Elk Creek Trout & Steelhead Fishing Report–4/17/2014

 

Since the beginning of trout season I had not ventured out to check out those streams in my backyard. So on this day I went and checked out how Elk Creek was flowing and to try my hand at a few Brown trout after the in season stocking. The pictures below are all from around the Legion hole and under Route 20. The stream was moving fairly fast and it was still quite off colored. A number of anglers were fishing right off the Legion Park with limited success. I only saw one individual catch 2 steelhead and I had no luck at all even with my walking and trial of various lures and bait.

I was all packed up and had decided to head back home and do some work when I took a trip up Manchester Road to the Rick Road access area in McKean. When I arrived the stream was full of fishermen all around the large hole directly at the bridge; however they seem to be catching quite a few so I tried my luck for an hour.

After several misses on live bait I gave a brown and gold spinner a try and ended up hooking into the fish pictured below – a 17.5” Brown trout! With the fishing pressure and limited timeframe to catch these guys this one is definitely a trophy for this area and will be a nice addition to my home decor!

The fishing should get better over the holiday weekend with the decrease in water levels and clarity.

Remember to always respect landowner property and access areas and always take your trash with you!

Tight lines and I will see you on the streams

 

 

Trout, Steelhead, Salmon Dart Style Flies

Get these flies & more for just a donation towards John D. Crane’s Medical Recovery & Insurance Company Fight Fund!

Founder/ Fishery Researcher John D. Crane Injured

 

Currently at J.Crane Scientific Angling & Waterfowl we are offering all of our trout, salmon, and steelhead flies at a “pay what you want” donation price point to benefit fishery researcher John D. Crane who was significantly injured in a not at fault auto accident. He has been battling to recover, receive medical benefits, and attempting to get benefits owed to him from the insurance company.

After giving it all that he could he was required to obtain an attorney to file a claim for benefits on his behalf. To help John get back on his feet from his injuries-including a closed head injury-we are asking for the fishing and outdoor communities help.

Currently all of our flies in our store at www.JCraneFlies.com are listed at a “donation price.” The lowest price under each fly covers the cost of materials and shipping. You are free to choose this or any price for each fly, however every penny over the costs will go directly towards helping him recover.

To read more click here or to visit our store click here.

Thank you for all of your help in advance.

 

The J Crane Scientific Angling & Waterfowl family

Science & Great Lakes Walleye Fishing–The Ultimate Marriage! Part 1–O2 Levels

 

I know it already you don’t even have to say it! “What are you trying to do to my fishing?!'” … Science belongs in a lab not out trolling Lake Erie for Walleye, but that is where most people are wrong!

To this day I still pick lures and lines and locations based on a simple question, “If you were a fish would you eat this?” or “swim here?” And we have always been very successful with that approach, but I want you to consider a simple question that will lead us into the next few months of posts and information.

And the Question is………..

Right now I write this as I am in Michigan and it about –13 outside and covered in snow! However if you had the choice between being comfortable in the temperature or being able to breathe – which would you pick?

breathing … EXACTLY! Now apply that to fish – we all know that fish like certain temperature zones when they are the most active. When the Walleye are schooled up in the summer in the great lakes most fisherman are looking for the temperature break or thermocline and then fish above it in the warmer water – it’s a good plan, but what happens when you troll around and catching nothing or very little?

Well Walleye, like all fish, have a set oxygen saturation level in the water that they need to survive. all parts of a water column does not contain the same amount of oxygen – especially if the lake has just rolled over!

So are the fish going to be where their favorite temp zone is or where they can breathe? Well based on the lack of dead walleye all over the surface I would say they pick breathing every time! …. hmmmmm now that is science!

There are many, many, more applications of scientific items to Walleye fishing and all other fishing you just have to stay tuned to find out more about them, but I will give you a hint – the color red disappears around 20 feet deep so what do your lures actually look like based on the lack of colors in the spectrum? How about water clarity? If the top is muddy is the entire lake muddy thus decreasing the fishes visibility? hmmm

These and other issues will be considered soon and when they all come together you find the fish you are after, if you don’t then you will be out there losing out to the people who do find them!

Tight Lines!

John

Half-Egg Skeen Replicate Egg

Just a truly amazing fly! Replicates so many different thing in the Steelhead Diet and works year-round! Under the thick outer skeen membrane is a portion of and egg. It is tied specifically to look like one that has been beaten off the Redd and traveled a distance and will be an easy meal for any fish it floats by!

 

Remember to Check Out our Site to Schedule a "Personal Scientific Fishing Plan" for yourself or a friend! Spring is Upon us and Time Slots are Going Quickly!

www.JCraneFlies.com