel, but the thought of Brookies, Brown, and Rainbows on the fly was enough to keep us all lively through the entire 13 hour haul...

Eirik and I would be rolling into town a day early to set up camp, and meeting up with Shawn Brillon and Matt from the Orvis Company the following morning. The guys were bringing down some of the new prototype gear to try out, and as always, to hang out, fish, and have fun. John Clouser spends a lot of time in upstate New York with his family on vacation, and we can't thank John enough as he was extremely generous with his time, and showed us a few of the favorite remote trout streams he loves to fish. It didn't take me very long to understand why he comes back up here year after year!

Taking a break after a long hike through the

gorge. The scenery was breath taking!

The fishing was absolutely spectacular!

Matt with a nice Adirondack stream Brown Trout

from the pool at the base of the waterfall above.

The Adirondack Region is definitely a special place to catch trout! I have fished a lot of trout streams across the United States and never once wished I had a wading staff as badly as I wanted one here! Every stream I fished was filled with perfectly round rock, large boulders, and very little space to put a foot on even ground. Talk about breaking an ankle! I totally understood the meaning of "experienced stream wading required" after my trip here!

Tourism and camping near the mountains were at peak season and the area towns were busy. At first I thought we would have a hard time finding quiet water to fish, but during the 3 days I was fishing I had no one fishing even remotely close to us, and on some streams I never saw another soul.

Eirik hooked up with a nice Rainbow! The best position

to fish this pool was from a perch position 6 foot above the run.

Eirik poses for a close shot of the Rainbow

he hooked from the above photo.

We spent the next 3 days camping, hiking, fishing, sleeping, and eating! This was the perfect fly fishing getaway! If you like to fish remote waters, and have numerous opportunities at medium sized trout this is definitely a trip you should consider doing!

John Clouser land a nice brown trout while enjoying a good cigar.

Greg plays a nice Brown Trout.

I told you it was a nice Brown Trout!

Orvis Mirage Reel, Hydros Rod, and Adirondack Rainbow Trout.

Nymphing was key during our visit, as very few bugs were coming off. A quick look around the cliffs, boulders, and wood debris showed us that the bug biomass here was tremendous. I had never seen so many Golden Stonefly and mayfly shucks stuck to nearly everything around the stream. A no brainer idea to run stonefly nymphs through the pools put us into a lot of really nice trout each day.

A Brown Trout that fell for a rubber legged golden stonefly.

Rainbow Trout that fell for the same bug.

You know that camping and fishing trips tend to make you eat with a bit less concern for your heart health. Man its so good though! So we would eat until we were near to passing out next to our camp fire, living the good life even if it was only for a few days! We did however make a conscience effort to eat a healthy breakfast of Peaches and Cream Oatmeal, left over marinated steak, and extra strong coffee :)

Below are a few pictures from our time spent in the Adirondack mountains!

Steaks, Pork Chops, Salsa, corn, instant potatoes, and

a cold one were on the chefs menu...every night!

Our nightly camp fire, and as you can tell its almost bed time!

John with a fat Adirondack Brown Trout.

Nice trout to start the day off on a good note!

Eirik decided to let us catch the trout, as he wanted a trophy chub!

We always knew that Eirik was a chubby chaser.....

Nymphs including small caddis, worm, and midge larvae were also effective.

Greg fishes a pool we affectionately dubbed as brownbow rock.

Eirik holds the last fish of our trip! A great way to end a stellar trip!

Look at the beautiful reds on this fish!

We have a lot more still to come from our summer adventures, so stay dialed in and we'll have some more for you in the days to come!

Tight lines,

Greg Senyo

Owner/Operator

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

Huron River Carpin', Cleveland Orvis Offers Free Fly Fishing Lessons!

The most western Lake Erie tributary the Huron River has been steadily heating up for carp and smallmouth bass. SAO Fly fishing Guide Mike Schultz has been consistently bringing good sized carp to the net this summer, and the Mulberry hatch is on, and the fishing is absolutely fantastic.

If you would like to fish the Huron and try your luck on a few brown bombers, Mike Schultz can be contacted at http://www.coltonbay.com/ were he also serves as shop manager and head of guide operations. Below are a few pictures from recent outings...

Huron River Fly Caught Carp.

Tommy Vaughan with a big Huron River carp caught on Schultz's purple Shag Berry. The Fly pattern is constructed with Senyo's New Shaggy Dub from Hareline Dubbin Inc.

Tommy with another good carp on a recent trip with Guide Mike Schultz.

Allison with a monster Huron River "Brown Bomber"

Allison shows off this hefty brute that took the Shag Berry!

HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Just in from good friend and fly fishing manager Jim Lampros at the Orvis Company Store in Cleveland! The Store will be offering FREE fly fishing lessons every Saturday during the month of July from 9am to noon.

If you ever wanted to learn to fly fish this is a great no strings and no pressure way to get introduced to the sport of fly fishing. Everything from Casting, Rigging, Fly Selection, Equipment, and were to fly fish around Cleveland will be extensively covered.

Take advantage of the free service that is being offered, plus you will receive a free membership to Trout Unlimited and a $15.00 Orvis Savings Card just for attending the classes. If you have any questions and want to RSVP a spot please contact Orvis Cleveland Fly Fishing Manager Jim Lampros at 216-591-1681. The Orvis Company Store is located at 28839 Chagrin Blvd. in Woodmere.

