First let me tell you that i am a novice at fishing in general. I have started this blog out of frustration from the lack of information and resources for novice and beginning fishermen. I have caught my first Steelhead this year after a very long and tiresome fall and winter. I can't even count how many times I have ventured out to the river just to come back frustrated and tired and of course with no catch not even a hit.
The public access to the river is incredible. 26 miles of public land along the river is unmatched. Although there are many fishing holes along the river, many of them are overcrowded and over-fished. I look at the Rocky River basically as north and south section. The south section goes all the way up to Barea Falls down to Puritas Road and northern part from Puritas to the Necklace Marina in Rocky River.
The Rocky is a very interesting river system. I have spent a lot of time trying to figure out the best spots for a beginning Steelheader to catch his or hers first Steele. The popular spots are good if you want to learn from other anglers. I learn by observation and occasional conversation with a fellow angler (of course if they are willing to share any knowledge). I am still discovering new fishing spots, both for spinning and fly fishing. For spinning tackle you will have to find deeper pools where using a float or drifting is possible. The whole river is open is available for fly fishermen. I have seen fish being caught in less then a foot of water using fly tackle. This is impossible or next to impossible using a float, believe me I've tried. Although it may be possible to present the lure to the fish but I have never been successful in setting the hook in a fast and shallow drift. That's why I want to explore the fly fishing tackle this season. If course I will not abandon my spinning rod and a float as they have been very good to me so far.
I have started my Steelhead adventure at Rock Cliff Springs Ford. Very good spot, but often over fished. In the full season it is not unusual to see about 20 anglers on both sides of the ford often almost rubbing elbows and casting over each other lines. Although as I've said it would be a good place to observe and learn, but your success rate will be much smaller because the fish are stressed due the large number of people at the fishing hole. The best solution is to get there early (very early). I have seen people getting there prior to sunrise and just standing there in the water so they could get the best fishing spot, and around 10 or 11 am some other guy would just come, stand next to them and catch a fish with their first cast. Yeah, that's steelheading. Nothing like it.
