Fall Steelhead..

[stripstrike]

Since I can never seem to put 2 and 2 together for a winter CBBT trip, I am planning a fall steelhead trip to Rochester, NY. Talked to these guys extensively at the Somerset show:
REEL ACTION FLY FISHING - Guided Fly Fishing Trips For Steelhead, Rainbows, Brown Trout, And Salmon In Western New York's Lake Ontario And Lake Erie Tributaries
and am just about ready to pull the trigger. Thanksgiving weekend, run up Thanksgiving evening, fish Friday/Saturday, possibly Sunday morning.

Have you fellas done this? what kind of experience is it? Flies? Leaders? Rod weights? What kind of weather can I expect?

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Harry

[Flying Fish]

Stripstrike: Rochester mean high temp November 28 is 42 degrees, mean low is 29--that's pretty much Washington DC in mid-January, but noticeably less sunshine than DC.

I'll let others tell you about the fishing and the gear.

FF

[Flybyknight]

My old stomping grounds.
Polypropylene underwear (long john style)
Fleece long johns
Wool pants & shirt
Hippies
Wind, water proof warm parka with a hood.
Thermal gloves
Calcimine pocket/hand warmers.
For steelhead you need a noodle rod to handle 5# tippets, and a reel with the best in the world drag. It has to START the line pay out smoothly.
Hope you have a great trip.
Dick

[Salmo trutta]

I do that trip a few times a year in November/December. Even January or February. I stay away from the Rochester Area because it gets so crowded but your guide should point you in the right direction.

Rods: 5-8wts. I like a 5wt when the water is low and clear, it protects 4 or 6 pound test well. A 10' 6wt is probably perfect for most conditions.

Flies: egg flies #10-16, nymphs same size, wooly buggers #4-12, strike indicators (all different sizes), split shot, all different sizes (they can't sell lead in NY state). Take a good assortment with you.

Head west into the Erie Tribs and try 18 mile (Erie) if you get some rain or Cattaraugus Creek if you don't get any rain. Far fewer people, far more fish per square mile and 1000 times the area to fish. Near Rochester, everyone is packed into the last .5 miles of water before it enters the lake. In Erie area, there are no artificial obstructions for miles.

[chesapeakeblend]

Jon slipped up. There are no fish in Cattaraugus Creek or the Eerie tribs for that matter.

[Striper22]

West of Rochester is a warm water discharge, I wish I could remember the name. We have caught some huge browns there after Thanksgiving.

I have no idea why but steelies from Lake Ontario really like a blue egg. It took me a few years to buy into it but once I did , hook ups increased. Also like Sucker Spawn in pink or white. I like the white as a flesh fly. Comets do well up there. Also soft hackles in dark colors work when other patterns fail.

I fish a 9' 6", 7wt most of the time. Don't forget the polarized glasses as sight fishing is available much of the time.

Don't go near the Keg as it can be addictive....

Remember to down size your flies if the water is clear. I carry size 16 to size 4.

[stripstrike]

Thanks for all the useful info.. time to get to work at the bench! Looks like I have some flies to tie! (just hope I'll be able to tie 'em on w/ frozen fingers in November!)