Warm Breeze

I was fortunate enough to leave work around noon today. Sunny, 60 degrees, and being the last day of January, it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. After stopping by house to grab gear, cameras, bowl of oatmeal, and my dog, I raced down to The Rocky River to try and capitalize on an awesome January day.

I met a friend of mine Lee on the water and after catching up on the latest and greatest in our lives, we swung some flies. The river was starting to hold that nice olive/green color with decent visibility. We started at opposite ends of the run and worked towards each other, each hoping that one of us would get a grab.

As the time past, I enjoyed the warm breeze coming down the river and began finding myself not catching fish. Falling into a daze of just knowing I was knee deep in a river and not at work, my attention was gathered in an instant when my fly line began screaming out of my hand. It was the one thing that made the day and as the week progress I imagine the fishing will only get better. The fish was caught on a purple intruder and was sitting in the slower tail out of the run.

Spring days are starting to book up so make sure to get ahold of us for your spring steelhead season.

See you on the water,

Owen

CONNECT Fly Fishing Film by: Confluence Films

FRIDAY – FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
1 Wade Oval Drive
Cleveland, OH 44106-1701
Showtime: 8:00 pm (reception begins at 6:30 pm)

Mid-January?

Usually when January rolls around, the lake is frozen, rivers are locked up, and we are stuck inside tying flies, watching videos, and gearing up for the first thaw of the year. Not this year, yesterday I found myself 4 miles off Huron chasing monster walleyes on open water. Today I went to the Vermillion River and caught this behemoth of a hen steelhead. She was my biggest this season as I'm guessing around 32" and 13lbs.

All the NE Ohio rivers are loaded with giant steelhead and mother nature has allowed us to capitalize this over the last few weeks with the best winter steelheading I can ever remember.

-Ryan

Really in Ohio?

Lazy mans steelheading

One thing really nice I've noticed about the boat over the last couple weeks is that it gives your feet/toes a break from going numb after wading long days in 30 degree water. Yesterday we floated about 8 miles of river, hardly put a foot in the water, and caught fish all along the way. Not to mention, only saw one other angler at the put-in of our entire float. At one point in our conversation, I heard "Are we really in Ohio?" "Yes we are" I said with a smile. Thank you Sotar Rafts.

Post Turkey Day Float

It's been a long time coming but Ryan and I were finally able to meet up our new buddy Brandon who we met via OGF for a day on the water . Brandon hails from the eastside and Friday we made our way out to the Chagrin with the Sotar in tow. The water was a great color and on the drop. We talked about the prior days feast and put down a couple brews to help out the previous nights lingering headaches. With the water holding some color, black and purple swung streamers seemed to be on the menu.

If you ever see Brandon on the river make sure to say hi. Oh, and ya that man can swing a fly.

The rivers are up and may increase with more rain on the way. Have a hair trigger once they reach their and peak, and we'll see you on the water.

Cheers,

Owen

Big boys on the Chagrin...

It really felt like steelhead season was in full swing yesterday as my truck was dusted with snow in the morning, the wind was howling, and temperatures were hovering in the 30s much of the day. Oh yeah, and the big boys were biting... :)

Chromers plentiful

The Rocky River has come down after last weeks heavy rain and is loaded with fresh chrome bright fish. It seems to be a smaller grade of fish as we are still waiting for those big fish to show up as they usually do later November, but the action is great. Here is a pic of Diane and her husband Dave with her first steelhead! -Ryan