Serving  all of "Steelhead Alley" in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York     Turkey Creek Oh, Conneaut Creek Oh, Grand River Oh, Chagrin River Oh,  Rocky River Oh,  Vermillion River Oh,  Twenty mile Creek Pa,  16 mile Creek Pa,  12 Mile Creek Pa,  7 Miile Creek  Pa,  Walnut Creek Pa,  Elk Creek Pa,  Crooked Creek Pa,  Racoon Creek Pa,   Cattaraugus Creek NY,   Zoar Valley south branch,  Clear Creek NY,   Canadaway Creek NY,  Silver Creek NY,  Chataqua Creek NY,                      WE GO WHERE THE FISH ARE....................... 

Call 330-565-5457 

e-mail us at info@dfishinfool.com

Dfishinfool's fly shop click here

Honesty is our number one priority at Dfishinfool's Guide Service. 

We know most people are smart enough to spot a fake or a liar.  Before you book a trip with any Steelhead Alley Guide ask them how many years they have been fishing Ohio. If they are honest you might be surprised by the answer. Anybody can be a internet hero and since you don't need a license to guide Ohio.  Out of state guides are flocking to the area to make a quick buck. Our team of guides have been fishing Ohio and the rest of Steelhead alley our whole lives.  We want lifelong customers. We strive to exceed our guests expectations.  My guarantee is simple. If your not 100% satisfied with anything we do contact me.  If I can't make it right. I will give you a full refund. No questions asked.

Don Mathews

The original

"Steelhead School" 

 Since 2001

March 27, 28, and 29th  2009

Often imitated but never duplicated.  We have over 150 satisfied Graduates thru the years. It is a three day adventure into the world of fishing Steelhead Alley.  Our team of local steelhead pro's teach you everything you need to know to be a successful steelhead angler. It also includes a nine hour tour of the hot spots on the streams. We will cover, When to fish where, knots, rigging terminal tackle, leader construction, fly selection, reading water, fighting fish,  spin, fly, spey and cenerpinn techniques plus thee hours of hands on fly tying.  All you will need are an Ohio fishing license and a pair of chest high waders. . The weekend is value priced at $350 per angler and included in the price is two nights lodging

 

No B.S. Ohio fishing reports and Pennsylvania fishing reports compliments of licensed professional Steelhead fishing guide, Don Mathews and the team of guides at Dfishinfool' Guide Service.

Steve with a Ohio Bonefish LOL..!!

4-30-05 Spring Creek Terry said he wants to move to Ohio now..!! A beautiful Ohio Manistee released to fight again..

4-30-05 My friend Terry and his wife Lori were planning a Grand River float with me today. The Grand was blown out 1900 cfs so that ruled out the float and with rain forecasted there was little hope we could fish anywhere. Terry wanted to come anyhow so we counted on the weatherman being wrong. Well, the weather man was wrong and we didn't get the predicted 3/4 inch of rain. Hey,  I would rather be lucky than good any day...We started on the Chagrin this morning.  Visibility was 10" when we started.  We hit a few nice ones and lost a few more. Grinning! It was hard fighting them in the 700cfm flow. So we decided to go skinny in the afternoon. 

4-30-05 Greg helps Terry with his nice fish he caught on the fly

The move paid off and we found some fresh fish that hadn't been beat up. Did real good. Used a variety of flies all day. Mixed it up and hit them on nymphs, eggs and streamers. Best luck was on the Crystal Minnow. We dead drifted with indicators most of the day but did get a few on the swing with tips. We got either hogs or skippers. Not a lot of three yr old fish. Lots of jumpers. One big male was 32" long and took me way downstream. We saw the backing a quite a few times today.

4-30-05 Guide Jeff Novak with a nice Ohio fish notice the water color. It wasn't a sight fishing day.

Looks like it will fish good on a few of the tribs tomorrow. All the Pa tribs will be OK. Conneaut and Vermillion will fish but will still be high. Grand is out of the question. Chagrin is still a little high but fishable. Rocky will be nice. Skinny water is going clear. Hopefully we will not get any more rain tonight or you can throw all of the above out the window. Don't expect big numbers of fish but if you stretch your legs and do your homework there is still steel to be had.

