Messing with the residents on this hot July day (7.12.2025)!

Dog Days of Summer

Its that time of year when our rivers and creeks are showing signs of summer. These rivers and creeks are showing us their secrets. They tell us a story about where fishing holes are. Where the fish would hold in higher water levels.

Its during these times before the falls rains come when a fisherman can learn about the river.  Is it tough work well yes because the sun is high in the sky and you can get dehydrated fast.

Today I went to wade fish as low as you could on Conneaut Creek.  I had heard the lower has lost a lot of her ability to hold fish and after today’s walk, I see why. She has accumulated so much small cobbles and sand from the storms over the years. For me it would not be worth the wade to get down there. Mind you this is summer pool level, and the water was in places up to my high thigh. This would be impossible to wade safely with another couple of feet of water in her water course.

I took my trusty TiCr TFO 6wt out for a walk. The rod was lined with a GPX 6wt and an Airflo sinking leader it as a sink rate of 1.5”/sec.

I used my generic white streamer with a brown hackle collar.

I did connect with a few resident fish today. I saw several Ospreys and one Bald Eagle. Its nice to see them flourishing.

I managed to see one fawn today while on the Grand River.

I hope you enjoy the artwork, and I am off to hike up into Brandywine Creek Gorge.

Creek Hike in New York Pt 2

 

Creek Hike in New York Pt 1

I decided to go to New York today. I had chosen a Lake Erie tributary to hike.  I wanted to hike 8 miles, but mother nature’s wrath or evidence of would not allow it. You will see what I mean by the videos and photos I will post. I ended up only hiking 5.5 miles.

As I hiked into the gorge I could tell this was going to be an interesting day. While hiking to find the old roadbed I saw a mature Redtail Hawk get harassed by some other birds.

When I got to the creek bed I saw a Bald Eagle.  Then I was greeted by the sounds of flowing water. She was in her summer low flow already. I was afraid of the rain we last had that I would not be able to hike her today.

I have fished this creek before but from the downstream section. I never got close to this area before. I am going to call this “The Barrel”. It looks like to me a gun barrel for because it will shoot you out if you fall and you will not be able to get back up from where you fell. I saw that if I slipped into the water there would be zero chance I could get back to where I fell from. As you can see there was zero chance for me to grab onto something to stop my potential fall.

The creeks, many chutes and waterfalls made this hike a reel treat.

I was in the shade most of the day and did not get started until 0900.  I needed the sun high in the sky because I would be down in a gorge.

There was abundant life in the pools and riffels. I saw Red Side Dace and other minnows. I saw plenty of midge activity and saw some black stoneflies also.