March Madness!

Big Dan catches first monster carp of the year on the fly!   With air temps. in the 60's carp were soaking up the sun in the shallows.   Another great catch 2 weeks in a row! 5wt rod - yellow/black woolly bugger tied by his brother- in- law Jeff  the " Nomad."     

Steelhead Report

Chagrin was flowing around 475cfs today when I headed up to check out the new access spots above the old Gates Mills Dam.  As expected , way to fast and stained to fish, but we won't have to waste time scouting when the fish are there.  Below is The Polo Field where I parked.         

Here is a long run of large gravel and riffles behind the parking lot.

2 guys with their dog  entering a fast run.

Whats left of the dam. 

Another shot of the dam.



Big Dan Gets A Surprise Rainbow!

Big Dan pulled one heck of a rainbow out of a small  stream somewhere in Ohio!  Sorry- that's all I can say about the location.  This is too big of an event to announce over the Internet.  I'm thinking it's a holdover from some previous spring stockings.   I believe these stocked fish make it through the summer by feeding at night and staying in shaded fast flowing areas with maximum oxygen during the day.  Big Dan has also caught a rainbow about 5 miles south of this  same spot a couple years ago on the 4th of July!  Great Job! 



Chagrin River Flood And Miles Of New Steelhead Access!

Monday's rain and snow melt caused lots of flooding and property damage on the Chagrin River.  However, it also blew out the dam in Gates Mills which was as far as the fish could go.  The good news is this opened up a section of The South Chagrin Reservation to steelhead fishing which is puplic and about 4 miles long.  Also a public section of the Aurora branch of the chagrin which is the width of Nimishillen Creek but with nice scenery - riffles and runs.  Below is a photo of what the dam used to look like.

Dam after it blew, still high water but you can see it is gone entirely.  Fish will bust right through there. 

Here is the next place that will concentrate fish that is on public land.  I hiked here several years ago looking for creek smallies.  Be nice to me, I may be the only Creekkid who knows the location of this honey hole!

Sunday Before The Flood!

Got one  fresh rainbow Sunday before the rains came!