Steelhead Rocky River December 1, 2007

[FISHINJ216]

Mark Cox.....i do very well on the rocky for smallies and steel.....thank God for these fish...I'm so addicted

[MarkCox73]

Fun to catch but sad the way the decimated the local smallmouth population. ODNR made a BIG MISTAKE by stocking Steelhead. Fun to catch but bad for the other fish populations. Ruined the smallmouth populattions in the Grand and Chagrin too!!! The proof is above the first dam tons of smallies and below very few

[flyfisher4life1]

how do you land a steelhead with a fly rod I am new to fly fishing steelhead

[zumpafust]

Carefully. Don't jerk, always walk downstream. Take your time and keep your rod up. Have fun!

[zumpafust]

Yes, I do use a strike indicator. Please visit the ODNR web site for Rocky River and other streams maps.

[flyfisher4life1]

for the nymphs do you use a strike indicater and the wooly bugger how do you fish it

and what parts of the river do you fish i will go to the rocky thing winter and spring

[flyfisher4life1]

how do you fish the wooly bugger ang the prince nymph with a strike indicater?

[zumpafust]

Hello, put the heaviest fly on the bottom. I don't fish with a wooly bugger and prince nymph together. Always use a weighted fly on the bottom (wooly bugger, prince nymph, psycho prince, golden stone, etc) and an egg imitation or sucker spawn on top. I suggest that you get John Nagy's Steelhead Guide book.

[flyfisher4life1]

do you use a sinking line and what months are the best

[zumpafust]

No, floating line. Best months are late October through late December and early March through early May. Good luck.

[SBskater6969]

what brand is your fly line as in scientific anglers,etc.?

[zumpafust]

Yes.

[SBskater6969]

okay thanks..i think im going to start fly fishing when it gets warmer..never fly fished for steelhead befor.

[SBskater6969]

about the main fly line....what kind or size of line would you recommend?

[zumpafust]

I use a 10 foot fly rod with an 8 weight WF fly line. About 9 foot leader.

[SBskater6969]

i have a question...if i wanted to fly fish and bait fish in the same day, do you think i can use my fly rod with a spinning reel for bait and a fly reel for flies?

[zumpafust]

It may be possible, but I have never seen anybody do it.

[SBskater6969]

oh okay..probaly not going to do it. what flies do you recommend for steelhead this time of year?

[zumpafust]

PrinceNymph size #10/12, Black and white wooly bugger size #8, Oregon cheese and cherise globug eggs size #10 and #12.

[SBskater6969]

thank you, what about brown wooly bugger?

[zumpafust]

I never got any steelheads on a brown wooly bugger. Black and white work well.

[SBskater6969]

okay thanks for the advise.

[SBskater6969]

where did you enter the river at to fish there? old lorain rd?

[SBskater6969]

which rocky river is this?

[zumpafust]

Cleveland, Ohio

[SBskater6969]

is it near the mouth or the black wall?

[zumpafust]

Where is the black wall?

[SBskater6969]

right by the marina where the boat docks are. by the mouth.

[zumpafust]

No, it is close to where the golf courses are.

[SBskater6969]

which golf courses?

[SBskater6969]

i think i know..is it by the horse stables by Puritas Road right when you come down the hill?

[zumpafust]

Yes, that is it.

[SBskater6969]

ha..thanks alot..this is my first year going steelhead fishing and im just trying to get to know that part of the rocky river better and trying to find good places to fish.

[zumpafust]

Good luck. Steelhead fishing can be a lot of fun.

[SBskater6969]

Thank you and good luck to you.

[eviljoe01]

nice fish, I don't fish that far up.

[zumpafust]

Thanks!

[golem72002]

great fish, I recently go a male Saturday, back be hind the airport by the small water fall on the east branch