BACK IN THE SADDLE

It has been a whirlwind since the new year rolled in. My apologies for the lack write ups and just plain lack of fish pics. We had a great fall and are looking forward to the spring.

As some of you may know we recently teamed up of with The Backpackers Shop in Sheffield Village. This is an exciting time and we look forward to the opportunity.  With this partnership we are going to start unveiling plenty of tying classes, steelhead schools, casting clinics, along with some awesome destination travel opportunities. You will be able to view all the dates for the events via the OSD website and The Backpackers Fly Shop website. We also encourage you guys and gals to check us out on the OSD Facebook.com to get the latest up to date reports and info.

Getting on to the important stuff, the Rivers have crested and are on their way back to fishy levels. Look to Sunday as a possibility of getting out, if you don't mind some colder temps. As of right now you may be able to find some fish moving into some faster water but, I would try to stick to your slower moving areas, such as deep runs, pools, and tail outs.

Last weekend some of us got out and enjoyed the weather.

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

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

Steelhead n Hats

Took a drive down the to The Rocky River today to see what had come of the pst days rain. To much surprise the river looked tip top. So out came the rods and away we went.

I was able to manage a take swinging a minnow imitation but never laid my hands on the fish. After a thorough work over of the run with the streamer, I switched up to a nymph setup and was able to bring one in. Ended up going one for three and the three fish that I hooked into today seemed to be on the smaller side. No complaints from this guy either, some of the smallest silver bullets that hit our waters are some of the feistiest out there.

On another note, we finally have OSD hats!!!! I think they are pretty cool and will be rocking one on all of the tribs this fall. I will have them up for sale on our website soon.

Watch the gauges over the next few days and see what this rain and weather does to the water, until then I would find some time to hit the water.

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......

Off Season Boredom

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

So much for no rain

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

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

WE CAME HERE TO DO TWO THINGS

Well, we can all count our blessing that we live in the great state of Ohio and not over seas in Japan. We get upset when the rivers are high and not fishable, while the people of Japan watched as their houses and life were washed away. Here at OSD we wish the best for the people of Japan.

Now as for the steelhead side of things, lets just say things are looking good? How about a newly buffed out chrome fender on a chopper. Ryan, our good friend Danimal, and I took to the river on Monday, with the weather in order and the rivers on the drop. Danimal went steelheading for the first time last year with no avail. Monday was different, although fish were not jumping onto the end of our flie lines, we were able to land a few and turn Danimal into a steelhead junkie. We video taped pretty much all of Dan's fight with his 1st fish all the way to the bank. Upon switching from video to my still, Dan performed the old steelhead fumble-rooskie and released his fish back into the water = no fish picture : ( .

OSD OWNER RYAN BUDDIE WITH A SOLID CHROMER

TRY A ROLL CAST THE FISH ARE OUT FURTHER

Prior to hitting the water Tuesday morning, Ryan and I stopped by the Ranger station for the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. We talked with Lieutenant Sean T. Flanagan about making sure our raft passed inspection, and that we would not get hassled floating the Rocky River. Mr. Flanigan was a class act and takes great pride in taking care of the Metroparks. We checked out and off we went.

The river is coming into shape and things should be rocking and rolling here soon. Ryan and I were crunched for time but, managed....well, take a look.

FISHY GUY

ASIC NOW HAS WADING TENNIS SHOES

HAVE FUN AND WE'LL SEE YOU OUT THERE!!!

OWEN MURPHY - OWNER/GUIDE

Adipose Drift Boats

I caught up with one of my best buds recently and noticed that Peter has become the face of Adipose Drift Boats. Peter is one of the TOP Guides on the Missouri River in Craig, MT. If you want to head out West and find fish on the Missouri, make sure to look Peter up at Headhunter's Fly Shop in Craig, MT http://www.headhuntersflyshop.com/. Check out Peter below doing his thing in the Adipose drifty. He's the guide with the manly beard.

