The Leaves Have It

High water, no water, low water, nature has been throwing it all at us lately.

If things always stayed the the same would it be any fun?  Tailwater rivers around the globe produce the same temps, bugs, and condtions almost day in and day out, in NE Ohio our freestone rivers keep us guessing.  With ever changing condtions, our rivers help keep our game on point.  Our rivers force us to dig deep into our boxes as water color, level, and conditons continually change.  At times this can be frustrating,sending us home with out the statisfaction of bringing a fish to the net. 

As avid fisherman, we should appreciate the fact the mother nature in NE Ohio persuades us to not settle for the same thing day in and day out on the water. We have to ever change our gameplan, bugs, depth, location, and mentality each time we step into the river. Going through this proccess helps us refine our game each time we step into the water.

Here's to a great FALL on The Alley.

Tom with an Early Morning Catch

Another Nice Fish in the Cool Clear Water

The Leaves Speak for Themselves

Had to Check Out the Action for Myself

Cheers,

Owen

A Great Morning After a Great Night

Spending last night at The Cleveland Museum of Natural History with friends and fishing enthusiasts was nothing short of good time. Over three hundred people were on hand to watch CONNECT a film by Confluence Media. The movie was excellent and opened doors to old memories of guiding the pristine waters of Montana.

Shaking off a bit of a whiskey hangover, my dog Timber and I ventured out to the East part of the state. My first stop being on the Ashtabula River. It seemed everywhere that look fishy already had someone working over the water and after watching one fly fisherman nymph up a steelhead, Timber and bounced to the Conneaut. After parking I walked probably for a good half to three quarters of a mile before I began to work over some great looking water. Swinging a sink tip and some big nasty flies I managed to hook into three and fortunate enough to land one of em. I tried to take some pics as best as I could on the river, need to teach Timber how to hold a camera ; ).

Ashtabula Water and Color Were Great

Finally a Good Connect

Solid Hen

Re Releasing for Another Day

Timber Not Happy About the Quick Release

Big Flies Cast Big Shadows

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

Drift This

This should hold you over till the waters come back into shape.

Spread the word. Thanks to Eric Lindstrom for letting me video the day.

Must Be the Caddis

Was able to take off work today from (I guess my real job) to tag along on a guide day. Although I skipped work, I wasn't there to fish or guide, I was there to obtain some footage and take some pics. Needless to say the fish did there part and once I get the short video completed you guys can let me know if I did mine. Nice job today Richard!!

Cheers,

Owen

Fall Steel

Our Fall season has begun here in NE Ohio with some great fishing had over the past several weeks. The weather we are getting now is going to do nothing but good things for our Lake Erie tribs.

I had a casting lesson last night down in the metroparks and managed to hit the water for a bit after. Hitting a hole that usually has fish,produced nothing for me. I watched a gentleman pick a fish up with some spinning gear downstream of me in a hole that over the past year has turned from an ok run into a gem. I waited till he left and went in with the confidence of knowing there had to be at least one more fish in that hole.

I swung streamers when I first got in the water to no avail. After some deliberation I threw on a flashy beadhead and egg pattern which did the trick. Wait for the graphs to peak from the rain and as the make there way down I would be somewhere on a river.

Cheers,

Owen

Go to Alaska and You Get This.

Fun Level is how high?

Just in case you were wondering what OSD owner Ryan Buddie was doing......

PA Camping

Fly Fishing Film Tour HIts Cleveland

The Fly Fishing Film Tour has become the fishing entertainment event of the year. The Backpackers Shop will be hosting the only showing in the Cleveland area at the Links Golf Course in North Olmsted on May 4th and less than 40 tickets remain. Tickets are $12.00 and must be purchased at the shop. Casting games and demonstrations will precede the film from 6pm-7:30pm. Film will follow shortly after. Tickets will go fast , so don't wait or you will miss this one! Food and refreshments can be purchased at the event. If you have never been you are missing out!!!

