Serving  all of "Steelhead Alley" in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York     Turkey Creek Oh, Conneaut Creek Oh, Grand River Oh, Chagrin River Oh,  Rocky River Oh,  Vermillion River Oh,  Twenty mile Creek Pa,  16 mile Creek Pa,  12 Mile Creek Pa,  7 Miile Creek  Pa,  Walnut Creek Pa,  Elk Creek Pa,  Crooked Creek Pa,  Racoon Creek Pa,   Cattaraugus Creek NY,   Zoar Valley south branch,  Clear Creek NY,   Canadaway Creek NY,  Silver Creek NY,  Chataqua Creek NY,                      WE GO WHERE THE FISH ARE....................... 

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Honesty is our number one priority at Dfishinfool's Guide Service. 

We know most people are smart enough to spot a fake or a liar.  Before you book a trip with any Steelhead Alley Guide ask them how many years they have been fishing Ohio. If they are honest you might be surprised by the answer. Anybody can be a internet hero and since you don't need a license to guide Ohio.  Out of state guides are flocking to the area to make a quick buck. Our team of guides have been fishing Ohio and the rest of Steelhead alley our whole lives.  We want lifelong customers. We strive to exceed our guests expectations.  My guarantee is simple. If your not 100% satisfied with anything we do contact me.  If I can't make it right. I will give you a full refund. No questions asked.

Don Mathews

 

The original

"Steelhead School" 

 Since 2001

March 27, 28, and 29th  2009

Often imitated but never duplicated.  We have over 150 satisfied Graduates thru the years. It is a three day adventure into the world of fishing Steelhead Alley.  Our team of local steelhead pro's teach you everything you need to know to be a successful steelhead angler. It also includes a nine hour tour of the hot spots on the streams. We will cover, When to fish where, knots, rigging terminal tackle, leader construction, fly selection, reading water, fighting fish,  spin, fly, spey and cenerpinn techniques plus thee hours of hands on fly tying.  All you will need are an Ohio fishing license and a pair of chest high waders. . The weekend is value priced at $350 per angler and included in the price is two nights lodging

 

Dfishinfool's Guide Service

Steelhead Fishing Reports

From "Steelhead Alley"

Hi I'm Don Mathews welcome to our Steelhead Alley reports page.

No B.S. Ohio fishing reports and Pennsylvania fishing reports compliments of licensed professional Steelhead fishing guide, Don Mathews and the team of guides at Dfishinfool' Guide Service.

11-18-08  Tuesday Report   We cancelled all of our trips for yesterday and today.  The secondary roads are very slippery and snow covered and most of the streams are still too high.  Chagrin is two days away and it will be three or four days before the Grand will fish. Winter steelheading snuck up on us this year.  We are having white outs and there is 6+ inches on the ground near the lake shore. It's 9:30 AM and the interstates aren't too bad right now.  Crews will have all of the roads cleared by tomorrow and most of the smaller streams Ohio and Pennsylvania streams will be fishing. Greg Lum is out fishing Ohio skinny water this morning and he is hitting a few but reports even the smaller streams are still high.  I'll post a report when I get off the stream tomorrow evening. Good Fishin..!!  Don

11-14-08 Tammy's first steelhead...Guided by Husband Rick Emigh

Rick attended our Fall 2008 steelhead school.  He put what he learned to good use when he guided his wife to this 9+ lb Conneaut Creek Ohio beauty a week latter.  I have a feeling I'll be seeing more of Rick now tat he has he Steelheading bug..LOL..  Good Job and Good Fishin..to Rick and Tammy..!!

11-16-08  Sunday Steelhead Alley report     It looks like we finally got the rain we so desperately needed.  All of the streams are flooded out today. Grand River went to 5,000 CFM so she's done until Friday at the earliest.  Chagrin is at 2,900 CFM at a sharp drop.  I would guess she will fish Wed or Thursday if the precipitation coming our way is snow instead of rain.  The Catt n N.Y. is at 2,100 so it will be awhile there too. Pennsylvania skinny water should fish tomorrow but the roads might be bad.  Currently it is snowing.  They are calling for 1-3 inches today and an additional 4-6 inches tomorrow.  So I would stay home tomorrow.  We have some guys trying the steam mouths this morning but they haven't called me with a report yet.  Fish are on the move and the best fishing is yet to come....Trust me.....Good Fishin..!!  Don

