Cattaraugus on the Fly

Brian Slavinski's Guiding Service

Brian Slavinski - NYS Licensed Outdoor Guide Brian Slavinski has been fly fishing the Western New York region for over twenty-five years. His experiences have led to a vast knowledge of how to fish for trout and salmon using traditional fly fishing techniques. He believes strongly in the quality of the fly fishing experience and knows well all the opportunities that exist for great fly fishing in western New York. His specialty is angling for Salmon, Brown Trout, and Steelhead in all the tributaries of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Using a variety of techniques from the most traditional presentations to regional innovations, Brian will assure you of a memorable day on the stream. Contact Brian at 716-834-4331

Flow Rate Guide

Oatka Creek

2.60 – 2.80 Low Water Flow
2.80 – 3.00 Moderate Flow
3.00 – 3.20 Good Fishing Flow
3.20 – 3.40 Usually on the Rise or Falling
3.40 – 3.60 High Water Flow

Genesee River near Wellsville

100 – 200cfs Summer Flows Low water
200 – 300cfs Summer Flows Good Water
300 – 400cfs Spring Flows Fishable
400 – 500cfs Spring Flows High Water
650cfs + Stay Home

Lower Cattaraugus in Fall

100 – 250cfs Low Water Flow
250 – 400cfs Good Fishing Flow
400 – 650cfs Fishable Flow
650 – 800cfs High Water Flow
800 – 1000cfs Very High Water Flow
1000 – 1200cfs Stay Home Tie Flies

Lower Cattaraugus in Spring

100 – 250cfs Low Water Flow
250 – 400cfs Good Fishing Flow
400 – 650cfs Normal Fishing Flow
650 – 800cfs High Water Flow
800 – 1000cfs Very High Water Flow
1000 – 1200cfs + Screaming Flow Unfishable

Local Weather Forecasts

Buffalo Creek at Gardenville
Canadaway Creek
Cohocton Bath, NY
Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda
Cattaraugus Creek by Silver Creek
Cattaraugus Upper Arcade
Chautauqua Creek
East Koy Creek
Eighteen Mile Creek Hamburg
Eighteen Mile Creek Olcott
Genesee River at Wellsville
Oatka Creek at Garbutt
Salmon River at Altmar, NY
Spring Creek Caledonia
West Branch of Delaware Deposit, NY
Wiscoy Creek

Water Flow Charts

Buffalo Creek at Gardenville
Cattaraugus Creek at Gowanda
Cohocton River at Bath NY
Genesee River at Wellsville
Oatka Creek at Garbutt
Salmon River at Pineville NY
West Branch Delaware River at Hale Eddy NY

Step by Step Knots

Albright Knot
Arbor Knot
Blood Knot
Dropper Loop
Improved Cinch Knot
Nail Knot
Palomar Knot
Perfection Loop
Rapala Loop
Snell Knot
Double Surgeons Knot
Surgeons Loop
Trilene Knot
Uni Knot

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Cattaraugus Creek Stream Report

Weather report stated rain throughout the day. Glad we decided to ignore the weatherman. We had overcast much of the day although the showers held off until 5 pm. Steelhead feeding frenzy for the first few hours after day break. Overcast day proved to be a blessing as the fish were on until 3pm. Found a pool holding what seemed to be at least 50 steelhead and another that was holding a couple of hundred. Minnows by the thousands, you could see them jumping out of the water when we were landing fish. After 3pm the bass took over, almost to the point of becoming annoying, every fourth cast. Definitely not complaining. White tube flies with olive or blue backs were the key. Any minnow representation would have been successful today.

Tom hooked into this female, hit at the bottom of the swing, you could see the drastic tug and strained rod immediately, she was out of water a couple of seconds later 10 yards up stream, then 20 then 30 screaming drag off the Sage Reel. Then she decided to go back to Lake Erie screaming drag and taking him into his backing. We were enthusiastically counting the number of times she jumped - 7 leaps in all.

You can see the spawning scars as many of the Steelhead we caught today were drop backs. Angry drop backs I might add. Surprisingly there were still a few filled with eggs working their way up.

Can't wait to get out again. Perfect day!!!!!

Labels: Cattaraugus Creek Stream Report

posted by COTF Staff @ 9:25 PM 0 comments

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Cattaraugus Creek Stream Report

Another wonderful day on Cattaraugus Creek. The Cat has significant numbers of Steelhead throughout the creek, the upper stretches have been terrific this Spring. I concentrated on the lower sections today to get away from the crowds, surprising to have the lower section pretty much to myself. Hit the stream at the break of dawn. Early morning bite proved true today. The skies were clear today, the bright sunlight could have been the cause of the slowed down during high afternoon. Walked a couple miles of the lower Cat, picked up Steelhead in various pools. All spawned out females but they were on fire, slaming white tube flies. Bass are starting to move in. We could use some rain as the water temperatures are moving into the high 50's. Looks like we will have a couple of weeks of Steelhead fishing left.

This female was out of the water six times!!!!!!!! Yahoooooo!

Bass were tapping the white tube fly, if you gave it a couple of strips they would eagerly attack the fly.

Labels: Cattaraugus Creek Stream Report

posted by COTF Staff @ 10:25 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 21, 2008

Cattaraugus Creek Stream Report

"The Steelhead Jones". I am sure most of us have felt it. Day dreaming about a Silver Bullet hammering a tube fly in a large deep pool on Cattaraugus Creek. Needed the "Jones Fix". Good friends spending the weekend on the Cattaraugus-Spey casting for our favorite foe. We picked an exceptional weekend. Weather-ideal, Cattaraugus water flow-perfect just off color, silver steelhead waiting to hammer a newly tied tube fly.

