Another Successful Alaskan Experience!

If I had to describe this years trip to Alaska, I would have to say it was awesome! We hosted 20 angler's into camp again this year, with many of them experiencing Alaska for the first time! Everything from Rainbow Trout, Grayling, Char/Dollies, Lake Trout, Sockeye, and Silver Salmon were brought to hand over the course of the week.

The guys flew out to several world class destinations while the boat trips across the lake to the Brooks River and other creeks that offered up outstanding fishing as usual. Combine the good fishing with the Alaskan scenery, bear sightings, and river side accommodations, and you were hard pressed to ask for anything more...

A special thank you to all of the angler's who traveled with us, and to the Johnson family & staff at Naknek River Camp for another great trip! We have already taken several bookings for our return to Alaska in 2012. The dates will be August 18th thru the 25th. If you are interested in experiencing Alaska, we would love to have you along with us! Alaska RSVP's can be placed by contacting us at 888-453-5899 or email us at team@steelheadalleyoutfitters.com. 

In local news: Two fly tying classes offered at Chagrin River Outfitters on Saturday September 10th. This will be an all day event, so stop by and get ready for the returning fall Lake Erie Steelhead run.

Here are just a few pictures from our trip to Alaska, there were so many nice fish pictures and everyone was so successful that it is extremely hard to get them all up online! 

Looking back at our cabins from the Naknek River.

Camp life was about fishing, eating, and sleeping!

The guys enjoying an evening of bear snorkling from their cabin deck.

Mike Sowers with a healthy Naknek River Rainbow.

Dave Thatcher poses with a solid Arctic Char.

Patrick Campbell with a trophy Grayling from a small 

creek that we will leave nameless for now!

Jim Lewis with a Naknek River Sockeye Salmon.

Bill lewis and Guide Steve Martinez pose with a Naknek River Rainbow.

John Staranko and Mike Komarny strike a

pose on a recent fly out to the land of huge Char.

Bernard Staranko with a solid Naknek Rainbow.

Mike Komarny poses with a 30 inch pig of a Char.

Barry Kovach with a Sockeye.  They are a necessary evil to many who

fish for the Rainbows and Arctic Char, but they are fighters none the less.

Josh Stephens and Guide Alex Sundquist

pose with a small creek Arctic Char.

Hiking the Alaskan tundra on a recent fly out.

Joel Bock and friend Barry, pose with

Alex and a hefty Arctic Char.

A close up of a typical Dolly/Char caught on the trip.

Mike, Pat, and Patrick Robinson with an Arctic Char triple.

Joe Borter and Wayne McGee with a small creek double.

Ham Biggar poses with his first

Silver Salmon on hallowed grounds south of camp.

Mike Schmidt and Greg Senyo double down on very

nice Arctic Char.  Way to go boys!

Ready for take off on a recent fly out.

Lake trout on a swung fly? Yeah Buddy!

Mark Rushnak and Guide Kyle Hartman

with a monster Naknek River Rainbow.

Joel having fun on the ride up stream.

I said Joel was having fun!

Mike Schmidt poses with a beautiful Char.

Greg Senyo with a solid Brooks River Rainbow.

Patrick Robinson with a solid Silver Salmon.

For the guys on the trip we will have photo books and videos completed as quickly as possible, please get your order forms in ASAP, so we know how many we will need! If you have any questions regarding the book or video please contact Patrick Robinson at flybum@windstream.net 

The Usual Suspects

This is what we are looking for!

The rain has come and the area rivers are up, fast, and muddy. This round of precipitation should bring in enough fresh fish to last us through the spring season. Some of the Erie tributaries should start to fish on Monday if we don't see any more rain over the next couple of days.

We will be back to our usual everyday grind here pretty quick, and will have more for you then. If you are still pondering the idea of fly fishing the Lake Erie Tributaries for steelhead, don't hesitate to give us a shout at 419-466-9382. We are on the rivers daily and can provide you the best experience possible while on the alley.

We would like to thank everyone for a wonderful week of fishing! It was great spending time with each and every one of you!  We hope to see you in the fall!!

Here are a few pictures from the past couple of days on the water with the Reel Woman-Reel Men of Indianapolis Fly Club and a few other Great steelhead trips with the SAO staff.

Patti with one of many nice fish

Patti with a fat Elk Creek Hen

Patti with a nice buck

A sweet colored buck steelhead from Elk Creek

Donny with a nice Elk Creek Steelhead

Donny with another good fish

John with a nice drop back hen

Chuck with a nice Buck

Chuck with a bright Ohio steelhead

Nice Fish Carlos!

Carlos with a nice fat hen

John with another buck

John with an early morning buck

Merodith fights the monsoon for this fish

Merodith poses with a nice buck


Greg with a fresh healthy looking hen

Greg With a good rainy day buck

Bob holds a nice Ohio steelhead

We will have more for you soon!

Good Fishing

Greg Senyo

Owner/Operator SAO

October Weather in May

I woke up this morning, grabbed the gear, and fired up the diesel (ouch that hurt the wallet).  The goal was McDonald's by 5:45am to meet up with a great guy and new found friend.

Bret and I have been talking for months about trying to make con

nections on the water.  What brings us together is none other than our love for the sport of fly fishing and the guiding that often takes our free time.  

With the main Steelhead season over and everyone shifting gears to summer haunts, we decided we would try to make it happen in the small window 

that was offered to us.  Brett was making preparations to head out west for the summer to guide in Wyoming and I am, well, um, I, uh, well, I'm staying here :(

Well, I guess that isn't entirely true, as I will be heading into the mountains of California again this year in pursuit of Browns, Bows, Brookies, and the infamous Golden's.  But you know how it is....the grass is always greener.......

At any rate, we finally made connections at McDonald's in the heart of Steelhead Alley.  We decided we would hit a lower section of Conneaut Creek and see what Steelhead were left over and what Smallmouth we might entertain.

With the unseasonably cold temperatures, people have been fishing for Steelhead throughout the month of May.  This morning temps were in the high 30's in some areas and I can remember my conversation with Brett early in the morning moving toward how cold our hands were.  It definitely felt like late October or even early November.

We did find some fish remaining, but they were few.  We got one Steelhead and missed several others, and even had some fun with some other species of Bass.

Everything we caught was on swung streamers employed with spey casting techniques.  As they say, "The Tug is the Drug," and we love our switch rods.

Here are a few photos I took of Brett while I was guiding him....(sorry Brett, I couldn't resist).  Really, Brett held his own very well, and I look forward to the next time our paths cross on the water.

Brett With A Nice Late Season Steelhead

A Surprise Rock Bass Brought to Hand

A Nice Smallmouth to Pass the Time

We decided while out today, that the only thing Brett needed to complete his Steelhead Alley slam was a sucker and a goose.  Unfortunately we couldn't bring either to hand :)

Be safe out west Brett, and keep us posted on those nice butter bellies your cathching.  Oh, by the way, the pleasure today was all mine!

Tight lines.....

Patrick "Flybum" Robinson

Check out other adventures at www.flyfishblogger.com/flybum