Today was the big day!  My brother and I were taking a trip up to the Cleveland area to do some trout fishing with a guide!  We figured that with our luck or ability being so poor that surely with a guide we'd finally start catching some fish!

 

I asked around on Ohio Steelhead Facebook page and eventually settled upon Steelhead Addicts - http://steelheadaddict.com/

 

Disclaimer:  This service was paid for with my own money.  Nothing was provided as compensation for this semi-review.

 

We met up with Anthony "Cpin" first around 1:00pm at the Grand River.  This is where he introduced to us the techniques involved in floating an egg sac or jig with the current to snag a trout.  My brother has a 7 foot rod and I have a 6.5 foot rod - neither of these are long or sensitive enough to really cast the bobber/bait as far as needed. 

 

Anthony came prepared!  He had a 10ft and 13ft rod with spinning gear (we have spinning reels, so it was an easy transition) rigged and ready to go for us - my brother used the 10ft rod and I used the 13.  To say it was awkward to cast with this kind of gear is a bit of an understatement!  lol  Anthony was very helpful with honing our techniques to get the baits into the strikezone as often as possible.

 

The problem with today is that the high was nearly 80 and it was windy as hell.  The water in the Grand river was moving at a leisurely pace but there were quite a few other anglers out trying to snag some chrome.  Another issue is newbies like us and the Grand being such a large body of water to try and fish.  So after about 45min he decided to take us to the Chagrin river

 

This looked like a great spot!  Lots of rocks, shallow, good current - just what you think of when you think trout!  So, we set up and waded out and proceeded to give it a go!

 

 

For the first couple hours, not a single bite again.  Anthony said as much would happen and the bite wouldn't pick up until closer to sundown.  I cannot count the number of times my brother and I snagged in the trees or under rocks in the river, but we persisted.  Anthony was quick to help un-snag us and get our egg sacs back into the river.  I felt ridiculous with how many times I was snagged - but he took it all in stride, joking and laughing right along with us.

 

Eventually my brother felt a tug!  FISH ON!!!  Anthony rushed over and instructed my brother on how to bring in his quarry.  About 10ft from shore Anthony said, "Wait a minute, that's not a trout..." 

 

 

My brother, on the left, managed to hook a freaking CATFISH.  Anthony, on the right, said this was the first time he's ever taken people out to fish for trout and they've hooked a catfish.  This one dwarfs the one I snagged at Hook Lake at AEP - Anthony said this one probably weighed about 8lbs!!!  As you can see for yourself, it was a good sized catch!  I did not take the picture - his assistant, Mary, snapped this one!

 

As the sun set lower in the sky, a weather front was moving in and we felt some raindrops.  By now it was around 6:15 or so and having a 3 hour drive ahead of us and dinner still to go, we decided to call it a day and pack up.  The biggest frustration aside from not being able to snag a steelhead was that we saw about five of them splashing around while we were there!  Anthony tried just about every trick in the book - maggots, egg sacs, he tossed something that looked like bacon to me in, etc.  He gave us the best opportunity he could - the fish just weren't biting today.

 

So, despite the guide, I came up empty for fish and my brother caught what we weren't looking for!  lol  Like we say, "If it weren't for Sampson luck, nobody else would have any"

 

Despite not being able to catch some chrome, I feel confident in saying I easily recommend looking up Anthony and his service if you are in the mood to fish for some steelhead.  He is knowledgable, extremely friendly, extremely well prepared and a pleasure to work with.  I would also say make sure you ask his advice on dates for fishing - my brother and I are a bit limited in our choices since Fridays are the only days we have off together, so we pretty much had to take today.  Anthony will help you pick a good date that will land you some fish.

 

We made it home about 9:35pm, just about when we expected.  All-in-all, still a fun day. 

A fun day is what it's all about. Good on ya!  

A fun day at the river with friends is awesome. At least your bro got some slime on his hands!

5 hours ago, MassBass said:

A fun day at the river with friends is awesome. At least your bro got some slime on his hands!

Funny you say that...

 

Anthony bagged it with his trout net and held it up for the photo-op - my brother never touched the fish!   

 

I think he was ok with that.  LOL

If you are up that way ever again give Conneaut creek a try it is about 40 miles east

 

smaller stream but big fish and very few anglers

 

also one of the best smallmouth streams that I have fished

 

I have caught dozens of smallies over 4 pounds in that stream

3 hours ago, mrmacwvu1 said:

If you are up that way ever again give Conneaut creek a try it is about 40 miles east

 

smaller stream but big fish and very few anglers

 

also one of the best smallmouth streams that I have fished

 

I have caught dozens of smallies over 4 pounds in that stream

 

Any particular locations on Conneaut Creek?

To be honest it has been years since I was up there. There is a boy scout up there that we used to park at. All I know is that anywhere from where interstate 90 crosses all the way to Lake Erie is good. However at some point it turns into Pennsylvania.

 

I will do some research and get back to you.

 

7 minutes ago, mrmacwvu1 said:

To be honest it has been years since I was up there. There is a boy scout up there that we used to park at. All I know is that anywhere from where interstate 90 crosses all the way to Lake Erie is good. However at some point it turns into Pennsylvania.

 

I will do some research and get back to you.

 

 

If you get on google earth

 

you can find access to the creek starting at lake erie and I was wrong it turns into Pennsylvania a long way from where you want to be fishing

 

I have always had luck with in-line spinners and floating jerkbaits in 3 inch models for both smallmouth and steelhead

 

the stream is nice and you can wade pretty much all of it with pockets that have deeper holes