Wondering what are some standard types of flies to tie up for swinging for steel in the lake erie tribs. Specifically oh and ny tribs. I assume leach styles but not sure what else. Ive done a few hoh bo speys but are those a good go to? Thanks to all. Much appreciated.
Best standard lake erie trib steelhead flies
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You might want to check out Greg Senyo. He ties some pretty good patterns for the Erie tribs.
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Couple of things come to mind.
Size of water your fishing and depth of same. Big water and larger fly of what ever kind. Smaller water and I tend to go to smaller patterns even down to a size 10 bead head Prince Nymph.
A general 'Rule of the Thumb' for many is a bright fly on a bright day and dark for low light/over cast. My Rule of the Thumb is a size 4 hook is as big as need 90+ per cent of the time. The exception to this would be fishing for something the size of a King Salmon. There you need more 'steel' due to the size of the fish jaws.
fae
Size of water your fishing and depth of same. Big water and larger fly of what ever kind. Smaller water and I tend to go to smaller patterns even down to a size 10 bead head Prince Nymph.
A general 'Rule of the Thumb' for many is a bright fly on a bright day and dark for low light/over cast. My Rule of the Thumb is a size 4 hook is as big as need 90+ per cent of the time. The exception to this would be fishing for something the size of a King Salmon. There you need more 'steel' due to the size of the fish jaws.
fae
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white wooly buggers , black wooly bugger with red beadhead, and white and olive rabbit strip leach.
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It's swinging if you believe in the fly it will work just fish with confidence and you will be fine
If you are swinging flies in Ohio there is not much need to add much weight to the fly. Just enough weight to help the fly break through the surface is fine. Our depths, when conditions are fishable, are rarely over six feet deep. I use an intermediate tip for the most part to get flies down about one or two feet, so in an average holding lie of three feet an active fish only has to tip up to take the fly. If you are dredging you stand a good chance of foul hooking or lining a lot of fish because of the way they stack up in our relatively small rivers and creeks.
I agree with with chromerman, you can use whatever you might have confidence in. You could simplify and just use different colors of woolly buggers in size 2 and do as well as anyone else. But then you lose all the fun of tying neat patterns that you just know are going to work best (I don't follow my own advice on patterns, I don't like tying woolly buggers). Colors of flies I usually fish are black, white, orange, red, chartreuse, blue, and purple. Dark colors in stained water.
I agree with with chromerman, you can use whatever you might have confidence in. You could simplify and just use different colors of woolly buggers in size 2 and do as well as anyone else. But then you lose all the fun of tying neat patterns that you just know are going to work best (I don't follow my own advice on patterns, I don't like tying woolly buggers). Colors of flies I usually fish are black, white, orange, red, chartreuse, blue, and purple. Dark colors in stained water.
I live on the Chagrin in the N. Reservation and fish the Chagrin, Grand, Conny, and once in a while the Rocky. In the fall I venture up to the Catt for the most part.
To be honest, the swing speed here matters more than the color/type of fly. In the winter, I use big maribou patterns like a Lady Gaga or Popsicle. In the spring I fish with thinner patterns like a pick yer pocket, fish taco, etc.
I do not typically use weight flies at all, almost all tubes, and concentrate more on having the right sink tip.
To be honest, the swing speed here matters more than the color/type of fly. In the winter, I use big maribou patterns like a Lady Gaga or Popsicle. In the spring I fish with thinner patterns like a pick yer pocket, fish taco, etc.
I do not typically use weight flies at all, almost all tubes, and concentrate more on having the right sink tip.
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No reason to come to Rocky when you live closer to the Grand.
Its funny that I never really thought to much about it until now but I have different "goto" patterns and colors for each of the LE tribs.
Connie = small and purples
Ash = small and blues
Grand = Big and Reds
Chagrin = med and olives
Rocky = big and blues and purples
Black & Vermillion = med and black
Walnut = Small and pink and olive
Elk = med and olive and black
Speed and depth is the key on all the above as previously stated too deep and you'll be lining fish all day too fast and it will blow past that little depression full of fish before they have a chance to react to it. Too flashy and well you'll just be another guy staring at the water.
Connie = small and purples
Ash = small and blues
Grand = Big and Reds
Chagrin = med and olives
Rocky = big and blues and purples
Black & Vermillion = med and black
Walnut = Small and pink and olive
Elk = med and olive and black
Speed and depth is the key on all the above as previously stated too deep and you'll be lining fish all day too fast and it will blow past that little depression full of fish before they have a chance to react to it. Too flashy and well you'll just be another guy staring at the water.
According to some of the trout fishers out here on the left coast, the most effective "flies" are plastic beads in several colors, toothpicks to pin them 3" above the hook, and corkies to suspend the rig and act as a strike indicator. So for a few dollars, a plastic case of some sort to hold the beads, toothpicks, and corkies and you're a fishin and according to them a catchin a heap 'o steelheads.
Seriously, I never fish beads or with strike indicators for steelhead. Presentation and fly size related to water depth, speed, clarity, and temperature is far more important the specific pattern. Heck, steelhead have been known to attack/strike bobbers, ends of twigs hanging in the water, and yarn that has been lashed to a hook. Just pick flies you have confidence in and learn how to present them on a controlled swing, Do so and you will catch your share.
Seriously, I never fish beads or with strike indicators for steelhead. Presentation and fly size related to water depth, speed, clarity, and temperature is far more important the specific pattern. Heck, steelhead have been known to attack/strike bobbers, ends of twigs hanging in the water, and yarn that has been lashed to a hook. Just pick flies you have confidence in and learn how to present them on a controlled swing, Do so and you will catch your share.
I generally prefer my flies to be non weighted. It certainly couldn't hurt to have some weighted ones as well. I'm sure there are plenty of situations where they could give you an advantage. I just don't enjoy casting weighted flies all that much. I like to use mid-belly spey lines. If you are using skagit lines(as the majority seem to prefer on the tribs) then the weighted flies will probably be more enjoyable to cast. Either way, it can't hurt to have both on hand. See you on the tribs!
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