SIMMS ICE OUT WINNER

Peaks and Valleys

Peaks and valleys has been the name of the game with a never ending supply of rain this spring. When it rains we complain about to much, when it doesn't it's to dry. So is the story of ohio steelhead fishing. If your a turkey hunter now, might be the time to put down the rod and try to bag the turkey.

c u on the water

Owen Murphy

Sons of Scotland

Friday I had the opportunity to guide Mike Hutchison. Mike hails from Scotland and is not in Cleveland just for the steelhead. You may or may not know but, Cleveland is getting an aquarium. Not just any aquarium, but a world class one. Mike is the man behind project and the fish that will be spending their time in the aquarium. I encourage you to take a look at the Greater Cleveland Aquarium website, to see what it is all about http://www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com/.

We put the boat in on the Grand Friday and floated about five miles. The river was fairly quiet as far as other fisherman except in some of the easy access areas. The day started slow, but by the end of the day we were into the fish and I think we sent Mike home happy. Fish caught mainly ate dark bodied streamers.

Mike enjoying no crowds and Ohio Steelhead

This was Mike's 1st STEELHEAD in the US

We'll take a thumbs up for sho

For another day

Mike was a class act and I enjoyed spending the day on the water with him. We will have to see how many fish are left after the rivers clear again. Until next time.

Owen Murphy

Whats a guide to do when clients cancel....Go Fishing!!

On one of the most beautiful days I can remember so far this year, I was up early ready to hit the water with some clients. After finding out that my clients for the day had to re book due to sickness, I made of few phone calls and went to work..well kinda. I rounded up my girlfriend Erin and good buddy Kelly and away we went. After hitching up the boat and making our way down to the river, we enjoyed blue skies and fish for the rest of the day. Most of the fish we caught ate big streamers, the fish we found seemed to be sitting in holes with heavy shadows and overhangs. It was a fantastic day, with my girlfriend landing her first steelhead of her career.

Congrats on a great fish!

that belt buckle might classify this as a fish rodeo

Action

Take care and if you can get on the water, the time is now!!

Owen Murphy

Rain Rain Go Away

-OSD up and coming guide Brennan leitch with a RR Steelhead prior to the Rains-

Watch the rain closley as the Chagrin and Rocky should fish today before and hopefully after the rains come. I have heard reports from yesterday that fish were being caught and that you could see your reflection on the sides of their bodies.

Owen Murphy

All Gear and No Game

This past week I had the honor of taking out the fine gentleman in the picture below. These guys are the best, not only can they fish but when the weather takes a turn for the worst they take it like true champs. These gentleman hailed from Texas and Oklahoma, they were prepared for the elements and when the weather hit last week, we worked hard, and covered the water well. In the end I believe everyone went home smiling.

ps....just cause some guy has $3000 dollars in gear and clothes on the river doesn't mean he has any idea what he is talking about....humbleness is a great thing in this sport ; ) see you out there.

Owen Murphy

Spring Guiding 2011

Podcast with OSD Owner Ryan Buddie on Outdoor First Radio

THIS IS WHY WE DO IT

Our buddy Dan had landed his first steelhead a few weeks back, with no evidence besides a couple friends who witnessed it. Since then Danimal (Dan) has had sleepless nights with the ever growing itch of becoming a profound steelhead fisherman and the picture with that big buck steelhead he has been after.

We spent time on the water again yesterday with Danimal and with a different outcome. Dan was into fish from the first few drifts. Throughout the day I was asked by Dan to take a turn and in some cases I did. However, I told him that once you've caught a few fish in your life and you see the expressions of someone new getting into their first fish, you watch them grow, want to learn, it means all the more to me than bringing a fish to the net for myself.

I know I speak for Ryan in saying this is why we started this business, ya we may make a few bucks on the side to pay for a permit trip to mexico ; ), but we appreciate the great resource we have and enjoy introducing people to this great sport and fishery.

Tight Lines,

Owen & Ryan

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

I hooked up with OSD Eastside connection, Kelly, yesterday to check out some water. We were both pretty excited. It was one of those spring mornings that we had been waiting for since we put our hunting bows down last fall. Still shaking off the dust from St. Pats and a morning gut bomb from BK, we headed on over to the Conneaut. The river was stained and running a little over 700 cfs. We spent several hours working over the river with nothing to show. With such a beautiful day on hand, we looked at each and said we need to find the fish. So we made a power move and well the rest of the day is history.

Fish were eating everything from swung streamers to eggs and flashy nymphs. It was a great day yesterday and we hope to see you out there.

Owen Murphy