Climate & Weather: Anything from shirt sleeve weather to rain to snow & ice dependent upon the time of the year you go. For the most part, Fall and Spring are best but these streams are also productive during the Winter months. Another factor is the recurring "lake effect" storms that brings heavy snow, ice and sleet during the late Fall and Winter months to Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, NY.

Forecasts:  Western NY                  www.wbuf.noaa.gov/

                   Ohio/PA                        www.csuohio.edu/nws/

                   Weather Guys                http://weatherguys.com/index.asp

Northeast River Forecast Center       http://tgsv5.nws.noaa.gov/er/nerfc/gis_maps/index.html


Air temp can be cool in the Fall, cold during the Winter months, and also cool during the Spring. Dress in layers appropriately. Check the AFFC web site for access to weather updates. Buffalo, New York, sits in the middle of these tributaries that are located both East and West of Buffalo. If fishing further east of Buffalo, both the Rochester and Syracuse weather forecasts may become important.

Water Levels: The weather is monitored constantly for rain and snow melt by seasoned anglers fishing these tributaries in all three States of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York whether they are fishing Steelhead Alley or the famous Salmon, Brown and Steelhead runs of other Upstate New York streams (particularly the Salmon River located in Pulaski, NY). Rainfall is the critical element that drives whether fish make their run up these streams to spawn. These runs are not a single event but rather is continuous series of events during this time period. Salmon & the Browns spawn in the Fall. While Steelhead spawn in the Spring, they run up with the Salmon & Browns in the Fall spending the entire Winter in the tributaries. They run up into the upper reaches for the tributaries and even penetrate small feeder streams to the tribs. If fishing in the Spring, concentrate on the upper reaches of these streams.

A second factor related to water levels is the draining of the Erie Canal in the Rochester to Buffalo area prior to the onset of Winter. This is of particular note if you are fishing Oak Orchard Creek near Albion, NY. Oak Orchard is a tailwater fishery. Erie Canal drain-off water is released through the small dam which artificially brings up the water levels rather than being dependent upon rain. For this reason, Oak Orchard fishes well consistently during the Fall but can get crowded with fishermen. This water release normally lasts until Thanksgiving week but in the year 2000 it was being extended to mid-December.

Latest Steelhead Alley & Salmon River Reports:

Check these web sites for the latest reports on water flows and fishing reports/conditions:

The Steelhead Site                      www.steelheadsite.com/reports/new_york

                                                  www.steelheadsite.com/reports/ (go to PA)

                                                  www.steelheadsite.com/reports/ (go to Ohio)

Orleans Outdoor Fly Shop          www.orleansoutdoor.com

Ingersoll's Fly Shop                     http://pages.prodigy.net/flyshop/index.htm

Whitakers Fly Shop                    www.whitakers.com (Salmon River)

Airline Tickets:

Typically the flights to take are from Atlanta to Buffalo, NY if you're fishing Steelhead Alley; or, Syracuse if you're fishing the Salmon or Oswego Rivers both located a short distance north of Syracuse. Best airlines serving these cities are US Airways (Buffalo & Syracuse) and Delta (Syracuse). Cleveland, Ohio, is another alternative if you're fishing tributaries on the west end of Steelhead Alley. Our flight to/from Buffalo on US Airways in the Fall, 2000, cost only $134 Round Trip. Who wants to go to Buffalo in the Fall? We fishermen do -- and we benefit by taking advantage of low cost air fares.

Tips: Subscribe to the Clark Howard's email newsletter that comes out twice per week that list airline deals from Atlanta by going to www.clarkhoward.com. Making reservations for these announced "deals" is somewhat of a challenge and must be done IMMEDIATELY if not sooner to get them. Also, direct online ticketing with major airline carriers usually gives the traveler an additional 5% discount on tickets.

Car Rental:

All major car rental companies are represented in all of the major cities mentioned above.

The Drive:

The drive from Buffalo to Eighteen Mile Creek (located East of Buffalo) takes approximately 45 minutes. Oak Orchard near Albion, NY, takes 45 minutes to an hour from the Buffalo airport. Fly up in the morning and fish that afternoon.

