Ever Learnin' To Become One With The Fish - Part III
Erie Steelheads and Assateague Red Drum

It was in October 2009 that Patrick, my husband, and I each caught several Steelhead Trout on a Monday and Tuesday in the 22-26 inch range. Our guide was Tony Dranzo, better known in our Central Pennsylvania area as the Addicted Angler www.theaddictedangler.com  In a heartbeat, I would recommend Tony to a neophyte fly fisher as well as an experienced one who wants to steelhead fish, and those in between. Tony, a certified Pennsylvania fly fishing guide, is an excellent instructor; he can put you on the stream with the steelheads. It's then up to the caster to listen and carefully observe, and replicate Tony‘s demonstration by catching one of those steelies.

On Wednesday, the air temperature in Erie, PA at the Legion's Hole was 39 with a good wind in the a.m. The water temp was quite cold. I didn't mind—I was layered in clothing and happy as a pea in a pod in anticipation of more steelhead fly fishing. With a water bottle and the extra fly box stuffed in my waders, I was ready! Patrick and I had some steelhead hits, foul hook-ups and break offs.

Then, in the afternoon, I caught and netted two good sized steelheads at the Legion Hole—26 inches, and a third—an 11 pound steelie 28" long with a 19" girth.

Here‘s how the catchin‘ played out. What a BLAST!!! I selected one steelhead out of the three lined along a rocky crevice. I casted above him and off to the side to let the current take it in a dead drift to four inches of his nose. Then I started to twitch the reel like Tony had demonstrated the day before. The cadence of the twitching, sounded like a rattler on a snake. The momentum traveled to the rod tip giving a good action to the fly; I watched the gin clear water in anticipation—focused and ready.

I saw the fly disappear into his mouth, I set the hook and the wild ride began! Remembering to keep my rod tip up, I let the reel whine out. The ride was a beautiful sight. Oh so sweet—the water churning as he dived and swam in the opposite directions back and forth. He was a teenager, bombastic jumping out of the water five times. His full body shot completely out of the water and the line screamed off the reel before I wound him in bit by bit. What an experience!

I used a 7 weight fly rod. The line was the 7 weight Scientific Anglers‘ Steelhead Sharkskin Line in a handshake to handshake connection to the 3x fluorocarbon Orvis Leader. I tied on 3x Orvis fluorocarbon tippet to the leader with a triple surgeon's knot and used an improved clinch knot to tie on a silver and black fly called a Pumpkin Picker, a fly Tony created some years ago for steelheadin‘ Lake Erie and its tribs.

How sweet it was. I loved every second, relishing every bit of the experience and enjoyed the ride all the way into the net. All my knots held; the equipment performed well. I was so glad that I had sharpened the hook on my fly and, checked and re-placed the leader and tippet for abrasions before casting. And, one last check on the reel's drag—just right, not too tight. The sharkskin line rolls out so smoothly whether an overhand shooting maneuver or a long roll cast.

Although I catch and release the majority of my fly-fishing, I selectively keep and eat a few of my off-the-surf catches and steelheads on a fly. We brought the steelhead to Poor Richard‘s Bait and Tackle Shop where they will smoke your trout with either a regular or Cajun seasoning. It is so delicious. Poor Richard‘s, a family business, will also clean, freeze and keep your fish in a freezer till you are ready to travel home again.

Joe, the adept "filletier" at Poor Richard's Bait and Tackle Shop, said, "That's a Citation trophy fish. I'll do the paper-work and you can submit the application to the Fish Commission for a Citation." I did and The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Com-mission sent me a Congratulatory Letter, an Angler Award for Trophy Fish - Steelhead Trout, 11 pounds, 28" in length on October 14, 2009, and an Angler Award Patch with another Angler Award Application. What a simple pleasure and a memory for a lifetime.

That‘s it in a nutshell. On a final note, the following week, Patrick and I fly fished the surf at Assateague VA. On October 23, 2009, I caught my first Red Drum (25 ½") on a fly that I tied, which was a 2/0 silver/white Clouser. Needless to say, I had casted a 10 weight fly rod for hours, double haulin‘ while I walked a long stretch of the beach before he struck the hook. And, loving the adventure as the drag screamed out and he tailed out of the surf.

You and I enjoy our learning curves and those wonderful "Eureka" moments when we do understand and can connect insight with effective fly fishing presentation.
And so it is, just another layer of the Vidalia onion peeled; ever learnin‘ to be one with the fish. This is a journey and I am so glad you and I are enjoying the venues along the way.

—Diane M. Dougherty—
Summer 2010 Issue