Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 20
The Charm of
WINTER
STEELHEAD
FISHING
by Mike Bleech
20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2019
A thin layer of ice covered
the calm portions of the long
pool where we began fishing,
crunching and crackling
underfoot as we approached
the pool. The water was low
and clear, far from ideal
fishing conditions.
It was late morning, about
the appropriate time to start
fishing in winter. Let the sun
get on the water for a while.
Let the air warm enough,
so the guides are not
continually clogging with
ice. The anglers who arrived
at the creek at the crack
of dawn are done fishing,
their fingers cold and their
spirits crushed by Jack Frost.
We made the drive to Elk
Creek, Erie County, earlier
than usual. But, rather than
getting right to the fishing,
we went to a favorite eatery
and had brunch. The air
temperature rose about 15
degrees while we ate. When
we started fishing, we did it
fortified by hot sausages and
home fries.
The fish were not begging
to be caught. Certainly, there
were enough steelhead. We
could see fish in several
places, though we avoided
photo-courtesy of Dan Krivanek
fishing where steelhead
could be seen. If you can see the fish, the fish can
probably see you.
Look for deeper water and water where swirling
water or riffles obscure the bottom. Get to the creek
safely, because roads may be slippery whenever a
winter melt starts roiling the water. Some color in the
water puts steelhead at ease.
We had to do some walking to find cooperative
steelhead on this particular day, which really is not bad in
winter. Walking helps keep the body temperature up.
Like most days, my fishing partner, Herb Wagner,
was the first to catch a steelhead. His first steelhead,
weighing about 7 pounds, came out of a deeper trough
under swirling water. The bottom was further obscured
by a small tributary that splashed into the creek. These
deeper troughs usually are along the outsides of bends,
where water erodes the shale under the creek. Often, there
are ledges in the underwater shale that provide cover.
The attention of steelhead is not divided between some
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2019 - Cover4
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