4-29-05 Guide Greg Senyo with a nice Ohio Manistee Hen caught on his wiggle stone pattern

4-30-05 Terry and crew at the Chrome Dome..

4-29-05 Friday Went over to the Vermillion River today to see the Steelhead smolt stocking. The ODNR had quite a event today. The k- 2nd grades from Vermillion Elementary were on hand. They had a steelhead coloring contest, and the winners from each grade got a new fishing rod and the chance to stock a bucket of fish. Hats off to ODNR for a great event today..!!

4-29-05 Guide Don Mathews with a nice Western Ohio Skinny water hen on the fly

After the awards. Chief Steven Gray talked about the success of our steelhead program and Kevin Kale brought out a mounted fish and explained how the stocking program works. Then it was time to stock the 40,000 little Manistee strain fish into the river. The first few went in by buckets then the tubes came out. The kids went wild as each tank was emptied pouring thousands of smolts shot out the tubes into their new home. 

4-29-05  A good crowd turned out to watch the ODNR stock the steelhead smolts

4-29-05  The look on these kids faces say's it all

After the event and a quick lunch. Myself and Greg took off for a west side skinny water Trib that Greg fishes. We found it in nice shape and loaded with fish. We had a terrific day and both of us made double digits. With rain in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow things aren't looking good. I'll keep you posted..!!  Don

4-29-05  Greg knew right where to go..

4-29-05 Two steelhead in a fish tank. Note how the larger one has lost its par marks and is at the Smolting stage.

4-29-05  After stocking the smolts, It was time to FISH..!!

4-29-05  A Vermillion Elementary Students winning Steelhead picture.  I think somebody has been watching Sponge Bob...

4-29-05  Kevin Kale ODNR's resident Steelhead Expert tells the crowds about our awesome Steelhead fishery

4-29-05 Me pouring a bucket of Manistee Smelts into the Vermillion River Ohio.  See you in a couple of years..!!

4-27-05 Wednesday We have been canceling all of our trips due to high water. With more rain in the forecast it isn't looking good for the weekend. Hopefully mother nature will turn off the spigot and we can get a little more steelhead action in.  I'll keep you posted..!!  Don

4-23-05  Kenny with a fresh hen taken on the fly rod

4-24-05 Sunday I just got back from Cleveland and they are getting pounded with snow. Some of the eastern Suburbs have 10" on the ground. The streams are all high and muddy and more rain is on the way. We cancelled all of our weekend trips and it will probably be Wednesday at the earliest before the skinny water in Ohio fishes.  The Grand is above 5000cfm. Its hard to predict what this cold rain and snow will do to the fishing. I'll keep you posted as soon as I know more.  Good Fishin..!!  Don

More kind words from our guests

Don, I just wanted to again thank you for the great steelhead trip last Friday.My three friends from Wilmington Del really enjoyed themselves and relished the challenge of a steelhead on a fly rod. Even though they have fished in the Florida Keys & Costa Rica for tarpon, offshore for Tuna & Dorado etc and are truly very good bass fisherman, they rated it as one of the best fishing trips of their lives. You and Greg were super hosts and helped when we needed it. However, you also let us learn and fish for ourselves; which we really appreciated. We are looking forward to another trip with you in steelhead alley, Phil

Craig P. and the Eastern Outdoors TV group with long faces due to blown out stream conditions 

www.easternoutdoorstv.com

4-23-05 Saturday Rain Rain Rain. We have got 1"+ of rain overnight and the streams are all blown out. I had Craig P. and the Eastern Outdoors TV crew up to shoot a Grand River float trip but Mother nature frowned on us.  We ended up doing a little wade fishing but the river quickly blew out and became un-fishable.  Seems like every time Craig heads up this way we get a major rain storm.  I think I will try to reschedule him for early October when the streams are at their lowest. Grinning! 