11-15-08 Tim braved the elements for this big steelhead

11-15-08  Saturday   It rained all night long last night and I knew there would be a limited window of opportunity on the Alley today before the streams became unfishable due to high water.  I explained to the guys that the streams would blow out by early afternoon. I had a couple of die hard anglers from Philly who said "what's a little rain lets go fishing"     So we went fishing.  Some of our other guests understandably cancelled given the terrible weather for fishing.  It never stopped raining the entire day not for one minute.  We started on the middle River on Conneaut Creek.  Jeff's group went back to skinny water where he caught them on Friday.  Greg hit the lower Connie and Kurt started on Skinny water.  No Sally's today on the Alley.  Despite the downpour we found quite a few anglers on the water.  I guess it was still a Saturday.  We also found quite a few fish.  By 8:00 the phone was ringing and everybody was catching fish.  By mid morning we heading for the lower river knowing that would be the last place to flood out. Our move paid off..!!  We ended up getting some beautiful chromers before the stream blew out.   Seemed like they were coming thru in waves.  Everybody would hook up at once.  The fish were dime bright and had a real bad attitude.  As soon as they were hooked they headed back for Lake Erie.  It was tricky chasing them down stream because the banks were very muddy and slick.  We ended up calling it a day at 2:30 as the river flooded out.  Keep an eye on those flow gauges some great fishing is on the way.. Good Fishin..!!  Don

11-15-08  So bright it glows ...Ohio Chrome...Doubles in background

11-14-08  Friday   The North Eastern Ohio streams were in much better shape this morning.   We opted to take our guests to skinny water to start the day off.  I started in the lower section of stream while Jeff, Dick and Kurt all went for an upper section of stream.  Water was still up a bit but we had about 2 foot of visibility.  We all caught fish today but it wasn't a give me.. We had to work at it.  Fish were on the move and he holes that were producing so well went dead.  The guys that did the best fished the pocket water with flies.  We missed the major rain today but by the looks of the weather map lots more is coming our way.

11-14-08 Big Ohio Buck on the fly

11-14-08 A happy 16 yr old with his first steelhead

11-14-08  Dad ( Larry) got this one on the fly

11-14-08 Ohio skinny water steelhead on the fly

11-14-08 Steelheading Ohio paid off

11-13-08  Thursday  I was standing in the stream at 4:45 AM this morning scouting out the water and I didn't like what I was seeing.   I had a group from the Northern Kentucky Fly Fishers club today.  Last nights rain melted off the remaining snow we had and it muddied the water up.  Stream levels came up a little but the problem was the water clarity and the huge amount of leaves flowing down the streams.  We gave it a try in the off colored water.  After one hour of fishing in Ohio and nothing to show it was time to punt. After a few phone calls I found out that Elk Creek was in good shape.  Seems like most of the rain had stayed south of Erie last night.  So we headed to Pa.   The move paid off and we found lots of fresh fish in lower Elk Creek.  Hot flies were sucker spawn and biot nymphs.  More rain is forecasted but it looks like most of it will miss us. Should be a great weekend ahead of us on "Steelhead Alley". On a side note I ran into Bobby Hess from 3CU's today.  He told me the Browns they are raising are light house fish.  This means their parents were tricked into spawning early by lighting. ( Photosynthesis ).  Their offspring hatch before they would naturally.   This gives their offspring a chance to get larger before release.  Hopefully these efforts will pay off with some nice Browns swimming our streams in the years to come.  Please support 3CU's and the efforts they make.  Good Luck..!! Don

11-13-08 Fish Candy

11-13-08  Jim with one of many

11-13-08  Elk Creek steelie on the fly

11-12-08  Wednesday   I had the last couple of days off from fishing. I did stay busy though.  I had lots of leaders to tie and fly orders to ship out.  Mark took his group out on Conneaut today.  Water was nice color but it was cold.  They managed to make a good day of it fly fishing the wood.  Dick has been pounding them the last couple of days.  His guests have been working the smaller Ohio streams and Conneaut Creek with much success despite the snow and cold.  Both fly and spin tactics are working well.  Hot fly was Marks Dead Egg,  wooley buggers and Crystal minnows on light tippets.   On the spinning gear eggs, emerald shinners, and Trout magnets are fooling the fish.  On a side note we are working with the makers of the Trout Magnets.  They are building new molds and hope to have a new line of lures designed for steelhead next spring.  We plan on helping to test these new lures as soon as they are available.

