Tall Man Outfitters

Steelhead Season is Coming

2010-09-21T16:44:00.001-04:00

The weather is still warm and many Ohio streams are low and clear but this morning when I drank my coffee on the deck it smelled like fall and that means one thing...the steelhead will be running soon.

To prepare I've already been looking at fly boxes and cleaning the guides of rods I've not touched in months. I augmented my streamers with an order from Mike at Angler's choice Flies (pictured.) I've also been playing with my canoe to see if I can rig it to float some early season Erie tributaries.

Steelhead fishing is simply fun. Two seasons ago I took and old friend with whom I'd fished trout for years but never the steelies. My friend was a tough sell, he's had the good fortune to fish for Atlantic salmon in exotic locations and he wasn't as thrilled about steelhead in northern Ohio.

That was until he made the trip and spent a March day hooking fish after fish and eventually landing a few. He told me he hadn't hooked as many salmon in all the days fishing combined as he had steelhead that day. He's still not too into fishing in the cold but I know he'll be back.

"If it swims and it eats, it will eat a fly."

2010-08-10T10:36:00.006-04:00

The quote is from Brian Flechsig an avid fly angler and owner of Mad River Outfitters fly shop in Columbus, Ohio. I don't remember when I first heard Brian say these words but I do remember that they rang true with me.
I've worked in a fly shop, I've guided fly anglers and I've taught countless beginners to fish with a fly rod. I should know better but it still amazes me how many people, both long time fly anglers and rank beginners are ONLY interested in fishing for trout.

I caught this bass in a heavily fished public pond.

Don't get me wrong, I love to fish for trout, and steelhead and when the opportunity comes my way I'm sure I'll enjoy fishing for Atlantic salmon.
But I live in Ohio and Ohio has so much more to offer the fly angler. We've all heard the overused "pound for pound blah blah blah..." quote about the smallmouth bass. But it's true and there are hundreds of anglers who would agree with me.
The last few years I had the opportunity to guide fly anglers on private water for some amazing largemouth bass. Bass over five pounds were regularly brought to hand and there isn't much more fun than having a huge bass tow your canoe around a lake. We may have been fishing private water but those fish are out there on public water also.
Working in the fly shop I'd always take the opportunity for some tongue-in-cheek ribbing of fellow anglers who are passionate about fly fishing for carp. "Carp!" I like to say. "When all the trout and the steelhead and the bass are dead I'll fish for carp." But then they would show me their pictures and describe the stalk, the fly rejections and the eventual takes. Some people call them "buckeye bonefish" for good reason. The runs can be explosive and strong. I've fished for carp, and I've caught carp, but rarely on the same occasion.

Perhaps one of the coolest things happening right now in the buckeye state is the growing interest in taking muskie on the fly in rivers.
Thanks to the ODNR muskie have been available in still water for years but the times of the year when they were available to fly anglers was limited as are the lakes with muskie populations.
The same rivers many fly anglers already frequent for bass also have muskie. With a little know-how and a desire to get off your butt and find fish (which is the greatest asset of any angler) the rewards can be huge, literally. Checkout these guys who are living the dream right here in Ohio. Fly Fishing for Muskie.

So the next time your friend's girlfriend says something like "Oh you fly fish, I didn't know there are trout in Ohio." Set her straight (on both counts) and remember, "If it swims and it eats...."

Back By Popular Demand

2010-08-08T15:01:00.001-04:00

A few of you noticed when, a few months ago, I killed the original TMO blog. The blog is back with a new home here on "Blogger" which so far has been user friendly.
Many of you know that I had a knee injury in February and therefore I've not had much to blog about, at least not when it comes to outdoor activities. I'm still in recovery mode but I intend to get started with some gear reviews, comments and other useful information.
If you have an interest in fly fishing (especially fly fishing in Ohio,) wilderness medical training or all things outdoors I hope you'll check back soon.
For now I'm living my outdoor life vicariously through your blogs, Facebook posts etc.
All the best.
Graham