4-21-05  Jason on his first day of steelheading

The good folks at Orange Street Rentals were nice enough to let us use their house for some of the intro filming of the TV show. It was my first time staying there and I was very impressed with the accommodations. The house is situated in a quiet neighborhood.  Food delivery is available.  It is very roomy, clean and well equipped. It has a nice Bar in the Kitchen we used for tying flies.  It also has a big refrigerator, full living room, nice deck in the back and color cable TV.  The price is comparable to a hotel room and it is minutes from Conneaut Creek. It is a ideal headquarters for your steelhead alley trip. Give them a call.

4-22-05 Phil with a nice fly rod steelie

4-22-05 Friday We fished a Ohio Trib today and did very good. Water was very low and clear but we managed to find plenty of fish. We got on a nice pod of silver fish that were in a pool and they were hungry.!! We fly fished and we used a wide variety of flies. Hot patterns were my Crystal minnow and the Dave Schmiser Shiner pattern. We also did good on Gregs extended body stones. Fish were super active and we got lots of awesome jumps and more long line releases than any of us would like to admit. When we came off the stream this evening it was starting to rain but the river was still flowing low and clear.

4-21-05 Julie on her first day of fly fishing and her first day of steelheading

Here is another e-mail I received last week. Thanks for the kind words..!! Don Mathews and Greg Senyo,

Here are the pictures that Greg took with my camera. Please send these on to Greg since I do not have his email address. I also wanted to take this opportunity to let you, Greg and Jeff know that the Steelhead Fishing School surpassed all of my expectations of what I wanted to experience or expected to learn. You, Greg and Jeff Novak did an incredible job in the class room components of the school and the day spent traveling to river access points is information that would take a life time to compile. Finally the day I spent with Greg fishing was an experience beyond belief. To think that you three made the decision on where to fish the evening before based on what you saw during the day of traveling to the rivers demonstrates that you truly know your business. I also think it is amazing that Greg was able to take myself who had only fly fished for trout and teach me how to identify and spot where the steelhead were holding and running and catch steelhead in one day is incredible. Greg made me feel comfortable and at ease as he was teaching me about all the aspects of steelhead fishing, man is he good!!!! For the record I landed 10 steelhead and hooked and played but unfortunately lost 17 others. Like I said the weekend was beyond my wildest expectations I have truly been spoiled. I will never fish Steelhead alley with any other guide service of course I will ask for Greg but would feel confident with you since I saw your clients landing steelhead too. You can bet that I am telling all my friends how good DFISHINGFOOL’S Guide Service really is. Thank You for a great experience!

James Pagoaga

4-22-05  Sarge on his first day of steelheading and fly fishing

Save Time and buy your fishing license online.  Please check with your guide on what state you will be fishing.

\OHIO LICENSE

\PA ONLINE LICENSE

\NY FISH LICENSE

Welcome to our Steelhead Fishing Reports page.  Here you will find, Ohio fishing reports and Pennsylvania fishing reports, compliments of Ohio Steelhead fishing guide, Don Mathews and the team of guides at Dfishinfool's Guide Service.

Webmaster - Guide Don Mathews

330-565-5457

All guides listed below are self employed.  but We have joined forces.  We believe that by networking together on the stream our group of local guides can give the best steelheading experience possible.  We guarantee it.. Feel free to call any of them at anytime to check on availability or to just talk fishin.  They are your true local steelhead pro's

Guide  Jeff Novak

330-984-7406

Guide  Dick Keagy

330-646-8150

Guide Travis McAllister

330-399-2746

Guide Mark DeFrank

724-317-8582

TTo book a trip please call Don Mathews at 330-565-5457 .  He handles the website and our central booking calendar.  You may also call your guide of choice at anytime with questions or to check on availability.

"Steelhead Alley"

Steelhead Facts

All of our streams in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York hold fish during the winter months December- March 

MOST YEARS ALL OF OUR STREAMS FREEZE OVER IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

New York Steelhead fishing is best in October thru December but most years the Cattaraugus Creek s the first stream to get a run of fish

Pennsylvania Steelhead fishing peaks in November and December but gets runs as early as September.  They are the most heavily stocked streams on "Steelhead Alley" and hold the most fish per square mile.

Ohio Steelhead fishing starts in October and lasts until early May.  Ohio streams are usually fish the best in the spring.