Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Feb 1, 2012, 11:45 am
Early October Steelhead The definition of self indulgence is the excessive indulgence of one's own appetites and desires. I'll admit I eat, breath and shit steelhead. It's the only fish I pursue and if I won the lottery, I would build a log cabin on the upper Grand and l...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jan 22, 2012, 9:52 am
Lake effect squall Winter can be the most challenging time of the year. Frigid winds, cold, ice, slush and bone chilling water will test even the hardiest steelheader. But it's the individual who is willing to subject themselves to those bitter elements are the ones that find success. When the ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jan 8, 2012, 6:35 pm
Ice on the guides is one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to winter steelheading. After a couple of drifts the line struggles to go through the guides and the end result is the float stalls and the reel keeps spinning and there is a pile of line in the water. The line ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jan 1, 2012, 10:03 am
What fish will kill me first?  2011 has finally come to an end and instead of ushering in a new year of happiness and the hopes of prosperity, I'm bitching that the Grand is blown again. But, that's the life of a hardcore steelheader. Nearly every week the rain conveniently falls o...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 26, 2011, 8:37 pm
Christmas Day Hog Merry Christmas from the Alley. We were very thankful for the warmer than usual weather as this time last year, all of the streams were locked up tighter than a nun's asshole. We were house bound and cranky as fishing opportunities were very limited and in those places the fi...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 18, 2011, 10:13 pm
The Alley got its first significant snowfall of the year. For many, the snow was actually a welcome relief from the rain. Personally, I'm sick and tired of it as another float trip on the Grand has been put on the back burner. Fishing the ole river this season has been a dis...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 15, 2011, 10:51 pm
The Brits love giving hilarious names to their foods. My mother is British and I remember as a teen visiting my grandparents in England when I was at the grocery store, I saw a package of faggots ( pork meatballs ) and started snickering. Luckily, neither of my grandparents ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 11, 2011, 6:23 pm
Winter can be the most difficult season for the steelheader. Cold winds, snow, slush, ice and freezing water - all play against the angler seeking fish. It's these factors that separates the men from the boys. The 1%ers versus the 99%ers. We still haven't receive...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 1, 2011, 12:02 pm
Another vacation and another bout of rain. That's how it usually happens, because I have to book my vacation time well in advance. In some years, its been bone dry and others the rivers get blown out. There is no in between. I sigh usually with a feeling of frustration, but ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 24, 2011, 9:48 pm
Steelhead Alley has its own version of Black Friday. Just like shoppers that cringe at the thought of hundreds of people beating one another just to get the 3 laptop computers listed at $299.00 even though the smart shopper on Cyber Monday can buy online without freezing their ass...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 19, 2011, 7:42 pm
All of Steelhead Alley's streams are generally the same. All of them run over shale bedrock, have little to no groundwater sources, and most of them with the exception of the Grand become fishable within 3 to 4 days after rain. But, that where the similarities stop. One rive...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 2, 2011, 10:08 pm
... . Many of them shared my passion for chasing steel. But there ... I enjoy going solo. I can fish at my own pace, explore ... I kept waffling on where to fish. Both streams were not too ... sources. The plan was to fish the lower river and if ... that tannic conditions can affect fish as i...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Oct 28, 2011, 12:03 am
Pennsylvania's steelhead fishery is one of a kind. I liken it to some mad fishery biologist's experiment gone bad. Take over 1 million steelhead and dump them into small streams and ditches. The state stocks the lion share of steelhead into Lake Erie, while Ohio, Michigan, New Yor...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Oct 20, 2011, 8:26 pm
Last season nearly every steelheader did some type of rain dance, prayed at church, or secretly performed some type of sacrifice behind the woodshed. Unfortunately the fish gods would have none of it. Once in a while we got a sprinkle and we were thankful for that. This season, th...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Oct 19, 2011, 5:37 pm
  Summer doesn't want to leave Steelhead Alley anytime soon and that's fine with everybody. People here are taking advantage of the beautiful weekend weather and the fall colors make it that more special. What a difference a week can make, as last Sunday it felt more like November...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Oct 9, 2011, 7:32 pm
Lousy weather brings a smile to my face and it's even more special early in the season. Last week, I was discussing plans for the upcoming weekend. The outlook for later in the week was calling for rain and below average temperatures. If the rain blew out the streams in Ohio, then...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Sep 27, 2011, 8:39 pm
Yesterday ushered in the first day of autumn, but summer didn't want to relinquish its time here in Steelhead Alley. For many that was perfectly fine as the temperature was to be in the mid 70s. With the beautiful weather on Sunday that meant most anglers in the area were ou...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Sep 18, 2011, 6:05 pm
