Conneaut Creek Fishing
Report 04/24/24 (bottom of page)
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com
Type of Stream
Freestone
Species
Brown Trout (Stocked)
Steelhead
Salmon
Size
Medium
Location
Northwestern Pennsylvania and
Northeastern Ohio
Nearest Town
Conneautville
Conneaut
Season
Species Dependent – See Special
Regulations
Access:
Good
Special Regulations
Yes, both Pennsylvania and Ohio
has special regulations. Make sure
you check the current regulations.
Non-Resident License
State of Pennsylvania
State of Ohio
Weather
National Weather Service Link
USGS Stream Data:
Conneaut Creek
Seasons:
The steelhead season is from early Fall to late Spring..
Spring:
Steelhead can be caught as late as the first of May, depending on the weather.
Summer:
During the Summer, the water is too low and warm for trout or steelhead.
Fall:
Steelhead begin entering Conneaut Creek as early as middle of September. The fishing is good throughout the Fall.
Winter:
All but the coldest days of Winter can be good for steelhead. The extremely cold water of January and February can make the fish sluggish but otherwise, fishing remains good throughout the Winter.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
For Steelhead and Salmon
Fly Line:
7, 8 , 9 or 10 weight for appropriate typerod, sinking, sinking tip and floating
Leaders:
10#, 12# in 9 to 15 feet lengths
Tippets:
10# and 12#
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly 7, 8, 9 and 10 ft. single hand rods
Fly Reels:
For 7 to 10 weight lines
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
KISS Strike Indicators, Lanyards, etc.
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing Conneaut Creek Pennsylvania and Ohio
Conneaut Creek flows mostly through the state of Pennsylvania but enters Ohio before flowing into Lake Erie. It’s a very good steelhead stream. It is also stocked with trout in some areas. The medium size creek begins near Conneautville, Pennsylvania, and flows for thirty miles before entering Lake Erie. About ten miles lie within the boundaries of Ohio.
The stream is similar to a typical trout stream with riffles, runs and pools. The bottom consist mostly of cobble, gravel, sand and silt. There are some areas of shale.
Steelhead will enter the creek in late October and remain through the end of April as a general rule. Like all Lake Erie and other Great Lakes tributaries, the water level is a big factor in the movement of the fish. Although it is a good idea to keep in touch with the upstream movement of the steelhead, unlike other tributaries, the steelhead can be found almost anywhere in Conneaut Creek. Once they enter the creek, the steelhead will move upstream as the days go by.
You can access Conneaut Creek in many locations. There are several areas of private property along the creek, so make sure you don’t trespass. You also want to make certain that you check the Special Regulations for both states.
Most of the steelhead are taken using the traditional wet fly swing. The normal Great Lakes steelhead fly patterns work for Conneaut Creek. At times, nymph fishing the same way as you would for trout is productive. Egg flies are popular in October and November. Spey rods are becoming more and more popular.
Conneaut Creek may not be the top Great Lakes steelhead destinaton but it offers plenty of water to fish and several species to catch such as smallmouth bass, pike and muskie.
We always recommend our own “Perfect Fly” Trout Flies for fly fishing the Conneaut River. We have specific imitations of every important insect that hatches on the river. Our flies are the most realistic and most effective imitations you can buy..If you haven’t already done so, we hope you give them an opportunity to perform for you. You’ll be glad you did.
Flies:
We have a complete line of flies for steelhead and salmon. We have selected them as the most popular flies from thousands of patterns that have been developed over the years. We ave some of our own Perfect Fly steelhead and salmon patterns. They imitate the hexigenia mayfly nymph, certain caddisfly nymphs, stonefly nymphs and fish roe or eggs that are found in the stream throughout the year. We also have a full line of popular wet flies, egg flies, Spey flies that are very popular. We hope you will give our flies a try.
