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Rod, Gun & Game: Steelhead and brown trout swarm to Lake Erie tributary creeks



FISHING: As autumn approaches the region and our hardwood tree leaves begin to change with vibrant colors, the salmonids of Lake Erie seem to know. The water temperatures take a dive and this change attracts steelhead and brown trout to each of the tributary streams flowing into Lake Erie. Anglers in the know hitch up their waders, rig up their long and limber rods with spinning reels or fly reels – angler choice, and head for the waterways to match-the-hatch. A variety of angler offerings will satisfy the appetite of these aggressive, hard-fighting fish to produce a strike.

Matt Nardolillo with one of several nice steelhead he caught last weekend using a black Wooley Bugger fly while fishing in nearby Silver Creek.

Top baits include an assortment of choices. Fly rod and spinning rod anglers can opt to use salmon egg sacs in different colors or artificial lures in the form of flies, nymphs and streamers under a strike indicator (fancy name for a tiny bobber that stealthy trout anglers use). Spinning rod anglers also connect with the fish, tossing and retrieving shiny hardware lures such as spoons and spinners, with the Mepp’s or Vibrax spinners in a #2 or #3 size silver or gold color blade – depending on water color, a trendy choice. The same silver/gold option for Little Cleo spoons, but with a dash of blue sparkle over the background color. Silver for clear water, gold for cloudy water.

Favorite waterways? There are so many filled with good fish right now and from now until the heavy snow flies. Access is easy with chest-high waders or hip boots, but many anglers simply walk along the bank of the stream in standard knee-high boots to present their humble fish offerings of choices, as noted above. For many of my long-time steelhead fishermen friends, they always choose an egg sac, noting that, “It’s so simple, works almost all the time!” 

According to an ardent local angler, Matt Nardolillo, “This past weekend was a grand slam weekend for fishermen on the Lake Erie tribs in the northern half of Chautauqua County. We took a short trip to Cassadaga Creek, located just a mile or two south of Dunkirk on Route 5 and found men, women and children casting lines to several pods of visible steelhead swimming in the first pool just upstream from Lake Erie. That pool, just above the Route 5 Bridge, was probably holding about 100 steelhead or so. Without crowding, my friends and I each caught more than our limit (3 per anger) using natural-colored salmon egg sacs. We’ve been keeping some of our smaller legal fish because my grandmother is on a special fish diet and loves these steelhead cooked in the oven. It was a fun and unforgettable time!” If you like the taste of trout and salmon flavor, now is the time to get on the creeks. The air is still relatively warm and comfortable (no ice or snow), the creek waters are chilly and that’s a perfect combination for fish-catching success. The other hotspot has been Silver Creek near the VFW Club at the mouth and Walnut Creek upstream from where it joins Silver Creek. ‘Nuff said.

This healthy buck, back for the third year, has been named the ”Byeberry Buck” by the neighbors on Byeberry Court in East Aurora village.

HUNTING – DEER and BIKERS: With the NYS southern zone big game early archery season for whitetail deer and black bear opening last Friday (Oct. 1), tens of thousands of archers dressed in camo color outerwear headed for local wooded land tracts. If you’re looking for a buck, try to find a Quaker Boy Brawler call, it’s a grunt tube that really works for bringing in curious bucks and does. Judging from notes and pics sent my way, we are a long way from the peak of rut when bucks stop worrying about who is in the woods and they walk about in search of a mate – with hunters present on the stand or not. During rut they are simply more interested in completing their instinctive urge to breed and throw caution to the wind, literally. While driving about the village of East Aurora, the town of Aurora, West Falls, Wales and Springville, I have counted four dead bucks and 6 doe’s that were hit by traffic vehicles in the last few days. Yet, we are about one month from peak rut. There are so many deer in WNY that they are on the move with the cooling weather. Drive carefully, especially at night. If you see deer standing near the roadway, slow down, sound your horn and move away from the shoulder if possible. The deer often dash out right before you get there, seemingly as if to challenge the moving vehicle coming their way. Crazy deer! Believe it or not, it often appears that birds seem to do the same thing. Those crazy birds! I’ve wondered why bikers in groups of two or three abreast going up or down a high-speed highway like Center Street don’t seem to care about the traffic heading either way. Crazy bikers? Yep, we all have rights and rules, but wouldn’t you just hate to challenge something more significant in size while on a bike and be dead right. I forgot, it’s the year 2021. Don’t forget that Oct. 9-10 is NYS youth pheasant hunting weekend for 12-15 year- old youth with a mentor, and that Oct. 9-11 is NYS youth firearms big game firearm hunting weekend for 12-15 year-olds, again with a licensed adult mentor. Be safe, be sure of your target and beyond.

HIKING: Local groups of trail walkers are growing in numbers each year, especially this year. It’s such a good thing to get out there and enjoy this unique and colorful time of year. We have many groups of foreign folks new to the USA placed in Erie County via several recent federal programs in agreement with the NY welcome wagon. These groups and many others have been asking where to safely hike. Open for all, here are some nearby trails loved by the many – East Aurora Cazenovia Creek Nature Sanctuary (445 South St., East Aurora), Majors Park (441 Olean Road, East Aurora), Knox Farm State Park (437 Buffalo Road, East Aurora), Hunters Creek Park (4812 Hunters Creek Road, Wales), Sprague Brook Park (9674 Foote Road, Glenwood), Erie County Forest (11323 County Road 409, East Concord), Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area (Forty Road., Persia). There are dozens more, but these are among the most popular. Each trail start point typically provides a brief description at the trailhead. Plan ahead and prepare before you hike. Dispose of your waste correctly – don’t litter, leave what you find from nature, respect wildlife (from a distance), be courteous and considerate of others on the trail. Don’t forget to lock your car and try not to leave anything valuable in your vehicle. Hiker etiquette is that bikers yield to pedestrians and equestrians; runners and hikers yield to equestrians. There you are, a brief summary. Stay safe, stay hydrated and respect others. Visit www.parks.ny.gov.com for more.

Thank you, good Lord, for the blessing of your natural wonders.

Outdoors Calendar:

Oct. 7 – Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, monthly meeting, Hawkeye Bowmen, 13300 Clinton St., 7 p.m. start. 

Oct.9-10 – Youth Pheasant Hunting weekend, for 12-15 year old youth, with a mentor.

Oct. 9-11– NYS youth firearms big game hunt, 12-15 yrs. old, with a licensed adult mentor, for deer and bear.

Oct. 10 – Open trap shoot, Allied Sportsmen, 12846 Clinton St., Alden, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Oct. 16 – Opening day of Duck Season and WNY Pheasant Season, visit www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/9349.html

Oct. 16-29 – NYS fall wild turkey season in southern zone, visit www.dec.ny.gov

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