On Tuesday March 24th, 2009 I took a trip to 20-Mile Creek, one of the East-side Pennsylvania Lake Erie Tribs. This stream is located 20 miles east of the town of Erie (as you might guess from the name). Steelhead were everywhere! Many had obviously been in the stream for a while (and been foul-hooked more than once), judging by their ragged appearance. Water was low and clear and two egg flies, the “I Bleed Black and Gold” Egg and the Black and Blue Egg, were particularly effective.
This was my first experience of spring steelheading. I will definitely be back – it was nice to fish for these beautiful fish without fighting the deep-freeze. A fall trip this past November was hampered a bit by freezing temps and the resulting freezing lines, leaders and guides.
This time out I landed three steelies. I had about 7 other honest hook-ups but I lost the subsequent battles, and didn’t bring them to net. The fish pictured above is an example of one of the fresh fish that was in the stream. My dad caught his first steelhead. It wasn’t huge but it was a nice bright fish.
Almost all of the fish that we hooked- succumbed to egg flies. The two patterns that were effective that day for us were the “I Bleed Black and Gold” Egg and the Black and Blue Egg.
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