OCBS September Meeting
September 19, 2024
Emerald Necklace Marina Lakewood, OH
Curt Wagner, Division of Wildlife Supervisor
Ohio Steelhead Program Update and Creel Survey Report

Curt Wagner, Ohio Division of Wildlife District 3 Fishery Management Supervisor is our featured speaker this month. Curt will report on the current state of the Ohio steelhead program and current creel survey. Curt will also be happy to answer any questions we may have.

Curt became interested in the fisheries field by working summer seasonal positions for both a private pond management company in southcentral Pennsylvania and then for the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission while completing his B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences at Penn State University. Upon completion of his undergraduate work, Curt relocated to Illinois where he completed his M.S. in Fisheries Management and Ecology at the University of Illinois. In 2008, Curt joined the Division of Wildlife as a Fisheries Biologist in District Three (northeast Ohio) and was in that position for about 10 years before promoting to the Fisheries Management Supervisor in District Three, coordinating of fisheries management activities in northeast Ohio.  He enjoys fishing and hunting with his two teenagers any chance they get. 

Curt has a lot of information to share with OCBS members. We are very fortunate to be able to learn about the latest news regarding the Ohio Steelhead program directly from a DOW Fisheries Supervisor. This will be another excellent meeting you will not want to miss. I hope you can attend.

30th Annual Steelhead Expo
September 28, 2024
Rocky River Nature Center
North Olmsted, OH

OCBS and The Cleveland Metroparks will host the 30th Annual Steelhead Fishing Expo on Saturday September 28, 2024 at the Rocky River Nature Center in North Olmsted, OH. Admission is free.

We will have informative educational seminars covering Traditional Fly Fishing, Spey Fly Fishing, Center Pin Fishing and Spin Fishing for Steelhead.

The Expo will also have a great line up of tackle vendors, fishing clubs, conservation groups and fly tiers on hand to answer all your questions.

Please scroll down to see the steelhead seminar speakers and Expo details.

Steelhead Expo Seminar Schedule

9:00 am – 9:10 am Steelhead Expo Welcome

Tom Blotzer, OCBS President, will kick off the Expo schedule with a few words about the upcoming steelhead season and OCBS meeting programs.

9:10 am– 9:50 am  Ohio Ohio DOW Steelhead

Curt Wagner, Ohio Division of Wildlife District 3 Fishery Management Supervisor, will report on the current state of the Ohio steelhead program and answer any questions we may have.

10:00 am – 11:00 am Fly Fishing for Steelhead

John Brochue, the Orvis Crocker Park Store Manager and expert fly fishing instructor, will make a presentation on fly fishing for steelhead in our local Lake Erie tributaries.

11:15 am – 12:15 pm Advanced Jig Fishing for Steelhead

Roger Hinchcliff, Steelhead Manifesto, FishUSA and Lamiglas pro staff, will make a presentation outlining advanced jig fishing techniques for steelhead.

12:30 – 1:30 Spey Fly Fishing for Steelhead

Wael Dardir, OCBS Board Member, will make a presentation focused on two handed spey fishing

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm Float Fishing For Steelhead

Mike Durkalec

Mike Durkalec, Cleveland Metroparks Aquatic Biologist, will make a presentation focused on center pin fishing for steelhead.

Steelhead Expo Vendors, Conservation Groups and Fishing Clubs

Fishing Equipment Vendors

Cast Cray Outdoors
Chagrin River Outfitters
Dunkn Down Floats
FishUSA
Furball Baits
Lake Erie Kayak Fishing with Chuck Earls
Lamiglas Fishing Rods
Orvis Crocker Park
River Roe
Steelhead Alley Outfitters
Steelhead Manifesto
Steelhead Stuff
Voodoo Custom Tackle

Conservation Groups

Chagrin River Watershed Partners
Cleveland Metroparks
Patriots on the Fly
Project Mayfly
Rocky River Chapter of Project Healing Waters
Rocky River Watershed Council

Fishing Clubs

Firelands Fly Fishers
North Coast Fly Fishers
Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders
Western Reserve Trout Unlimited

OCBS Octoberer Meeting
October 24, 2024
Firehouse Grille & Pub Willoughby Hills, OH
John Breedlove
Near Shore Trolling for Steelhead

John Breedlove, one of the top steelhead fishermen in steelhead alley, will be the featured speaker at our October membership meeting.

