Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021 - 37

Unfortunately, the crowd of
anglers got bigger, and my hands
got colder. I picked a terrible day to
forget gloves, but it was just as well. I
had my excitement, and it was time
for somebody else to get a chance. As
we slid our waders off at the truck,
Nych asked me if I enjoyed my first
steelhead trip. I told him all the
details as he smiled along. He knew
I was hooked, just like a younger
version of himself.
I have nearly a decade of fond
memories exploring the wilderness
and waters of Pennsylvania since
exiting boyhood. Nych is still a
mentor, but I prefer to call him my
best friend these days. Perhaps, you
know someone who could benefit
from dipping a line in the water?
Sometimes, to catch a fish of steel, you
need a man of steel to guide you. And,
that has made all the difference.
The author's first steelhead in " Manchester Hole " at Walnut Creek, Erie County.
where I caught a Brown Trout that measured 24 inches long.
Each experience made me fall more in love with the flora and
fauna of Pennsylvania.
When Nych discusses his past fishing experiences, he
always lights up when talking about steelhead. I heard
legends about these fish growing up, so when he finally asked
me to catch steelhead in the tributaries of Lake Erie, I nearly
jumped into my waders.
Like most outdoor pursuits, waking up early is pretty
much a requirement-a small sacrifice for such a rewarding
opportunity. Any good angler knows to pack their gear the
night before, because 4 a.m. is never an ideal time to try and
remember everything one needs for a fishing trip. I made this
critical error the first time Nych took me to Erie, forgetting
my gloves on the counter.
We were the first car in the Walnut Creek Access Area at
the crack of dawn. " Early bird gets the worm " was jokingly
replaced with " first angler gets the hole. " As I learned later in
the day, this quip was more serious than comical. At one point,
there were 12 other anglers within 20 yards ogling my spot.
After Nych instructed what rig to tie on and a few
steelhead pointers, he let me cut my teeth in the famous
" Manchester Hole " . According to the Pennsylvania Fish and
Boat Commission, if there are steelhead in Walnut Creek,
there will be some in this hole-a promising opportunity for
a rookie. I had it all to myself, and the next few hours were
a blur. Nearly every cast ended with a Rocky Balboa-sized
fight. I quickly learned not to " horse " the fish and to let my
tackle do the work. Navigating the slick bank was a challenge
as the mighty silver bullet pulled my line to its backing. Each
victory was earned, and all trophies were released back into
the creek after a quick photo.
www.fishandboat.com
Marshall Nych with a steelhead he caught while fishing Elk
Creek, Erie County.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * November/December 2021
37
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2021

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