Cool weather over the past week has stirred many diehard steelheaders out of hibernation. Old friends are starting to call one another for the latest happenings and any shred of information. Over the past week, I've started stocking missing floats, hooks, and sinkers. Replaced the...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jul 10, 2011, 4:54 pm
Finally, I can wet a line. During the past several weeks I've been slammed with work and I've had very little time to do anything else. Even with the down time, the heat and humidity has basically sapped whatever little energy I have left over. Maybe it's my way of reserving energy for the upcoming ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jun 15, 2011, 11:42 pm
Another hockey season has come to an end and thankfully the Vancouver Wahnucks got there asses handed to them by the Bruins. I had the Bruins in the seven and if there is one city that I despise, that is the smug, self absorbed city of Vancouver. The Canucks were lucky in the first two games as they...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jun 13, 2011, 12:30 am
The self proclaimed "king" is still searching for his crown after the Mavs beat them in their house. My girlfriend was lucky enough to witness the game as her and her boss were in Miami for a medical conference. Prior to that, she spent all of last week going through endless case studies and correct...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jun 11, 2011, 5:21 pm
Some of my equipment has surpassed two seasons, so here's how they fared so far. Wright & McGill Big Horn Wading Jacket This jacket has basically lost all of its waterproofing and breathing ability, when it's soaked it weights a ton. But that's mostly my fault because I treat everything like shit...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - May 19, 2011, 5:33 pm
Didn't get to see this on Versus, but I heard about on the local sports show in Cleveland about some girl flashing her tits at Shark's Ben Eager. The challenge has been issued...come on San Jose girls let see you top this!
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - May 8, 2011, 3:21 pm
I can sum up this past steelhead season to the song - Gone by Montgomery Gentry Gone like a freight-train, gone like yesterday Gone like a soldier in the civil war, bang bang Gone like a '59 Cadillac Like all the good things that ain't never coming back She's gone (gone) gone (gone) gone (gone) gone...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - May 3, 2011, 7:48 pm
For weeks, I have been battling the mother of all colds. I can't get rid of this little bastard of a bug. Every night I'm practically hacking a lung out or I need industrial strength Draino to unclog my head. But it won't keep me in bed - not for this diehard steelheader.
...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Apr 24, 2011, 5:39 pm
April showers bring May flowers, unfortunately they also keep the streams high and muddy. So far this month its been rain storm after rain storm. Not to mention, it has been a very cool month. For many, we hoped that the cooler weather will keep the fish around longer. This time last year, many of t...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Apr 18, 2011, 12:43 pm
This season I've been dubbed the "late man" because I'm always late getting to the river. This is due to several reasons which are mostly intentional - heh heh. Saturday, I wasn't in much of a hurry to get the river, because the night before the weather honks were calling for rain. That warning woul...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Apr 6, 2011, 3:43 pm
I would have say that Mother Nature has been a major douchebag this season. No rain last fall, freezing cold winter and now rain storm after rain storm. But I had some back up plans in the work just in case she (no pun intended) rained on my parade during my vacation week. All of the major rivers we...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Apr 5, 2011, 8:15 pm
We got dumped on Monday and it pretty well rained most of the day. With the exception of a tiny window in the morning, which I took full advantage of, this was going to put a damper on the week. Lucky for me, the Rock is a slip and down the ravine to the metro park. It was raining when I geared up a...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Apr 3, 2011, 4:53 pm
Well surprise, the weather honks are calling for thunderstorms with possible heavy rain for Monday. Just in time for my vacation and I feared most of the week will be lost to blown rivers and I be stuck fishing....gulp... ditches. Usually I never trust weather honks because most of the time they scr...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Mar 30, 2011, 6:04 pm
I decided to play hooky and scout errrr fish several streams for my upcoming vacation next week. Many of the streams were coming down to perfect levels and over the past weekend some hammered fish (we) and others ( you know who ) wore a skunk around their necks. Early in the week, I started my...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Mar 27, 2011, 3:59 pm
Hit the river out east this morning as I was once again "ahem" late. I got the call that the fishing was slow as nothing was caught. I arrived to see Bubba and Dave fishing upstream above a tailout. Having a members only card is great when being late for the river as I got a front row seat for the e...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Mar 20, 2011, 5:53 pm
Many along Steelhead Alley were curious to see how their home rivers looked after the massive flooding earlier this month. But before we could race down to the river, Mother Nature decided throw another egg at us and dumped more rain and jacked the temperature up. All of the rivers blew out during t...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Mar 7, 2011, 10:48 am
Mother Nature is toying with us, the rivers were coming down but she decided to dump some more rain. The rivers started to creep back up and the park rangers had to haul out the barriers again. It had rained most of the day and I knew it was on the verge of spilling over the banks. The water was ri...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Mar 1, 2011, 5:15 pm