Sorry that I haven't got everybody's pics up yet. The guys have been very busy and I need to get the pictures they have been taking on the stream  I received this kind e-mail from Kevin.  They fished with Dick Keagy this past Monday.


I want to email you in regards to the fishing trip, on Conneaut Creek, we took on Monday. Dick Keagy was our guide for the day and did and excellent job. It only took about 10 cast, before I hooked my first steelhead and my buddy had his first steelhead shortly after mine and it was still dark outside. Although the weather was terrible, 32 degrees, 5-10mph winds, snow, snow and more snow. He managed to put us on a good number of fish. No one keep count but we guessed at about 15 or 16 landed and 20 or more on. He even recommended a hole or two when we seen him on the creek the next day. Just want you to know that I will recommend you guys to everyone I talk to. Tell Dick thanks again. I have attached a couple of photos of the fish we caught. 
 
Thanks Again,  Kevin

ks

11-10-08  Doubles in the cold..!!

11-10-08 Ohio steelie on the fly

11-10-08  Oho steelhead in the snow

11-09-08 a nice 12 lb Ohio hen

11-12-08  Its been cold on Steelhead Alley.  Still a little snow on the ground but not much. The Eastern Ohio streams came up a little but are still fishable. Conneaut came up close to a foot since yesterday morning but the water color is still good. The Grand is at 630 CFM this morning so she is just a bit too high for most people. I have been floating the Grand and there are a few all the way up to the dam but the big numbers are mid to low river still.  It appears she has peaked this morning so she will be prime in no time.  The Vermillion and Rocky didn't come up at all.  Both have been rather slow so far but I have heard some good things about the lower V.   The Pa streams are up also, and fish are on the move. Elk, Walnut, Crooked and the mile streams are all holding good numbers of fish.  Conneaut on the Pa side has some fish.  There is a big beaver dam near furnace Rd in Ohio but apparently the fish are getting past.  In New York, the Catt is also up a bit this morning at 375 CFM. The Catt has been hit or miss this year and we haven't fished it much.  Best fishing has been low in the reservation. We have been in the Zoar valley twice without good success.  Several friends who know what they are doing have been skunked several times this year by the Catt. To be honest the Ohio fishing has been too hot for us to make the drive East. We have been double digits almost every day for the past week. Fish are dime bright and full of fight.  Lots of long line releases. Both fly and spin tactics are working well. Light line and small nymphs in size #16 have been the ticket fly fishing.  On the spinning gear large emerald shinners, singles, sacs, jigs, bubble gum worms and jig/maggot have all put fish in the net this past week. It pays to mix it up especially in pressured water.  On a side note I talked to Tom Eakin last night and he tells me the NY Brownie run hasn't been very good this year but there were lots of Kings. They are getting some Coho's now.  I haven't been over to the Ontario tribs yet this fall.   I have guides available Sat, Sun and Monday if your interested in some buckeye steelhead....Lets go Fishin..!!  Don

Hi Don,
 
Just a quick note to tell you that I enjoyed your "Steelhead School".  It was very informative and all that were there were a great bunch of guys.  As a first time steelhead fisherman it certainly was the way to be introduced to the sport.
 
Jeff was great to fish with and I found him to be most helpful and very patient with correcting a beginners mistakes.  His instructions helped me hook and land my first steelhead! (photo attached).
 
I have also included the picture taken on the Snake River  this summer of the buffalo watching the fly fisherman.
 
Thank again,
 
Sam

 

11-09-08 George with a steelhead caught on the fly

11-10-08  Snow blanketed the Alley this morning.  In Painsville there is 4" on the ground and Erie Pa got six last night.  So far the precipitation has had little effect on the water levels. Despite the frigid temps all the guys just pounded them today. I hate to give numbers but one group had 25 and the other had 35 landed with many more lost.  Both bait and flies are producing.  Best flies have been small tellico and biot nymphs run on light tippet.  White and olive buggers have paid off too. On the spinning gear Jigs, trout magnets, bubble gum worms, and eggs have all been putting fish in the net.  The water temp in the streams dropped quickly and fresh fish are coming in where ever they can find water. We watched fish running upstream on Elk creek Saturday and the Pa tribs are loaded with fish. The Chagrin, Grand, and Conneaut all had nice water color today.  Fish aren't making it up the smaller streams and the fish are stacked at the mouths.  We have had a cancellation for Sat and Sunday with Dick,  and Travis still has Monday open.  If you interested in a steelhead trip give me a call.  Good Fishin..!! Don

