2025 Spring Swing

I took the day off work to swing some flies on one of the larger Lake Erie tributaries for Steelhead.

I first looked at an access point down low and saw way to many cars in the parking lot and proceeded to bolt upriver.

I came to the other access pint and did not see a soul on the side of the river I was fishing for. Not seeing another person was my goal for the day.

The river was low for this time of year.  She is normally not even crossable this time of year.  I planned accordingly for my switch rod leader set up. I would take my sinking 8’ - 1.5”/sec AirFlo Salmon/Steelhead leader. I would run 4 feet of 12# floro followed by 2 feet of 8# floor.

The two flies I would use would be my Emerald Shiner pattern on a #8 TMC 9395 and about 3.25” long. I am developing this pattern is a variant of course. The hair is too long and fouls when swinging I found out today when it is this long.

The other fly I used was my Silver Sides Shiner. This is tied on a Daiichi #1 and about 3.5” long.

I walked upriver to the same perch as I did last time try to redefine the definition of insanity.

As I wrote earlier, the Emerald Shiner Variant pattern deer hair was wrapping around the hook shank. So, after untangling this mess a few times it was time for the Silver Sides Shiner.

I walked back to the top of the run and started to fan cast swing and step-down river.

I looked across the river and I could see a slick in the water. A slick to me is where two or more river currents meet and make a calm flat eddy on top of the water surface.

I belted out one cast and then another. The second cast would be the Traci Lords money shot!

She rolled at the surface doing that washing machine. I thought at first, she was foul hooked, but I later reelized no it was just her shaking her head violently.

She had seen better days beat up from the spawn. Her tail was down to the nub and her spent belly needed food.

The first time I tried to net her she was not having it. The second time I tried to net her I had my handle fully extended and that did the trick.

The river had between 24”-48” of visibility. She had that brown algae bloom going on.