Adam McInerney is pictured with a nice steelhead taken at Cattaraugus Creek using a center-pin rug with a “jig bug” under a small float. Submitted photo

With multiple tributaries in Chautauqua County that feed into Lake Erie, some big, some small, one of the feistiest fish to catch is right at home here in the wintertime — the steelhead. In support of clean water and a sustainable, balanced fishery, Lake Erie’s tributary streams are cared for by the NYSDEC fish and wildlife biologists. Many of our streams here receive an annual run of migratory rainbow trout called “steelhead.” From October through April, with cooling water flowing in the streams, thousands of steelhead swim from Lake Erie up the tribs on their mission to spawn.

For every angler, the prospect of catching these beautiful and powerful steelhead is an exhilarating one. The acrobatic leaps, long drag-screaming runs, and rod-bending head shakes make the fight of an early run steelhead a truly thrilling experience. It’s no surprise that the Chautauqua County tribs and the steelhead fishery attract anglers from across the northeast USA and Canada.

The DEC advises, “steelhead in the Lake Erie tributaries generally average 5-8 pounds; fish up to 10-12 pounds are common, so specific equipment is required. Lighter equipment used for inland trout will simply not do. Leave your ultralight spinning rod or 3-4 weight fly rod at home, as these powerful fish can break lighter equipment. In addition, by using light gear, there is also a tendency to overplay or completely exhaust the fish, which could lead to delayed mortality.”

Any stream that empties into Lake Erie, even the smallest streams, has the potential for a steelhead run. The major Lake Erie tributaries in Chautauqua County, including Cattaraugus, Canadaway, Chautauqua, Silver and Walnut Creeks, are among the most popular. Each of these offers high-quality steelhead runs, and many have public fishing rights access, making them easily accessible to all anglers.

Using a center-pin fishing rig and dead drifting a new “jig bug,” an effective lure that mimics the movement of a nymph, under a float, for the last few days, humble local steelhead expert Adam McInerney has enjoyed catching Steelhead for several days. He says, “It’s been a good fall on the Cattaraugus this year.”

With recent rains and the upcoming forecast, many fish will also be able to move around in the smaller tributaries. Visit this link to learn much more about how to fish for steelhead: https://extapps.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_pdf/ifnysteelhead.pdf.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

Nov. 16 to Dec. 8: NYS Southern Zone regular (firearm) big game season

Nov. 23-Jan. 19: Late Canada goose season — South Area. See syllabus.

Nov. 30: Last day of inland musky season (Great Lakes musky goes through Dec. 15).

Nov. 30 to Dec. 14: Pennsylvania Regular (firearms) deer season. See https://www.pgc.pa.gov.

Dec. 9-17 and Dec. 26 to Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone late bowhunting season