Lodging:

Small town motels and chain motels (near major highways such as Interstates) are the choices for overnight stays. They are located everywhere within an easy drive of all fishing locations. Reservations are usually not necessary as this time of the year is "off-season" to major tourism during the warmer months except for Oak Orchard in Albion, NY, where you might want to reserve ahead to be closer to the river. There are some B&B's available if you're so inclined but the small, cheap motels work well for this type of trip and are generally located closer to the streams that you will fish. Most anglers get to the water around 6:30 AM in the Fall -- so you want to stay close by if at all possible. Typical motel rates are $40 - 65 per night.

Hotels/Motels:             www.hotelstravel.com

                                      www.nuwebny.com/hotmot.htm

                 Albion, NY: Dollinger's Motor Inn, 436 West Avenue, Albion -- 716-589-6308
                                     -- Two in Town, same owners. The one on West Avenue is a newer motel

Places to Eat & Drink:

Village restaurants and diners are located in the major towns. You just have to locate them on your own or by asking the motel operators. Be sure to ask their opinion of which ones are best as they definitely have their favorites based on food quality -- and then atmosphere!

Bars… are a similar situation. Some serve food as well. Look for the beer signs in the windows.

FF Guides:

None required -- unless you want someone like myself to plan the trip totally for you ($$$) and take you there to fish! If you're adventuresome, find the tributaries and go fish. Now that doesn't mean that you don't need to study up on your presentation, flies and technique. Catching these lake run fish can sometimes be tougher than you might think on a fly. I would recommend as required reading: "Steelhead Guide" by John Nagy. Nagy is a Lake Erie guide but all the techniques and flies in his book are relevant to fishing all of the waters that are tributaries to the Great Lakes whether in NY, PA of Ohio. Be sure to get the latest edition of his book. Also, he lists all of the tributaries along Lake Erie (NY, PA & Ohio) plus tons of useful information concerning best times to fish, etc.

Your fishing "competition" will be a bunch of folks using long noodle rods and float rods/reels, with egg sacks (that they tied themselves). For those of you wondering... what the heck is an egg sack? An egg sack is comprised of "fresh" fish eggs tied up in a thin nylon mesh sack of varying colors. These sacks are used as bait on a hook. Deadly on Steelhead and Browns.

Necessities:

Just a short list of essential items:

Warm (wool) wading socks; Warm clothing to wear underneath your waders (judge according to the type of waders you're using and time of the year); Wading chains, or Studded wading boots; Polarized Sunglasses; Brimmed hat; Fingerless Gloves; and, a Rain jacket.

Net... Don't bother carrying a small net with you. These fish require a sizable net such as a Steelhead net. It can be tough to land one without a net of this type.

Flies??? Lots of egg patterns and streamers including Woolly Buggers and Zonkers (black, white, yellow).

Rods & Leaders:

The best rods to use are 6 weight and 7 weight rods, 8 ½ or 9 feet long, with Floating Lines. Bring a back-up rod if you can just in case you should break one. However, if you have a 10 1/2 foot long rod that's really limber, use that instead of the shorter, stiffer rods (reference Nagy's book).

Leaders, et al… long leaders - make your own per the recipes in Nagy's book. Extra fluorocarbon tippet material (2x, 3x and 4x) -- 6 to 8 lb.. Bring strike indicators - nylon (Orvis has the best deal in a packet) and/or Orvis Strike Putty (Yellow). Other type of strike indicators will work as well such as Little Corkies. Also, bring split shot of varying sizes. Throw in a sink tip line or lead heads just in case you might need them if the water's really up.

Fly Shops:

There are only a few fly shops in this area of the country so, in general, be prepared before you head out.

Orleans Outdoor Fly Shop       www.orleansoutdoor.com

Ingersoll's Fly Shop                 http://pages.prodigy.net/flyshop/index.htm

Other Useful Web Sites…

      PA Flyfishing                        www.paflyfish.easetech.com (go to stream reports)

      PA Steelhead Assn.              www.fisherie.com/steelhead/

      Erie. PA                               www.fishusa.com/FishErie/

      Lake Erie                             www.fishlakeerie.com

      Steelhead Alley                    www.flyshop.com/Centers/proreport-index.cfm?category=ne
                                                 (go to Feature Articles)

      Oak Orchard Creek, NY     www.flyshop.com/Centers/proreport-index.cfm?category=ne
                                                  (go to Feature Articles)

      NY's Salmon River               www.flyshop.com/Centers/proreport-index.cfm?category=ne
                                                  (go to Feature Articles)