Conneaut Creek Fishing Report:
10/21/2020 We are still getting some good reports on
steelhead from customers. Send us an email for a
recommended fly list. sales@perfectflystore.com
11/07/20 We are still getting good reports from
customers fishing for steelhead. Swinging, nymphs and
eggs are working.
11/20/20 More good reports are coming in from
customers catching steelhead. Shoot us an email for a fly
list.
12/06/20 The stream is flowing a good bit high. We are
getting good reports from customers catching steelhead
when the levels are okay.
12/21/20 Stream levels are fine. The water is cold so fish
slow and deep using our steelhead nymphs. We are still
getting good reports on steelhead,.
01/05/21 The stream levels are high and the water cold,
Fish slow and deep using our steelhead nymphs. We
have been getting a few good reports.
01/24/21 The stream levels are currently low and the
water cold. Steelhead are being caught when the levels
are okay.
02/03/20 The stream levels are low and steelhead in the
deepest water and a little sluggish due to cold water. Our
steelhead nymphs are working best.
02/27/21 The river is high and stained. Fish when it
drops. The water is getting warmer and that’s a big help.
03/17/21 The stream levels are low. There are still
some steelhead being caught.
05/01/21 The stream is in good shape but the steelhead run is over for the season.
08/21/21 The salmon start moving into the river the first part of September followed by the steelhead. Now is the time to get your flies and gear together. Give us a call 800 594 4726 or write us (sales@perfectflystore.com) for information you need to do that.
08/28/21 Salmon should start coming into the river anytime now.
09/06/21 We have reports that salmon are entering the river but we have yet to receive any catch reports.
09/17/21 Good reports from customers catching salmon are coming in. Stream levels are okay. Now is the time to be here.
09/27/21 More good reports on salmon came in this past ten days.
10/07/21 The stream is still flowing a little high but that is bringing more fish into the river. We continue to get good report from customers.
10/18/21 The stream levels are up high but should fall back down fast. We have been getting good reports from customers fishing for salmon and steelhead.
10/28/21 Both salmon and steelhead are being caught by our customers in good numbers prior to the higher levels. It is falling and should be good again very soon.
11/04/21 It is still a little high but we did receive a couple of good reports from customers catching steelhead.
11/12/21 Discharges and stream levels are near normal level. We continue to get some very good reports from customers fishing for steelhead.
11/20/21 The stream levels are back up but still okay. We received two good reports from customers this past week.
11/29/21 The stream is at a normal level in good shape. We received two more good reports this past week from customers catching steelhead.
12/08/21 The stream got high again this past week but it almost back down to a normal level. We received two good reports from customers fishing for steelhead.
12/16/21 The stream is back down to a normal level in good shape. We received two good reports from customers fishing the past two days.
12/24/21 The stream is a little below normal level but just fine. We received one good report from a customer fishing yesterday.
01/01/22 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week probably due to the holidays.
01/09/22 We received two good reports from customers catching steelhead this past week. The water is cold. Fish the deeper pools using our steelhead nymphs.
01/18/22 We didn’t receive any reports from anyone this past week. Stream levels are currently high.
01/25/22 We still didn’t receive any reports from anyone fishing this past week. The water is cold, so fish slow and deep using our Steelhead nymphs and you should hook up.
02/02/22 Still no reports from anyone fishing. You should be able to catch steelhead. Fish the pools slow and deep using our steelhead nymphs.
02/10/22 We did receive one good report from a customer catching steelhead this past week. Conditions are okay.
02/18/22 Stream levels are very high. Wait until it drops back down.
02/26/22 Stream levels are still high. The river has plenty steelhead but they are easy to catch in the high, cold water. Use our steelhead nymphs.
03/06/22 The stream is down to just a little above normal and much warmer. You should be able to catch steelhead. Try our Sucker spawn and steelhead nymphs.
03/14/22 Steelhead are taking our Hexigenia steelhead nymphs and Sucker spawn flies according to our customers. Stream levels are okay and the water a little warmer.
