In Pennsylvania higher tributary flows have had the effect of pushing large numbers of steelhead into the upper reaches of tributaries like Elk and Walnut Creeks. This has eliminated a backlog of fish near the lakeshore, which commonly occurs in dry falls. The East Side tributaries in PA have also been very good except for 16-Mile Creek, which has had limited runs so far

     This fall and winter the Pennsylvania Steelhead Association and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission will be relocating breeder steelhead (after their eggs have been removed) and coho salmon from Trout Run nursery waters to the upper part of Elk Creek. The PF&BC will no longer take eggs from cohos since the coho program has been discontinued in 2003. Pennsylvania steelheaders should also be aware that the Lake Erie Research Unit of the PF&BC will be conducting a survey of steelhead anglers on the PA tributaries from October 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004. The results of the survey will more clearly define steelhead angler’s catch, harvest and effort on the Pennsylvania tributaries and access the socio-economic impact of steelhead fishing in the region.

     In Ohio the excellent water this fall has resulted in some surprisingly fair to very good fishing in most of the buckeye tributaries. These fish are predominately Pennsylvania "stray" steelhead with the highly anticipated run of Little Manistee steelhead to begin later in the winter. Conneat Creek has gotten some good runs of steelhead this fall. Some of those fish are a result of plantings of Pennsylvania strain steelhead (by the PF&BC) in the spring of 2002 in the headwaters of Conneaut Creek.

     In New York, Cattaraugus Creek has been slow due to high water, which has spread fish out in this big river. A large number of steelhead though are already up near the Springville Dam area on the Cattaraugus. 18-mile creek near Hamburg, NY has also been slow this fall. The hot steelhead action in New York has undoubtedly occurred on the smaller tribs like Chautauqua, Canadaway, Silver and Walnut Creeks due to the good fall rains. A bonus for the New York steelheader this fall has been a good run of lake run browns, especially in the smaller tributaries. Try to target these browns in the shallow runs and pocket water, which is ideal spawning habitat for these fall spawners.

     Excellent fall run-off on the southern Ontario tributaries of Lake Erie has resulted in not only good numbers of fish but also big fish. The Grand River has fished exceptionally well in the Caledonia, York and Paris sections.