 11-09-08 Ohio Steelhead caught fly fishing

11-07-08  Weekend Forecast   I'm off today getting ready for our school this evening and picking up a new cell phone.  You see we have been running sections of stream in the evenings in our Kayaks. What a way to scout out pods of fish.  Last night myself and Mark ran about 5 miles of Conneaut. To make a long story short I ended the trip with a cigarette filter plugging my drain hole. In the shallow rapids we just drag them thru.  I apparently lost my plug while dragging my kayak on the rocks.  The Kayak quickly filled up in the next deep pool .  Once full you loose all control. That was all she wrote  and over I went.  Luckily it was just shy of being over my head.  Mark got a good laugh at that one.  I just talked to Mark and Jeff via cell phone and there catching those fish the fish we found last night.  So I guess my dunking paid off..LOL..!!

11-09-08 Rick with his first steelhead caught fly fishing..!!

Looks like were in for more of the low and clear water for the short term. Rain is in the forecast Today and tomorrow but it will take more than a sprinkle to bring the streams up.  The Pa streams and most of the Ohio streams are low and clear.  There are fish to be had but you gotta work at it.  There in the deepest of holes and in the wood. I would stick with the bigger streams.  The Grand is at 243 CFM and the Catt is at 298 CFM.  This is optimal flow for both of these streams. There my picks for the weekend unless we get any significant precipitation. On a side note.  I'll get more trip pics up once I get them from the guys. Please understand how busy they have been. Good Luck..!!  Don

11-4-08  Happy Birthday Barbara..!!  Grand River Ohio

11-02-08 Silver Skinny Water Steelhead

11-02-08 Jean shows off a Ohio steelhead she caught on the fly

 11-05-08  Whats New at Dfishinfool's Guide Service??   Mark DeFrank is coming into town today.  He is here  for a week and a half to help out with our busy fall guiding schedule.  He is also going to help out with our Steelhead School this weekend. We still have two openings if anybody wants to learn where and how to catch our fall run steelhead here on Steelhead Alley.  Mark just won third place in a prestigious fly tying contest judged by the public (see below)   He has been helping me guide since 1998 and is one of the few non local guides I would trust to guide you on the alley. He is almost booked up for his stay but he is available to guide on Nov 10th and 11th.  I also have Nov 9th and 10th open with Travis and Nov 16th and 17th open with Dick Keagy.  Also traveling anglers may want to check out our Fly Shop We have everything in stock that you will need to put some chrome on your line.  We are working with a new Made in The USA Fly supplier who does nice work at a reasonable cost.  When we make the switch I'm not going to change the current pricing.  Watch in the coming weeks for many new and innovative patterns as well as a line of tube flies we have been perfecting this past year.  Give me a call to discuss a steelhead trip. Good Fishin..!!  Don

Fall 08 Cattaraugus Creek New York Chromer

 

Guide Jeff Novak helped these guys strike silver on the "Alley"

Report We need rain. Smaller streams are very low and clear.  This coupled with lots of anglers is making for tough fishing. I would stick with the larger streams until we get some more rain.  River conditions are near Ideal on the Catt and Grand right now.

11-03-08 Conneaut Creek Ohio

11-04-08  After four days of battling crowds I decided to get away from it all on the Grand River.  We floated the upper river and that was probably my biggest mistake.  Yes there are fish all the way up but not in the numbers I was hoping for.  Seems like most of the fish are still from Paine Creek down.  Centerpinners were tearing them up but by the time I got down there we didn't have much time to fish.  It was a beautiful day and we didn't get skunked but in hind sight I should have fished the lower river.   Grand was a nice color but was a little on the low side I had to get out of the boat and push more than once. Good Fishin..!!  Don

11-03-08  Mike with a fresh Ohio hen

11-03-08  Dick, Travis, and Myself had a group from Kentucky this morning.  We decided to stake out a big hole and it paid off in chrome.  Jeff had two guys who wanted to learn the stream so they stayed mobile most of the day.  With the lighter angling pressure, we seemed to have better luck than the weekend provided.  We fished in Ohio and the stream was a perfect color.  Olive wooley buggers was the hot fly.  The fish were chromers and gave up some awesome battles .  Pick a stream.  They all have fish now.  Tricky part is to find unpressured fish..!!  Its still 70 degrees outside and the warm temps are bringing the people out.