Once fall arrives, John trolls the river mouths and breakwalls at Lake Erie harbor towns Ashtabula and Conneaut. This is a very effective method to catch steelhead when they are staging to make their fall spawning runs.

Trolling the mouths of our steelhead tributaries is also a great way to get away from the autumn crowds wading the streams in Ohio.

John has perfected his trolling into an art form that consistently produces more steelhead than you might imagine. John has a lot of excellent information to share with OCBS members about trolling for Lake Erie trout.

This will be another great meeting that you will not want to miss.

OCBS in Action

2024 Barbie Rod Tournament

Barbie Rod Tournament was held on Saturday March 30th, 2024. It generated $13,545 for Cleveland Metroparks Fishing Fund which is a record.

OCBS conducted the raffle which generated $5,682 of the total.

Thanks to OCBS members John Beedlow Jr, John Beedlow III, Jim Berryman, Bob Hajek, Scott Grossnickle, Ben Mott, John Brochue and Tom Blotzer for working the Barbie Rod raffle this year.

The money raised will help assure there are plenty of fish in the Cleveland Metroparks lakes and streams for kids fishing programs and local anglers alike.

OCBS Member Photos

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OCBS "Members Only" David K. Esner memorial
Steelhead Fishing Tournament
Sponsored by erie outfitters

2023 to 2024 OCBS Championship Steelhead Tournament
Sponsored by Erie Outfitters
Final Overall Results

Please see the Steelhead Tournament tab for complete results of this year’s Steelhead Championship Tournament Series Results

2024-2025 OCBS “Members Only”
David K. Esner Memorial Tournament
Sponsored by Erie Outfitters

Matt Hainzey with a beautiful 32 inch alpha male steelhead caught in the March 13, 2022 OCBS Tournament. Well done Matt!

This season’s OCBS Steelhead Tournament is dedicated to the memory of David K. Esner, a long-time Ohio Steelheader who passed away on May 6, 2018.

FISHING DATES:

November 10, 2024
November 24, 2024
December 15, 2024
March 2, 2025
March 30, 2025

Dave Esner - Always Our Friend

Our annual OCBS Steelhead Fishing tournament, sponsored by Erie Outfitters, is for OCBS members only. If not a member, you are welcome to join OCBS in order to register for the tournament.

Members can register for this year’s tournament as follows:

  1. US Postal Service: Print the below registration form, fill it out and mail with check for payment to OCBS PO Box 29577 Parma, OH 44129.
  2.  Online: Complete online registration form and credit card payment on our tournament page. Click here to go to online registration.
  3. OCBS Meetings: You can register and pay in person at our monthly meetings.

All participants are required to fish with another OCBS member who is in the tournament and is responsible for verifying the length of each fish checked in.

Check in has been modified to permit members to call or text their catch to the Tournament Director.

Entry fee is $20.00 per participant.

Be certain to read the tournament rules.

Click Here for OCBS Tournament Registration Form to use to register via US Postal Service

2023-2024 OCBS Championship Tournament Series
Winners

Ken Harper, the OCBS 2023 – 2024 Steelhead Tournament winner releasing a huge, alpha male steelhead. Congratulations Ken!

John Rhoades, second place winner in the 2023 – 2024 OCBS Steelhead Championship Fishing Series with a nice fresh run fall steelhead.

Casey Smith, third place winner in the 2023 – 2024 OCBS Steelhead Tournament Series with a beautiful, dime bright, female steelhead.

THANKS to our OCBS Sponsors!

Erie Outfitters - Sheffield OH
Backpackers Shop - Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders