Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders

Monday, 9 March 2026

Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Spring steelhead

I greatly appreciate all the advice.

I know it's always dicey as to when the fish are in, having experienced that previously.

Since I can take off on short notice, are there any good websites that give reliable information about the daily conditions.

Also, does anyone know if there are any guides that float the Cattaraugus?

Thanks again

On Monday, March 9, 2026 at 01:34:43 PM EDT, Yambag Nelson <northstreetwreckingcrew@gmail.com> wrote:

Right now the water is pretty cold and high on the salmon. Fresh fish should be coming and and fishing should pick up into april but by may you will mostly be seeing dropback fish which can be very aggressive but skinny.

On the Erie tribs the fish can leave pretty early depending on the system, especially if there isn't a ton of rain. The Catt usually has fish through april and into May (when large lake run smallmouth can also enter) but so much of the river is off limits now I don't know if I would go with that as my target stream. The smaller and shale bottom type streams will have fish for the next few weeks but it isn't unheard of for those fish to be done by April. I was in Buffalo this weekend and the erie tribs up that way are all up and high which should bring fish.

For both Ontario and Erie I prefer the fall fishing but you can definitely have good days in the spring. Conditions and fish behavior are just more variable.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 2:54:21 PM UTC-5 Art Friedlander wrote:

Looking for advice on guides for floating the Salmon river and any experience with the spring run on the Salmon and also the Erie tribs compared to the fall run in terms of quality and quantity.
Thanks
Art

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tidal-potomac-fly-rodders/9901138a-736f-4c5e-8e36-bb161193e0a2n%40googlegroups.com

{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Spring steelhead

For both Ontario and Erie I prefer the fall fishing but you can definitely have good days in the spring. Conditions and fish behavior are just more variable.

On Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 2:54:21 PM UTC-5 Art Friedlander wrote:

Looking for advice on guides for floating the Salmon river and any experience with the spring run on the Salmon and also the Erie tribs compared to the fall run in terms of quality and quantity.
Thanks
Art

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http://www.tpfr.org
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Sunday, 8 March 2026

Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Spring steelhead

I've done the fall run twice and if the spring is anything like the fall, fly fishermen are working incredibly hard for very little payoff — while the hundreds / thousands of guys looking to foul hook or snag a fish as it works upstream are the ones "winning". Maybe targeting steelhead on the fly in the spring is better or different, but salmon fishing was a colossal bust for us.

-Sean

From: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Rob Snowhite <rob@robsnowhite.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 7, 2026 10:15:34 PM
To: tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Spring steelhead

Deyo's Guide Service. Mike is owner. Aka 'Dirty Bill'.

From what I've learned the spring steelhead are skinny and worn out from spawning and a winter in the river. I went a few years ago with no luck. Ramps grow wild along the stream if you are into foraging.

You can here Mike explain the drop backs on this podcast:

Episode 12. Mike Deyo - Salmon River NY

The Conservation, Fishing, and Hunting Podcast · June 22, 2025

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 7, 2026, at 2:54 PM, Art Friedlander <justawoo2@gmail.com> wrote:

Looking for advice on guides for floating the Salmon river and any experience with the spring run on the Salmon and also the Erie tribs compared to the fall run in terms of quality and quantity.
Thanks

Art

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http://www.tpfr.org
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Saturday, 7 March 2026

Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Spring steelhead

Deyo's Guide Service. Mike is owner. Aka 'Dirty Bill'.

You can here Mike explain the drop backs on this podcast:

Episode 12. Mike Deyo - Salmon River NY

The Conservation, Fishing, and Hunting Podcast · June 22, 2025

Sent from my iPhone

On Mar 7, 2026, at 2:54 PM, Art Friedlander <justawoo2@gmail.com> wrote:

Looking for advice on guides for floating the Salmon river and any experience with the spring run on the Salmon and also the Erie tribs compared to the fall run in terms of quality and quantity.
Thanks
Art

--
http://www.tpfr.org
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Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Occaquan 2026

Peter, I am a frequent angler on the Potomac and have probably made about 25 outings to the Occoquan. The shad show up a few days to a week before they hit us up in DC, but there is not a huge difference. You can get numbers on Occoquan, but in general they are smaller fish, all Hickory Shad, no Americans that I have ever seen. My experience is that there are Stripers around, (also smaller than Potomac stripers) but there is not a "run" like there is in the mainstem of the Potomac. The Occoquan is a fine place to go for an outing, but it is not as "majestic" (for lack of a better word) than the Potomac. it is smaller, more developed, and does not feel as much like you are in a natural environment that has been relatively unchanged for thousands of years (the way I feel on the Potomac).

All that said, I'd be up for an outing!

On Sat, Mar 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM peter odell <peterlodell@gmail.com> wrote:

Due to the crazy repricing of the rowboats at fletchers and traffic, I've been fishing the occaquan from my kayak last couple of years. its been very good generally.

I'm curious about this year with the Potomac issues, Occaquan a clean watershed but the fish still have to get there.

Anyone out there an expert on the river?
Do the stripers show up sooner, during or after the shad? (I've hit several schools late in the season, but may be missing something).
Do the fish get down there earlier since its several miles closer to the eventual ocean?

Any thoughts appreciated. I try to go mid week at sunrise if anyone looking for someone to paddle with.

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Re: {Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Digest for tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com - 1 update in 1 topic

The north lot is under construction, so met at the side lot to the south, 329 N Manchester St, Arlington, VA

On Tue, Mar 3, 2026 at 5:14 AM <tidal-potomac-fly-rodders@googlegroups.com> wrote:

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Come join us at a new location for the March Casting Church! - 1 Update

Come join us at a new location for the March Casting Church!

Owen Williams <eowilliams11@gmail.com>: Mar 02 09:36AM -0500

The monthly TPFR Casting Church will convene at *Bluemont Park* in
Arlington, VA, on Sunday, March 8, due to the continuing conditions on the
Potomac.

Plan to gather in the north parking lot (601 N Manchester St, Arlington, VA
22205) between 8:30 and 9 a.m. and we will find a suitable area to cast.

Reach out if you need to borrow a rod or have any questions.

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{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Spring steelhead

Looking for advice on guides for floating the Salmon river and any experience with the spring run on the Salmon and also the Erie tribs compared to the fall run in terms of quality and quantity.

Thanks

Art

--
http://www.tpfr.org
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