Blogs
Tue, 11/13/2012 - 14:06
By: Greg Senyo
Weather patterns along Lake Erie each fall are enough to throw anybody for a loop at times. If you're like me, you really don't have the option to reschedule or secure more vacation days to spend on the river. And over the past few years in particular, we've seen large amounts of rainfall right smack dab in the middle of the peak steelhead season.
Even though we all wish for consistent precipitation to supply moderate to good flows, it seems like there's generally no rain with extremely low conditions, or too much rain and a muddy mess.
I for one am fond of the muddy mess. As the rivers begin to stabilize and the clarity improves, I have the ability to fish large, baitfish-imitative patterns to dime-bright fish. This fishing usually takes place 2 to 3 days prior to the...
Fri, 10/19/2012 - 11:44
By: Greg Senyo
It seems like every time a publish a streamer tutorial, I get flooded with a ton of emails. There's so much interest in big streamers, which is awesome. And most of the streamer emails I get ask about more Lake Erie emerald shiner patterns that can be used for in-stream steelhead and smallmouth bass, as well as in the Lake Erie surf.
This isn't a new pattern – I first published this tutorial a few years ago. But I wanted Fishhound members to be aware of it. We're right in the middle of steelhead season, and this is a great pattern to have in your box. Enjoy!
...
Tue, 08/21/2012 - 22:09
By: Greg Senyo
Let's admit it: We all love looking at beautiful, fully dressed fly patterns. Even more we love the heritage, the folklore and the minds behind well-developed, masterful pieces of tying art.
All too often, traditionally inspired tiers don't receive credit for the amount of effort that goes into completing a single and effective fly. If you could only witness the excitement and appreciation an angler feels after landing a fish on classic fly pattern, you'd realize it's the type of gratification many anglers may never feel in a lifetime.
In recent years I had the pleasure of witnessing the artwork and fly tying of Michael Decoteau. As a young man in Belfast, Maine, Michael learned the art and traditions of tying classic feather-wing streamers from his father. After spending...
Tue, 08/07/2012 - 13:28
By: Greg Senyo
A while back I wrote a 3-part series that detailed what I think are some of the best Great Lakes steelhead flies to carry during three different seasons. Follow these links to revisit that series:
Part 1 – Winter
Part 2 – Spring
Part 3 – Fall
To refresh, steelhead are healthy, uneducated and full of fight when they enter Great Lakes streams in fall, and I really like to take advantage of the fact that the steelhead have just spent their entire summer hunting...
Thu, 07/19/2012 - 16:16
By: Greg Senyo
In today's world, there's never enough time to visit all the fishing locations we'd like. Responsibilities at work, time shared with the family and so many other obligations always seem to take precedence.
My trout fishing has suffered dearly this summer. Some days I don't know if I'm coming or going. The only thing that really gets me through the day is knowing that I'm not the only one who has to make these types of sacrifices.
Recently, my good friend and fellow fly-fishing guide John Miller sent me a series of photos from the Delaware River in New York. John figured that, since I wasn't able to make the trip over this summer, he'd send me a photographic record of an entire day's float, just so...
Thu, 07/05/2012 - 16:31
By: Greg Senyo
In a world that contains the almighty trout, the common carp is overlooked by fly-fishermen as a garbage-feeding, ugly and inferior fish. Until the last decade, only a few fly anglers took advantage of this steadily available sporting challenge. Just think about it: How many times have you gone fishing and not seen a carp?
Adam Hope has mastered fly-fishing for carp, as much as you can say that about any fishing discipline. Along with co-bloggers Mark and Matt, these fly-fishing bums have skipped more school and missed more work than most of us care to know in search of carp and any fish that swims. They created This River Is Wild – a blog dedicated to sharing their stories with others whose lives are consumed by fly fishing.
If you've thought about giving fly fishing for...
Tue, 06/19/2012 - 09:37
By: Greg Senyo
In my world, one of the best things about a warm summer is the explosive strikes from smallmouth and largemouth bass as they inhale my popper. I love fishing poppers for bass. It's nearly as exciting to me as catching big brown trout on dry flies.
The instructions below illustrate how to tie the Zudbubbler – my favorite popper. It's the creation of Capt. Matt Zudweg, who guides for...
Thu, 05/31/2012 - 13:20
By: Greg Senyo
Dublin, Ohio fly tier Mike Schmidt has built quite a reputation for his Meals-on-Wheels, full-course-dinner brown-trout streamers. His signature baitfish patterns sport names like the Meal Ticket, Red Rocket, Voodoo Squatch and Stinky Mayo, so you can only imagine the strike: An obese butter-belly lunges from a logjam at the chance for a steak dinner served with sides and desert. The energy is bone-crushing.
These flies are big, as in 4 to 7 inches big, and they're meant to draw the attention of that sulking and ornery fatboy not interested in slurping appetizers or eating fondue.
...
Mon, 05/21/2012 - 12:35
By: Greg Senyo
Here's a very effective imitation of a crayfish that's fun to tie. Right now is the perfect time to sling this fly because the smallmouths are in heavy and spawning, and they gobble up crayfish.
Note that because of the heavy Flymen Sculpin Helmet, this pattern can be fished on conventional spinning gear. It's thus a great fly to help bridge the learning leap from store-bought to homemade lures, flies and tackle, whether for fly or conventional tackle.
Step 1:Attach 6/0 Uni orange thread to a No. 2 Gamakatsu B10S. Tie in a small clump of frosted crayfish-orange Australian...
Thu, 05/03/2012 - 09:25
By: Greg Senyo
I love to tie complicated flies. But at times during the fishing season, when my supply has diminished, I find it hard to tie all the patterns I want or need for a successful outing. My solution is the Ice Man Minnow – a 30-second guide fly that can be tied in multiple colors and in bulk with very little time wasted.
Over the years this durable fly has accounted for many salmon, steelhead, trout, char, bass, panfish and a host of other gamefish across the continent. In sharing this speed-tie, I hope to bring you the same success.
In case you're new to tube flies, the concept is simple: Tie your fly on a piece of tubing instead of a hook. When you're on the water, string your line through the tube and then tie on your hook. The hook trails the fly. The Ice Man Minnow uses...
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about the author
Greg Senyo
Steelhead guide and Orvis tyer
Holland, Ohio
Greg Senyo is an Orvis-endorsed fly-fishing guide & fly designer and is the owner/operator of Steelhead Alley Outfitters.
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