Daily Report

Over the weekend the release from the dam was lowered to 750cfs and plenty of anglers got out to take advantage of the nice weather and lower water conditions. The majority of anglers we spoke with stopping into the shop reported having success throughout the river, with egg sacs, beads and flies all producing results.  On Sunday night at 9:00PM the release from the dam was raised to 1200cfs and Pineville gauge is now reading around 1500cfs. Over the next couple of days much colder temperatures along with lake effect snow is expected. In the mid to upper end of the river and depending on the day anglers have been getting into steelhead in the normal winter holding areas such as Lower Fly Zone, below the Altmar bridge, Schoolhouse, Wire Hole, Trestle Pool, Pineville area and Sportsman.  In the lower end of the river on days when slush ice is not a factor anglers have been getting into steelhead around the Town Pool, Longbridge/Staircase, Black Hole and the DSR.  For those anglers who are fly fishing, anglers have had success dead drifting with nymphs, using egg patterns under a strike indicator or swinging small streamers with sink tips. For those anglers who are float fishing or bottom bouncing, egg sacs or beads have produced the best results. 

Suggested patterns:

Egg patterns: Glo-bugs, estaz eggs, sucker spawn, steelie omelet in size 6-10.

Streamers: Krystal buggers, egg sucking leeches, woolly buggers in size 6-10.

Nymphs: Prince nymphs, Copper John's, Hare's ear, Rubber legged stones, Wiggle stones, estaz stones, steelhead hammer, steak-n-eggs in size 8-10.