Tight Lines!

Greg Senyo

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

New Colors of Senyo's Ice Dub and New Senyo's Shaggy Dub From HareLine Dubbin Inc. At A Fly Shop Near You!

Senyo's Shaggy Dub is a spandex micro hair material with similar properties to rubber. The major difference is Shaggy Dub is UV resistant and will not break down, crack, deteriorate, rot, and become unusable like straight rubber after being exposed to the elements and sun light.

Shaggy Dub is also cut long so that it can be utilized by tyers for everything from small nymphs to extremely large streamers. The movement of this material brings your flies to life, and the faintest motion or water current creates an "Alive" motion to the fly pattern.

Offered in 12 colors it can be effectively introduced/blended to your favorite dubbings/furs or used straight to build increased motion to your fly patterns. Here are few pictures of Steelhead fly patterns that use Shaggy Dubbing and currently are used for Great Lakes Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout.

Senyo's Olive Shaggy Sculpin

Senyo's Purple Shaggy Sculpin

Lake Erie Shaggit Minnow

Senyo's Shag head leech

Hare Line Dubbin Inc. also released 12 hot new colors of Senyo's Laser Dub. New tying tutorials will be up shortly incorporating these new materials and colors on our steelhead alley fly tying blog. (http://www.steelheadalleyflytying.blogspot.com/) If you like to tie flies you will definitely find these new products and colors useful.

New colors of laser dubbing and hot new colors of Hare Line

rabbit zonker strips are available at a shop near you.

On a fishing note the spring small mouth bite on Lake Erie and its Tributaries have been decent so far. Currently most if not all Tributaries in Ohio are still high and are rising due to rain. Elk Creek and Presque Isle Bay on the Pennsylvania section of the alley have been fishing extremely well and have been your best bet for great small mouth action on the fly. Here are a few pics from fly fishing Mgr. Jim Lampros over at our Orvis Cleveland Store from an outing on Presque Isle Bay.

If you would like to spend the day fishing on Presque Isle; Steve Brugger Captain/guide/owner of the Lake Erie Ultimate Angler is a master of the Lake Erie small mouth game and knows the Bay like very few others. Check out his availability and trip info at http://www.shopultimateangler.com/ the fishing is really heating up!

Orvis Cleveland Fly Fishing Mgr. Jim Lampros breaks in the new Orvis Hydros Rod and Mirage Reel on a few Lake Erie Presque Isle Bay Small Mouth Bass.

Lake Erie Rock Bass were also feeding in force.

A pair of nice smallies to end the day...

Alot of great summer deals going on right now through the Orvis Company and affiliated shops! Here's a funny video sent to me from good friend,fishing pal, and fly guru Shawn Brillon that was shot by the Orvis gang recently...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF0HbB7qSbI

We'll have more for you later!

Greg Senyo

Owner/Operator

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

Steelhead and Weather Forecasts

Well, it really just isn't a Steelhead season if you don't have uncertain weather and/or a weather man who doesn't get the forecast right. I mean really, it just isn't the same game without the uncertainty we get to deal with in the game of Steelhead!

Today, it was more of the same. The forecast was rain at 4 a.m. and continuing throughout the day. By 9 a.m., still no rain....had we dodged a bullet, or were the storms just running late? Well, I guess late was the true forecast and so by mid day the rains came. They weren't bad, but enough to make the day a damp one.

Nevertheless, we hung with the game and we had some awesome teammates with us to go along for the ride. Some were repeat clients in the groups while others had never fished on the fly before, let alone a Steelhead. Needless to say the day was full of fun, laughter, and of course, fish!

JOHN GETS THE SKUNK OFF WITH

THIS NICE HEN TO START THE DAY

And wouldn't you all say that the first fly rod catch is worth a million dollars? Here is one such catch for Marty. This wasn't only his first fly rod catch, but his first Steelhead. By days end, he was cursing his buddy John because of all the money he knew he would spend acquiring Steelhead gear when he got home.

MARTY STICKS HIS FIRST FLY ROD CATCH

AND ALSO HIS FIRST PIECE OF STEEL

JOHN NAILED A NICE HEN TO END HIS DAY

We had a great day with plenty of fish landed and we will have more of the photos from the day as they come in from our team of guides. Tomorrow we are out in force with a large number of clients, so don't hesitate to say hey if you see us on the water.

Today while we were out fishing clients, we were also field testing some new Orvis packs of varying shapes and sizes....it's always fun to be on the cutting edge of new design.

PATRICK SPORTS THE NEW ORVIS

MICRO PACK TEST MODEL

JOHN MILLER WEARING A NEW ORVIS

BACKPACK/CHEST PACK COMBO TEST MODEL

FRONT VIEW OF THE BACKPACK/CHESTPACK COMBO

In closing, I wanted to remind everyone of the upcoming Fly Fishing Film Tour 2010 that is coming to Cleveland. We are sponsoring this event and would love to see as many of you there as possible. Space is limited and this event will sell out, so get your tickets soon by going to the FFFT website.

Until tomorrow, tight lines and may the sun shine on your head while you fish!

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Head Guide

Steelhead Alley Outfitters