Up Coming Events

October 26th is the members only Fall On-River Seminar. This is a well received event with great turn out. Both bait and fly fishing will be covered by very qualified members who have many years of steelheading experience. Then you hit the water with instructors to practice what you have learned.

Registration prior to the event is required, The seminar will be held on Rocky River in the Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Reservation. Meet at the pavilion South of the boat launch at 8:00 am.

November 2nd will be the Fall OCBS Fly Tournament and November 16th will be the Fall OCBS Tournament Series. There is a $10.00 entry fee to participate in each of these tournaments. Advance registration is required.

All of the above events will be covered in the newsletter and at the October 23rd membership meeting.

15th Annual Steelhead Expo - 2008
Wrap-up Part 1

This years Annual Steelhead Expo relocated to Cleveland Metroparks Rocky River Nature Center.  First time at this location for OCBS worked out very well. There were over 200 guest that attend the Expo. This location allowed OCBS the opportunity to do on-the-water presentations as shown in the photo below with Chagrin River Outfitters, Dan Prabanic doing his spey casting demonstrations.

Several photos of the activities will be available for your viewing next month as well as a the companies that made contributions to our cause. At this time we will recognize each of them in appreciation for there support.

The Rocky River Nature Center provided us with this outstanding facility which allowed plenty of room for program presentations.

OCBS Membership for December 2007
 Current Membership is 276 - updates will be added soon!
As always a  special thanks to our new members for caring enough about our steelhead to get involved and by joining OCBS to help insure our steelhead are here today and for future generations. We recognize new members by adding their names to our New Members page.  When a new member attends their first OCBS Membership Meeting we ask that you check-in with Jim Pale, Membership Chairman and/or Tom Blitzer, Vice President so they can introduce you to the attending membership.     see Membership Page 
 

Keep updated visit our Sponsor's
Backpackers Shop
Grand River Tackle
Rodmakers Shop
Erie Outfitters
FishErie


Free Newsletter Classified Ads for our Members

As a service to our membership, we offer free classified ads in our newsletter for fishing equipment and boats. To place an ad in the newsletter, please send information via email to the newsletter editor Tom Blotzer, at steele2000@oh.rr.com
or call him at (440) 327-7001
 


 Join Grand River Partners  
 Grand River Partners, Inc. has permanently protected over 3000 acres of the Grand River Watershed as an individual organization and has helped to protect over 30,000 acres through what is known as the Grand River Partnership.

OCBS is a member of Grand River Partners and fully supports their conservation efforts. They have been doing an excellent job protecting and preserving these prime steelhead waters. 

OCBS recommends that you consider joining this fine organization and helping them preserve this valuable natural resource for future generations of steelheaders and others who love the spending time along the Grand River. If you would like to become a member of Grand River Partners, Inc. you can visit their website at www.grandriverpartners.org to register and support our efforts
 

Friends of Conneaut Creek - Please Join
OCBS is a member  of Friends of Conneaut Creek and fully supports their conservation efforts. They have made great strides in the preservation of these prime steelhead waters for us to enjoy

Individuals can join the Friends of Conneaut Creek for a tax deductible donation of $15 per year. Join today and show your support of their creek access and conservation efforts. For more information and a membership application go to their web site at www.friendsofconneautcreek.com 

Rocky river Watershed Council
The mission of the Rocky River Watershed Council is to protect, restore, and perpetuate a healthy watershed through public education, watershed planning, communication, and cooperation among stakeholders.

It cost you nothing but your time to participate in this important worthwhile organization. Visit there web site www.myrockyriver.org for
 more details.

  

    Steelheaders News 2008 - 2009 

Oct 23, 2008 - Westside  Membership Meeting

Regretfully are scheduled speakers Jim Bedford and Tony Pagliei will not be able to make it to this month meeting due to unexpected family circumstances. The Officer and Board are diligently working on getting us another speaker.

Cancelled - Speakers: But wait there's more! This month we have two great speakers for you.

Jim Bedford; award winning author and photographer with over 30 years of national writing experience, Jim has written for Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Salmon Trout Steelheader, Flyfishing and Tying Journal and Trout, as well as numerous regional publications like Michigan Out-of-Doors, Woods-N-Water News, and Michigan Sportsman.

 

He has also written three fishing books: Steelhead Savvy, the Fly Fishers Guide to Michigan and River Journal-Grand River with co-author, Tony Pagliei.  Originally from the state of Washington, Michigan has been his home since 1950 and he has been an avid river angler almost that long.  Jim attended Michigan State University and received degrees in Fisheries Biology and Aquatic Entomology.  The steelhead bug really bit him during his college years and he spends over 1000 hours a year wading rivers and creeks with rod in hand!

Tony Pagliei; originally from Western New York, now residing in south central Michigan, Tony brings over three decades of fly tying and fly fishing experience to the table. 

 

During the summer months, he guides on Michigan’s Grand River for warm water game fish (smallmouth bass and common carp).  Some of his hobbies include- commercial fly tying and designing, freelance writer, web designing (Tubeflies.com) and custom rod building.  Tony grew up along the shores of Lake Erie which stands to reason why he is so fond of the Great Lakes region and its diverse fisheries.  As a member for several National Pro Staff Advisory teams, Tony makes a full-time living in the sport of fly fishing and is the owner of the T. Pags Company, LLC.  His company produces multi-media products (websites, television shows, DVD’s and commercials) along with a line of custom tube fly materials.  His fascination with tube flies began over a decade ago with some help from Mark Mandell and Les Johnson (authors of Tube Flies- A Tying, Fishing and Historical Guide by Amato Publications) and the rest is history!

Ashtabula Ford – Hadlock Road Posted!
NO TRESPASSING, NO FISHING, NO HUNTING

Yes it’s true; the Ashtabula Hadlock Ford land owners have posted their property. Enough is enough, you were warned!The OCBS signs are down and the new signs are up; NO TRESPASSING, NO FISHING, NO HUNTING. OCBS would like to take this opportunity too thank all of the steelheaders who honored the land owners wishes and did not fish in front of the house.

 

For the many who disregarded their wishes, shame on you, this may be the most recognized contribution you’ll ever make in your life. We can’t forget those who defecated themselves in his yard either. And certain guides, apparently unable to see, read or comprehend from neighboring PA and an Ohio guide running two Yellow Labs (maybe they are seeing-eye-dogs). You guys know better! Let all of us learn from these lessons.

View Photos