Salmon River April 1st?

[Salmo trutta]

Since the Potomac is shot and doesn't look like it will be fishable this weekend I'm thinking of making the drive north for some steelhead. The opening of the Upper Fly Zone is April 1st and it should be loaded with Steelhead. Most might be spawning still but there should be a decent amount of fresh fish as well as spawned out fish that will readily take a fly. If you're interested let me know. Might be leaving at 12am on Friday morning.

[clsrminn]

i'll be heading up to the oak orchard on the first. i agree with the optomistic forecast on fish in the rivers and willing to bite. temps are rising and healthy flows should make for some excitement.[grin]

[Gregresh]

I did my first Steelhead fishing last Veteran's day weekend. Had a blast on a Lake Erie trib. Is April 1st when tey usually star to run?

[Salmo trutta]

Most places don't get much of a spring run. They are mostly just holdevers through the winter but as the water temperature rises the fish that had lock jaw in 33 degree water respond like they are fresh run fish. Plus once a steelhead spawns it looses its spawning colors and returns to a bright silver color on its way back to the lake. Many people mistake these fish for fresh run fish. Most fish in the system came up the river in November and December and stayed well hidden until spawning time, which is now. I obviously didn't make the drive. The River shot from 350cfs to 1900 cfs in a three days. I know it's still fishable but oh well. I decided to stay and work like I should have. Too bad to because I could borrow a VW golf and spend the same in gas driving to and from upstate NY as I would trailering the boat back and forth to Solomons.

It looks like I'll hit a stocked trout stream instead this weekend and watch the best fishery in the east coast in my own back yard pass me by.