Conneaut Creek is Hot Spot for Steelhead Trout

It's December, and that means that Conneaut Creek is now a prime hot spot for Steelhead trout! This is the time of year when they've reached the upper most portion of Pennsylvania's largest Lake Erie tributary.

Conneaut Creek runs through both Ohio and Pennsylvania. Many folks fish both sides of it depending on conditions.

"You're not going to walk to a hole and find 100 fish at your feet," said Steelhead guide and author John Nagy. "Conneaut's big water and the farther fish run, the more they tend to scatter. But if you're willing to sacrifice numbers, you can have a quality fishing experience.

"The Pennsylvania stockings, intended to relieve pressure on creeks such as Walnut and Elk, are now producing bona fide fall runs of fish", said Nagy, who wrote "Steelhead Guide: Fly Fishing Techniques and Strategies for Lake Erie Steelhead." But they also have brought more anglers to the lower reaches of Conneaut, in Ohio, where steelhead tend to concentrate more."

Steelhead trout can move as much as 25 miles a day. So while finding them may be a bit challenging, you'd do better to use some Spring trout fishing tactics. Fish the undercut banks and the heads or tails of pools. Like any stream or river, read the water to figure out the best place to fish.

An old Erie-Bessemer Railroad dam on Temple Run - an East Branch tributary - is a steelheading hotspot.

If you're a fly fisher, Nagy suggests using a heavier tippet (which isn't a problem in Conneaut Creek's stained water). Also try using heavier flies including ones with bright colored egg patterns and bead head nymphs.

Trolling Lake Erie near the mouth of Conneaut Creek is also quite popular.

"If the lake shore melts and the tributaries thaw, the spring run could start in early March," Nagy said. "A mild winter brings fish in sooner and dilutes the spring run. The best scenario is a cold winter."

Click here for a map of Conneaut Creek's Steelhead fishing areas in Ohio. For information in Pennsylvannia, click here.

For more Conneaut Creek Fly Fishing Tips, click here.