The “Egg-Sucking Leech” has proven to be a very effective fly pattern for anglers targeting steelhead in the Chautauqua County Lake Erie tributaries. Photo courtesy of FleegersFlies.com

The winter weather this year has been surprising, to say the least. The 10-day forecast appears to favor a slow awakening from the deep freeze that local ice anglers enjoyed for a surprisingly long time this year. The good news is that there is no longer a choice to make. The ice is gone, and the only fishing options are for the steelhead in the streams and the possibility of crappie schools moving into the canals at Chautauqua Lake.

The frequent warming periods have helped fill our popular tributaries with feisty steelhead in a fishing zone nationally known as “Steelhead Alley.”” Between crazy weather fronts, anglers have been busy welcoming the steelhead. With each warming period, the tackle-busting steelies have been migrating in schools from Lake Erie to enter their favorite Chautauqua County tributary stream, preparing to spawn. The angler action is about to become legendary in the next few weeks, a period we’ve all been eagerly anticipating, and will likely continue through April.

Fishing gear can be simple or complicated, inexpensive or costly. The variety of options available ensures that every angler can find the perfect gear for their needs. Short and long fishing rods catch fish, with angler preference factors directly related to the gear presentation capability and strike detection sensitivity provided to the angler. Strike indicators (bobbers) are commonly used for steelhead fishing to identify the lightest steelhead bite and hold the hook above the bottom snags. The bobbers are available in many styles, ranging from standard round bobbers to sophisticated quill bobbers.

For most ordinary anglers, spinning Rods are more popular than fly rods, though center-pin/fly rod style rods and reels have taken the front seat for new gear among dedicated steelhead anglers. The center-pin reels utilize long flexible fishing rods of 10 to 14 feet with extremely lightweight leaders to allow exceptionally long drift presentations to wary fish. The effectiveness of this gear, especially in conditions with gin-clear water clarity, will give you the confidence to tackle even the spookiest clear water steelhead. Like fly reels, the center-pin reels have a considerably large diameter arbor that holds hundreds of yards of braided and backer lines. The fighting end of the braided line will attach to monofilament or fluorocarbon using a double-uni knot or a double surgeon’s knot, then to a lighter fluorocarbon leader, and finally to a fly, nymph, streamer, lightweight jig (1/32 or 1/64 ounce), or the most simple — a circle hook touting a natural or artificial egg sac presentation. More recently, the most popular offering has been colored plastic beads. The strike indicator is usually placed about 2-4 feet above the hook to allow the presentation to drift off the bottom a foot or so. Then, a tiny rubber bobber stop is placed above and below the bobber to allow bobber height changes without slippage and for easy depth change. Salmon egg fly patterns, streamer flies, wooly buggers, egg-sucking leeches, olive-colored Zonker flies, stonefly nymphs, and many other jig-style flies are among popular angler lure offering choices. These options also work well with spinning rod anglers using strike indicators. So many ways to say, FISH ON.

Yesterday’s hot tip for shore-based anglers: the steelhead bite is picking up off the Dunkirk Central Avenue pier, a popular post-winter fishing spot known for feisty steelhead fun in early season. Minnows are coming in, and the steelies are there feeding on them. A local guide says that a simple minnow or egg sac fished under a float will work. Fancy anglers can switch to a black or purple wooly bugger alone or tipped with a wax worm. Hang on.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

March 20: Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY, monthly meeting, 7 p.m., 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.

March 22: NWTF Chautauqua Lake Chapter, annual banquet, American Legion Post 556, 9 Meadow Lane, Frewsburg, 5 p.m. start, Info: 716-499-2726, tickets: https://events.nwtf.org/320070-2025/tickets.

March 22: NY Hunter Education, Carroll Rod and Gun, 1111 Frew Run Road, Frewsburg, N.Y., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., register online: https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/222045; Free, must complete homework prior to class.

March 23: DEC Summer Camp for Youth, registrations open; visit https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/summer-camps.

March 29: NY Hunter Education, Springville Field/Stream, 8900 Chaise Road, Springville, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., register online: https://www.register-ed.com/events/register/224954; Free, must complete homework prior to class.

April 1: Opening Day for NYS Inland Trout Season

NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.