Solitude

Well we couldn't resist. After some serious scouting and a few days of warm weather, we had to get the boat in the water. Now this wasn't exactly a fishing adventure, but a stress free, 4 hour float down one of the most scenic rivers in Ohio. I hooked up with a friend of mine, Kelly Gillmore, at the old Grand River Tackle Shop. We grabbed some snacks, a few cold ones, and headed out in search of open water. We looked at put ins, takes outs, and water in between to make sure we didn't run into any major ice dams- which there still are plenty along the banks. There is an ice flow that is blocking the river from Indian Point down to Mason's landing. If you are a novice boater, I DO NOT RECOMMEND trying to make a trip down the river this time of year. I believe we put in about 11 miles yesterday total, and even though the river was a mess fishing wise, the day couldn't have been better. Wildlife was abundant as well, we saw multiple species of ducks, deer, and plenty of Bald Eagles (don't tell the NPS, they'll shut the whole river down). I didn't realize until putting the boat in the water, that we could probably say that we were the first ones to make our way down the Grand in 2011. Next time, there will be fish porn to go along with it. Take care everyone and we'll see you out there!

Timber kept the backseat warm

Make shift raft

Kelly thinking about chrome

Ice all over : )

- Owen Murphy

West Meets East

Ryan and I had the opportunity to get out on the water Wednesday with a couple of great fellas from the Eastside. These guys are the definition of the future of Steelhead fishing in Ohio. Meeting in thr morning we discussed where we we going to fish, the past nights adventures, and how much beer we had and or we going to need if fishing went south or never went at all. We fished all day in a light snow, 26 degrees, and a beautiful winter day.

Ryan with a shot of a ice cold fish

Shots from the day.......

Have a great day.

Owen Murphy

Second Hobbies...

OSD guys love to fish in the fall, but at the same time we love spending time off the water and in a tree. We have a bunch of great footage from fall 2010. I put together this short video of some of this past fall's adventures. Hope you enjoy it. By the way, there is some fishing to be done on the river with this past days rain. See you out there!

Hope to see you out there!

Owen Murphy

Put it in their wheelhouse!!! Ohio Steelhead Fishing at its finest!

Above: Ya Kelly gets it!

Above: Will stoked about his Ohio Steelhead

Above: Terry with some afternoon delight

What can I say about the past few days but priceless. I was able to get out on the water with a old client/friend Will from Texas who I had guided back in the day in Montana. He brought along two other Gentlemen Terry and Kelly who were class acts. We spent an evening on the Rocky River Wednesday night, and then shifted gears to the Grand River Thursday and Friday. We fished hard at some points and at other times we all stepped back laughed and enjoy the moment and company. We fished all types of bugs from swinging streamers to tiny flashback pheasant tails, and Biot nymphs. There were some crowds on the rivers but, on Thursday and Friday we spent some time walking, removing ourselves from the noisy roads and traffic, and in the end finding some great fish. Its is fun for me to teach and learn from others as well as spend time on the water with people who want to catch fish but also appreciate the whole aspect of being on the water. Your conversations, decisions, laughs and cries about fish that broke you off in a matter of seconds, and the early to bed to do it all over the next day. Here's to Will, Terry, and Kelly for a great time!

Cheers,

Owen Murphy

Owner/Operator

Bobby with a nice Ohio Steelhead

Jorge was in the zone when he caught this fish

I was fortunate enough to guide a couple of great guys from Detroit today. We kept the wolverine talk to a minimum and we were able to cooperate and find some fish. I think both parties today learned a little bit from each other I know I did. These guys were a class act and a pleasure to be on the water with. We used everything from egg and nymph patterns to swinging big ugly leeches and streamers. Another great day on the water with some great guys.

We are booked up most of the week so... if you want to get out on the water before time runs out give me a shout and we'll hit the rivers..see you out there.

Owen Murphy

owner/operator