03/22/22 The creek is down to just a little above normal level. You should have a decent chance to catch steelhead.
03/30/22 We are getting some good reports on steelhead catches. Stream levels are okay and in the river good shape.
04/07/22 The stream levels are in good shape. We didn’t get any reports but you should be able to catch steelhead.
09/12/22 Salmon are in the river and being caught by our customers in good numbers.
09/19/22 We received three more good reports on salmon being caught by customers fishing this past week.
10/09/22 Salmon are being caught in good numbers. Steelhead should be coming in soon if not already doing so.
10/31/22 Both salmon and steelhead are being caught by our customers in good numbers. Stream levels are okay and both our steelhead nymphs and streamers are working very good.
11/19/22 Steelhead are being caught in good numbers. Shoot us an email for a recommended list of steelhead flies.
11/30/22 The stream is at a normal level in good shape. We received two more good reports this past week from customers catching steelhead.
12/31/22 Stream levels have been rising and are above normal levels. We are still receiving good reports of steelhead being caught.
02/04/23 The water is cold and the steelhead need to be a little more active. This should change very soon. Good reports have been coming in prior the the cold spell.
03/12/23 The stream still have steelhead but the water has been high and cold. It has dropped and hopefully we will get some more good reports.
04/05/23 Steelhead are being caught by our customers in good numbers. Swinging and nymphing methods both work. Our Hexigenia steelhead nymphs are very effective.
08/27/23 The salmon start moving into the river the first part of September followed by the steelhead. Now is the time to get your flies and gear together. Give us a call 800 594 4726 or write us (sales@perfectflystore.com) for information you need to do that.
009/18/23 Salmon are coming into the river and being caught by our customers. Get ready for steelhead also coming soon.
09/25/23 More good salmon reports from the past week.
10/02/23 The stream is in good shape with salmon coming in.
10/09/21 More good reports from customers catching salmon. Get ready for steelhead with the right flies and gear. Give us a call or emai.
10/20/23 Good numbers of fish are coming in and we continue to get good reports from our customers.
11/02/23 Stream levels remain above normal and bringing in good numbers of fish.
11/09/23 We are getting some good reports of steelhead being caught.
11/16/23 More good reports have come in on steelhead catches. Swinging and nymphing methods are both working.
11/26/23 We are still getting good catch reports on steelhead. Check out our steelhead fly selections.
12/07/23 The stream is still turning out some good steelhead catches.
12/29/23 Sorry for the missed reports. We have been getting very good reports from customers fishing for steelhead. Our Steelhead Hexigenia nymphs and Egg sucking leech patterns are working good.
01/10/24 Stream levels are high but should fall back down fast. We are getting good reports about every day from customers.
01/20/24 The stream is still flowing above normal level but okay. Steelhead are still being caught but it has slowed due to water levels.
02/01/24 It is still a little above a normal level but clear. We are still getting catch reports of steelhead from customers.
02/12/24 Steelhead are scattered throughout the river and are taking our Hexigenia steelhead nymphs and Sucker spawn flies. Stream levels are near a normal level and the water a little warmer.
02/21/24 Stream levels are still well below normal and the water is clear. We are still getting some good catch reports from customers.
02/28/24 The stream is up to a normal level and clear. You should still be able to catch steelhead. We received one good report from the past week.
03/13/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level with clear water. Steelhead are still in the river.
03/20/24 The stream is flowing near a normal level and clear. We are still getting good catch reports on steelhead.
03/27/24 The stream is still flowing near a normal level with clear water. Steelhead are being caught in good numbers.
04/03/24 The stream levels are very high. Give them some time to drop and clear.
04/10/24 Stream levels have been high and we still have not received any steelhead reports.
04/24/24 We didn’t receive any report of steelhead catches. For all practical purposes, the spring run of steelhead season is over.
Click Here to see our Steelhead Flies: Click Here to see our Salmon Flies:
Give us a call 800 594 4726 or write us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) for fly and gear recommendations.