Rockcliffe Ford - Rocky River The weather honks got this one right. Melting snow, heavy thunderstorms and massive runoff created the 2nd worst flooding on the Rock in recorded history. The river almost hit the 20,000 mark on the flow gauge Monday morning. Sunday afternoon the Rock was at 2' on the ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Feb 28, 2011, 7:37 am
Typical Steelhead Alley weather. Warmer weather melts all of the snow away and then BAM almost a foot of snow and then the weather honks call a flood warning as rain and another warm spell will blow the rivers out. Many steelheaders heeded that warning and hit the rivers in earnest. During the weekd...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Feb 13, 2011, 3:35 pm
When Punxsutawney Phil was unceremoniously yanked out of his burrow and didn't see his shadow, that meant it would be an early spring. Many here on Steelhead Alley were singing hallelujah as steelheaders I knew were fed up with the lack of fishing. For some the diehards they were able to find any av...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Jan 30, 2011, 12:15 am
Another NHL All star game is upon us and it will another that I probably won't watch. Last night, I was channel surfing and I came upon the All star teams being selected. This year the NHL had the players select their respective teams by doing a mock draft. There were two teams - Team Eric Staal sin...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 27, 2010, 5:28 pm
Another year is finally coming to an end and I couldn't be any happier. This without a doubt has been the worst season. To add more salt to the wound, Steelhead Alley was hit with an early cold snap that locked the rivers up several weeks before Christmas. The down time was spent foraging the variou...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Dec 9, 2010, 11:33 pm
Here are some the idiots, scumbags and losers that we all run into every time out The Low Holer- They seek out pools looking to pounce on the tail end. Like a ninja, they silently sneak up and before you know it, you hear a float hit the water. They often try to act clueless thinking that you onl...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 28, 2010, 8:54 pm
I seemed so long ago when I actually fished when a river had a decent flow and color. Prior to Thanksgiving, we got dumped on with over an 1" of rain. We need it to flush all of the crap out and hopefully bring in some fish. It was another outing of having to cover a lot of water to catch fish. I'm ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 22, 2010, 11:52 am
Finally! We have fishable water and many here in Steelhead Alley were hoping for large numbers of fish. Hit the road early for a day out east and hoped today was better than last week. I was stoked at the thought of hooking into some feisty chromers. I arrived at first light and made my way upstream...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 20, 2010, 10:02 am
Yesterday Pat Burns, the former coach of the Leafs lost his battle with cancer. I remember with excitement, when the Leafs hired him and prior to his hiring, the Leafs were a terrible team. With his hard nosed style of coaching and Cliff Fletcher's crafty trades, they built a powerful team and made ...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 14, 2010, 7:45 pm
Now I know what a steelheader in B.C feels like. Walking endless miles, pounding every hole, pool, run and pocket water in the hopes of getting a bite. That what it was like this weekend as the fish basically took it off and I would of had better luck finding the location of Jim Hoffa's body. The ri...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 8, 2010, 12:41 pm
After a week of average fishing and not wanting to rub elbows with the weekend warriors, I decided to take a weekend away from Steelhead Alley and headed down to Hocking Hills. Me and the girlfriend rented a cabin for the weekend and explored the various areas within and around the park. The popular...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Nov 3, 2010, 8:33 pm
The vacation week was suppose to be a trip to Europe with the little lady, but it fell to the wayside for a variety of reasons. Generally, I book the week before Thanksgiving as the number of fish are higher and the colder weather puts the dolts on the couch. But it always a gamble in regards to wea...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Oct 17, 2010, 8:45 pm
Lake effect rains hit along Steelhead Alley and some areas got soaked and others barely got a rain drop. Several rivers rose, but didn't blow out. Instead of low and clear, we got decent color and flow and I don't think a lot of people bitched about it. Considering it's still mid October, a lot of f...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Oct 5, 2010, 6:24 pm
It was a weekend of firsts, one I caught the first fishes of the year and I finally eat at the Melt Bar and Grilled. With my birthday on Sunday, I had no choice but to fish on Saturday and it meant fishing in low and clear conditions. As with every beginning of the season, I'm very anal when it come...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Sep 26, 2010, 2:54 pm
I get bored easily, especially when college football has a Saturday full of mismatches. The Buckeyes were playing against the Pop Warner league champs - Eastern Michigan and I wanted no part of it. After doing a couple of jobs early Saturday morning, I decided to chuck spoons off the break wall. The...
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Greg L. posted an article on Rotten Spawn Sacs, Tattered Flies and Leaky Waders - Sep 19, 2010, 6:32 pm
This week I read an article in the Cleveland paper about this summer being one of the hottest on record and the electric bills were evidence of that. With the heat also came very little rain and if it did rain, it came down in micro monsoons. As with every season, the newbies get pumped and start to...
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