11-03-08 Ed is all smiles on Conneaut Creek

11-02-08  I took my guests to Elk Creek this morning.  We made a long hike in the dark and it paid off. We found a nice pod of fish and we didn't get crowded out. They were a little picky in the quickly clearing water but we got them to eat glo spawns and Ingersol Steelie Stones.  On blind luck we found a pod of twenty or so on our way out that had escaped notice by the crowds.  We had a blast with them.  After lunch we headed to the lower river and it was a zoo.  Snaggers were everywhere and the fish knew it.  Once again Jeff and Travis took their groups to Conneaut in Ohio.  While Greg bounced around on the Grand.  The water was a bit better on all the streams today, and they did a little better but they still had to work for them.   Of course Greg did the best of all DAM Centerpinners anyhow...!!  LOL   At least the fish are finally up the Grand in numbers.

 11-02-08  Chris with a nice Elk Creek Pa fish

11-01-08 Fished Elk Creek on the drop today and was pleasantly surprised by the light crowds.  Found big numbers of fish and did very good.  Dick, Jeff and Travis all had groups out in Ohio and it seems like it was more crowded there than in Pa... go figure??  They had to work for thier fish in the Buckeye but they caught them.  On the positive side there are fish to be caught in all of the streams.  On the downside the numbers are way off from normal so far. I think the low water an warm temps are keeping them in the lake.  When they come it will be all at once.

11-02-8  Doubles on Elk Creek Pa

10-29-08  YE HAW..!!  Rain finally has brought the stream levels up enough for the fish to run.  They are surely running right now. Rain seems to have hit the streams near Cleveland more than the streams to the East. I am predicting good fishing Thurs thru the weekend.  Time your trip to hit the stream as it drops for the best fishing.  Watch those flow charts.. FYI We still have openings for the Nov 7, 8, and 9th steelhead school. We are holding it at the Sleep Inn in Austinburg Ohio.  This falls class is going to be in Depth on Conneaut Creek and the neighboring streams both in Pa and Ohio.  We started the Steelhead School in 1999 and this will be our first fall school covering our Ohio fall fishery.  I have Mark DeFranks coming into town to help out with the fly tying lessons and Jeff Novak will be on hand with his Reading the Water presentation.  Value priced at $350 a man its one you don't want to miss. Call or e-mail me for more info. Good Fishin..!!  Don

10-26 A fresh Ohio Manistee that was full of fight

 10-27-08  Where did all the rain go..?? I wish I could offer a better report but the streams are very low and clear right now.  There are big numbers of fish but they are concentrated in the deepest of holes and very spooky.  I'll bet there  are 300+ fish in some of the bigger holes on Elk Creek.  In Ohio, Conneaut, The Grand, Chagrin and Vermillion are all holding fish.  Fish have made it all the way into Pa on the Connie but several new beaver dams are severely limiting the numbers making it out of Ohio..  Catching these ultra spooky fish isn't easy. Single eggs or very small egg patterns seem to be working best.  If you can get your hands on some very large emerald shiners do it..!!  Instead of fighting the crowds for spooked fish I have been concentrating on the estuary sections of the Ohio streams.  There is a boatload of fish waiting to run and we have been having a blast with them.  Huge numbers of stupid fish.  The only crowd is the ducks.  Seems no body told them that duck season is in. Unpressured fresh fish..  What more could a guide ask for..LOL..!!   You don't need a driftboat any small boat will do.  These fresh from the lake Estuary fish take flies, bait or hardware with abandon when you find them.  Finding them isn't hard right now.  Anywhere from the first riffle down on any Ohio stream should put you on the fish.  Side drifting with floats and bait is a great way to locate active pods of fish. Many guys are having success trolling little cleo's also.  They are calling for more rain the next couple of days.  Lets keep our fingers crossed..!! Good Fishin..!!  Don

Rick with a nice fall buck.

10-25-08  Rain didn't change the Ohio or Pa streams much.  It blew out the Catt and Chataqua.  We didn't find many fish over at the Catt before she blew out.  Seems like they are still in the lower river from some reports I got. As for Walnut, Canadaway, and Chataqua  they were extremely low before todays rain. This rain should bring in some fish over there.  I doubt it will pull many fresh ones into Ohio or Pa unless we get more tonight and its looking to me like the rain is done.  I'll keep you posted.  Good Fishin..!!  Don

Lookin for handouts..

 10-24-08 Steelhead Forecast.  The best is yet to come...Trust me...  We need rain and it looks like its on the way.  If the weatherman is right we should get heavy rains this weekend.  Chances are this may blow things out. This all depends on when and how much rain we get.  Its a tough call whether the streams will fish Sat and Sun.  We are in desperate need of water.  I fished upper Conneaut yesterday and found fish but it was low and clear and we had to hike and hike and hike to find pools deep enough for the fish to hold in. Dick and our newest guide Travis were on the Connie also. They caught a few but struggled with the spooky fish as well.  I'm off today but Jeff has a group over on the Catt.  I'm heading over tomorrow as its the only stream with any water. Hopefully that all about to change.  The guys fishing the river mouths are doing good and report big numbers of fish staging at the stream mouths.  Leaves are starting to cause problems but hey that's the price we pay for the brilliant fall foliage.  Good Fishin..!!  Don

10-15-08 Dominican Republic With Hurricane Omar about 100 miles out  on the horizon we managed an awesome double digit day of trolling for Mahi Mahi and Dorado with Mikes Marina

Hi everyone..!!  Had a blast up in Canada at the Garden River.  Timed he run perfect and we hit loads of fish. There were stupid numbers of Pinks.  The Kings ran a little larger than usual and we landed some huge Pinooks.  We had two groups of twelve anglers had the place to ourselves.  We never saw anyone else fishing except for a few bears and wolves.  See Jeffs pics below.  I have roughly 2000 pictures to sort thru and we got some awesome shots.  I promise to get up more pictures soon.

We want to thank Ben, Gilbert, Little Ben, Glenda, Jim, and the rest of the group of Native Guides that shred their Garden River paradise with us. We can't wait for next year..!!

I'm off to the Dominican Republic for a week.  RR and a little fishin with my buddy Capt Mike at Mikes Marina.. Hopefully I'll find a hungry Fall Marlin down there.   When I get home on Oct 18th its steelhead time.  Fish are showing up along Seelhead Alley every day now and some of the guys are hitting them hard.  Elk creek has fished well and all of the Ohio streams are starting to get a few.  Most of the action is in the lower rivers except for the Larger streams where the fish have pushed up a little.

We have guides available most days this fall but we are filling up fast.  I personally am booked for the season but any of our guides will put you on the fish. Please call for availability.

We still have openings for the fall Steelhead School.  Master fly tier Mark DeFrank and fellow Guide Jeff Novak will be helping me teach this falls class.   The dates are Nov 7th, 8th, and 9th.   We will be holding the class at Austinburg Ohio this fall.  Give me a call and let me help you master the Steelheading game..!!

Jeff Fights a Garden River King while Big Mama and cubs watch

Don with a 40 inch Garden River Pinook

The " Garden River Hilton" Our home in the bush for 11 days

Jeff with a nice Garden River King . Notice the crowds. LOL..!!

Center Pin expert and Guide Greg Lum with one of the first Ohio chromers of the Fall 08 season

Hi, everyone. I hope your enjoying your summer and catching lots of fish.  Since I got home from Cape Cod I have been staying busy.  We are having a blast with the farm pond bass.  We now have a dozen private ponds to guide on in NE Ohio. They are all stocked with bass and one spring fed 11 acre lake also is stocked with trout.  We can use the hyde driftboat on a couple of the ponds but most have manicured edges to fish from.  We also have a small private lake that is loaded with carp that we can fish from my custom Nitro 20' center console.  With a stable 104" beam and open raised casting decks the Nitro is a pleasure to fly fish from.  Admit tingly Carp on the fly is relatively new to me.  I have been earning a new respect for this worthy adversary this summer.  We have guides available every day if your interested in a warm water trip.  As always our trips are all inclusive.  Spin or fly all rods, bait, flies and lunch are included in the trip price.  There are no hidden costs.

Our Garden River salmon trip  is just around the corner.  The Garden River is located near Sault Ste Marie and it is the best of the best when it comes to Great Lakes Pink and Chinook Salmon.  It is the trip of a lifetime. We still have three open spots.  The Passport requirement has been relaxed so you can cross into Canada by land with just a birth certificate.  Give me call for more info on fishing this Salmon paradise.

Here in NE Ohio we are blessed to have so many near by fishing opportunities.  We want you to experience all that Lake Erie has to offer.  We are now booking trips on Lake Erie for Walleye and Perch with some of the best local captains.  Trips will leave from Ashtabula Harbor Ohio and the season runs June thru September.  You will fish on a safe comfortable boat with a USCG licensed captain.  Fishing has been great this summer and prime dates are still available. Give me a call for more info.

Lets not forget the Steelhead. Ohio steelhead fishing just keeps getting better and better. Plus we are licensed o fish the Pennsylvania steams as well. Our steelhead guide season starts in October. We have lots of prime available dates open this fall.  My guides know ALL of the streams on the Alley.  If the weather or fish throw a curve ball at us they will know what to do.  In these days of the internet anybody can be a guide. If you want to fish with a professional give me a call.

Steelhead school Fall 2008 Nov 7th, 8th, and 9th. Learn the secrets to becoming a successful angler. Three days of steelheading including lodging for only $350 per angler

We are trying something new at this falls Steelhead School. It will focus on fall fishing in Ohio and Pa.  We will not be covering the NY streams as at our past fall schools. Expert fly tier and Guide Mark DeFrank will be helping me teach fly tying at this falls Steelhead School in November.  He is available to guide steelhead and trout anglers also. 

 

5-03-08 My wife Erma's big late season Steelhead Trout

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Save Time and buy your fishing license online.  Please check with your guide on what state you will be fishing.

\OHIO LICENSE

\PA ONLINE LICENSE

\NY FISH LICENSE

 

Welcome to our Steelhead Fishing Reports page.  Here you will find, Ohio fishing reports and Pennsylvania fishing reports, compliments of Ohio Steelhead fishing guide, Don Mathews and the team of guides at Dfishinfool's Guide Service.

Webmaster - Guide Don Mathews

330-565-5457

All guides listed below are self employed.  but We have joined forces.  We believe that by networking together on the stream our group of local guides can give the best steelheading experience possible.  We guarantee it.. Feel free to call any of them at anytime to check on availability or to just talk fishin.  They are your true local steelhead pro's

Guide  Jeff Novak

330-984-7406

 

Guide  Dick Keagy

330-646-8150

 

Guide Travis McAllister

330-399-2746

Guide Mark DeFrank

724-317-8582

TTo book a trip please call Don Mathews at 330-565-5457 .  He handles the website and our central booking calendar.  You may also call your guide of choice at anytime with questions or to check on availability.

"Steelhead Alley"

Steelhead Facts

All of our streams in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York hold fish during the winter months December- March 

MOST YEARS ALL OF OUR STREAMS FREEZE OVER IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

New York Steelhead fishing is best in October thru December but most years the Cattaraugus Creek s the first stream to get a run of fish

Pennsylvania Steelhead fishing peaks in November and December but gets runs as early as September.  They are the most heavily stocked streams on "Steelhead Alley" and hold the most fish per square mile.

Ohio Steelhead fishing starts in October and lasts until early May.  Ohio streams are usually fish the best in the spring.

 

NEW YORK TRIPS

In addition to our guided Ohio and Pennsylvania trips we offer a select number of trips each Fall to Western, NY and the Cattaraugus Creek. Steel headers often refer to the Catt as the "Crown Jewel" of our Great Lakes tributaries. We fish the Catt during the month of October. It is a beautiful stream and the early fall fishing is great. Give me a call and we will discuss a trip to the Catt. Don Mathews NY License #4348

We also have a presentation "Finding Fish on Steelhead Alley" available to put on at your seminar, event, or club meeting. We have assembled a awesome slide show and have all of our own equipment. We offer this presentation at a very minimal cost, and your audience will learn from it. So Please contact us....

Many lodging options exist along "Steelhead Alley" and Interstate I-90.  Here are a few lodging options located near to the streams that we fish.

LOCAL LODGING
Comfort Inn Elyria Ohio;  440-324-7676
EconoLodge Elyria Ohio; 440-324-3911
Howard Johnson's Geneva Ohio Exit#218; 440-466-1168
State Park Lodge Geneva Ohio Exit #218; 866-806-8066
Hampton Inn Ashtabula Ohio Exit #223; Call   440-275-2000
Comfort Inn Ashtabula Ohio Exit #223; Call   440-275-2711
Days Inn Conneaut Ohio Exit #241440-593-1226
Best Western Erie Pa exit#18 814-838-7646

Clarion Inn Erie Pa Exit#18 814-833-1116

Comfort Inn Dunkirk NY Exit#59 716-672-4450

White Inn Fredonia NY Exit#59 716-672-2103

Best Western Dunkirk NY Exit#59 716-366-7100

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