Ray's Weekend.

Ray landed the first at the head of the pool right at day break. Kodos to Ray, father of the year, keeping his two hander on the rack through the fall season. Enjoying his new additions and experiencing family life in true form. One of the best fall runs we have seen on Cattaraugus Creek in many years - Sorry Ray had to throw that in.

Tom hooked into a fiery female displaying an aerial performance.

Brian tinged a beautiful cast, you could see a smile, knowing he had placed the fly right where it needed to be. Bang!! "These fish are nailing flies" echoed over the scream of the drag. At least Ray had time to tie tubes last fall. Looks like this one fell out of Ray's Box and miraculously appeared on Brian's tippet.

Nice Smallmouth Bass. At the end of the day Ray and Brian shared their Steelhead techniques with Tom. Explaining the Smallmouth Bass does not count as he was targeting Steelhead. Any respectable Steelhead fisherman would have avoided this fish. Tom just can't catch a break. At least he caught it on a fly he tied.

Nice Steelhead Brian! I believe this captures the day. Its about experiencing the moment, sharing a pool, trading a couple of flies, having a few laughs and planning the next trip to the "Mighty Cattaraugus".

It was Ray's weekend. We benefited from his company. We tried to come up with a story to extend his trip for one more day. April snow storm, to tired for two hour ride back - hiked 10 miles, catching Steelhead is exhausting you know, alien invasion its best we stay on the Cattaraugus. Well until the next fishing trip. Gaspe!!

Labels: Cattaraugus Creek Stream Report

posted by COTF Staff @ 7:00 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Fly Fishing Cattaraugus Creek

Hit the South Branch of Cattaraugus Creek today. Many of the fish that were in over the last couple of days have dropped back into the Main Branch of Cattaraugus Creek. We decided to hike much of the day. Couldn't resist making a couple of casts on our way back down. Picked up one swinging an Olive Crystal Bugger through a long deep pool. The main branch of Cattaraugus Creek was in decent shape, just started turning a greyish green, should be perfect for the weekend. Beautiful day and a fantastic place to have lunch.

Labels: Cattaraugus Creek

posted by COTF Staff @ 11:25 PM 0 comments

Monday, April 14, 2008

Brian Slavinski Guiding Service

Brian Slavinski has been fly fishing the Western New York region for over twenty-five years. His experiences have led to a vast knowledge of how to fish for trout and salmon using traditional fly fishing techniques. He believes strongly in the quality of the fly fishing experience and knows well all the opportunities that exist for great fly fishing in western New York. His specialty is angling for Salmon, Brown Trout, and Steelhead in all the tributaries of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Using a variety of techniques from the most traditional presentations to regional innovations, Brian will assure you of a memorable day on the stream.

Contact Brian at 716-834-4331

posted by COTF Staff @ 9:45 PM 0 comments

Dying Jungle Cock

Brian Slavinski has been playing around dying almost every material he can use in his Atlantic Salmon, Spey and Tube Flies. Has he gone too far? I say no. The prized Jungle Cock. Its amazing to see how well Jungle Cock takes dye. Check out these pictures Brian sent over.

Red Dye over Natural Jungle Cock

Chartruese Dye over Natural Jungle Cock

Tube Fly with Chartruese Jungle Cock Tail

posted by COTF Staff @ 9:44 PM 0 comments

Sunday, April 13, 2008

"The Flasha Bunnybou" Tube Fly

"Flasha Bunnybou"

Head is Bleached Elk Hair

Head is White Deer Body Strip

Head is Natural Deer Body Hair

Materials Used:

1.5 inch HMH low profile tube
Gudebrod GX2 Thread
White Zonker Strip
Ginger Marabou Feather
Light Brown Marabou Feather
Orange Rump Hackle
Olive/Chartruese Rump Hackle
Angle Hair Flash
Natural Deer Body Hair

Any substitute of colors can be used to match your personal preferences.

Step by Step:
This pattern has terrific movement in the water. It has been an excellant Steelhead Fly on the Great Lake Tributaries. Awesome Bass Pattern also.

Step 1: Use a 1.5" HMH Tube. Wrap thread base.

Step 2: Tie in a white bunny strip near the back of Tube.

Step 3: Fold white bunny strip back and wrap over the end of the fold preparing it to be wraped around the tube.

Step 4: Wrap white bunny strip just past the half way mark of the tube and tie it in.

Step 5: Tie in Ginger Marabou Feather

Step 6: Make 3-4 wraps of Ginger Marabou Feather and tie in.

Step 7: Tie in a Light Brown Marabou Feather make 3-4 wraps and tie in. Similar to Step 4 and Step 5.

Step 8: Tie in Orange Rump Hackle Feather.

Step 9: Fold Barbs and make 3-4 wraps in front of the Marabou.

Step 10: Tie in a Olive/Chartruese Rump Hackle Feather make 3-4 wraps and tie in. Similar to Step 8 and Step 9.

Step 10: Tie in a small amount of Angle Hair to add Flash in the water.

Step 11: Tie in a pinky thickness size patch of deer body hair. Make sure the tips are even and place the tips facing the back of the tube fly. This will provide a collar on the tube fly.

Step 12: Add additional deer body hair evenly around the tube to form the head. At the front of the tube make your final addition of deer hair and tie off the thread. Now all you need to do is form the head. A sharp pair of All Purpose Dr Slick Scissors or Razor Blade will aid in forming the head.

Finished Flasha Bunnybou Tube Fly

Head is Natural Deer Body Hair

Labels: Step by Step Tube Fly, Tube Fly

posted by COTF Staff @ 9:40 PM 0 comments

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