When thinking about trophy migratory brown trout, most think of the clear, exotic waters of New Zealand, Chile, or Patagonia. And although these far away waters reward hard bitten fly fishers with giant browns, few anglers can afford the hefty price tag of such a trip. But would anyone consider the heart of Western New York State as one of the premier brown trout fisheries in the world? More and more anglers are! In-fact, so many anglers are driving great distances to reach the legendary Oak Orchard Creek in NY State that this once well-kept secret could very well be on the brink. I first heard about Oak Orchard in 1998 after Fly Fisherman Magazine publicized the river as a true trophy brown trout fishery.

Many publications have covered the area since, including the In-Fishermen, only increasing the popularity each year. Even though I wanted to go, the pressures of every day life didn’t allow for such a trip until Fall 2003. Prior to my descent to the other side of Lake Ontario, I researched the area extensively via online materials and magazine articles. I even joined a few local web discussion forums so that I would verse myself in the local hotspots and techniques.

These days it's no secret where the Oak is located. Nor is it a secret that some of the most breathtaking brown trout runs invade the creek’s waters every Fall, with many, many fish over the 15 pound mark. However due to high publicity and questionable fishing ethics this world class fishery is in serious danger. No one realizes this

more than the locals who watch the masses come every October. Some capitalize on the opportunity and make money renting fields as parking lots, while others protest the invasion of out-of-state fishermen destroying the fishery.  Of course, not everyone that comes to the Oak  from afar is there

to hurt the fishery, most are only there to enjoy it - taking nothing but memories and photographs, however it’s those few bad seeds that fuel the stereotype.

So why publish yet another article on the Oak? Why persuade even more people to drive to the quaint town of Albion NY? I though about writing this for many nights before deciding that maybe, just maybe the people that read this, and decide to go are going to be decent fly fishers, individuals which will practice ethical and moral fishing, and will not snag, lift, rake or harvest roe from these beautiful fish. If you have any interest in the above, please don't come to the Oak - get therapy.

The Oak’s flow is regulated by a few minor streams and water from Lake Alice which is controlled through the Waterport Dam. Water drains from the Erie Canal though a series of tributaries into Lake Alice and ultimately into Oak Orchard Creek. Due to the limited variables of this system, rain which traditionally dictates the flow of a creek doesn’t play as much of an impact on the Oak. In-fact water conditions can change 3 or 4 times within a matter of hours depending on what the Waterport Power Authority is doing at the dam. Although wading the Oak is generally easy, fishermen need to be alert of fast rising water at all times in order to avoid being stranded during Erie Canal flushing.
 

The fishable waters of the Oak begin at the base of the Waterport Dam. There anglers (mostly spin fishermen and gaffers) line up nearly elbow to elbow and target the giant chinook, browns and cohos which can be seen circling in the whirlpools below the dam. There isn’t much room to stand here, let alone

properly present a fly. If the water is extremely high, the dam spillway will have water moving through it, creating a second fork of the Oak just across the river.   Below the spillway is a large, deep, dangerous pool which will hold a lot of fish during high water. As long as you’re careful, a well presented egg pattern or even streamer will take fish in this pool, but remember if you fall in here, you are not coming back up!

The fishable stretch continues for about 2 miles downstream of the dam before turning into float tube territory for another 2 miles where the tributary quietly pours into Lake Ontario. Within the upper stretches one can wade the river with relative ease, only having to contend with small to medium sized pebbles and fellow anglers.

During peak season (Late October through November) you will see dozens if not hundreds of fishermen lining the banks and shallow gravel bars trying their luck for trophy browns. If you come on a weekend be prepared to fight for a spot. Anglers migrate into the water from well before dawn all the way through dusk. Until you see this with your own eyes it’s hard to understand why people get upset that the Oak is so publicized, however once you see hundreds (literally) of fishermen all casting into a very small area it all becomes very clear. Solitude is hard to find here despite the 100+ foot cliffs and beautiful Autumn foliage.
 

Just like the fish, most fishermen will congregate around deeper pools or riffles. The pools can range from 3 to 7 feet in depth depending on the location and flow. The definite majority of pools are wide, catering to 3 or 4 fishermen per pool. The riffles are abundant and often less than 3 feet deep creating an excellent tail water fishery. Schools of stacked browns will hang out behind a pod of spawning salmon, gently sucking in stray eggs. The rest of the water is open and slow. One will frequently see a brown take flight in an aerial display of strength and color in this type of water.  Although no one seems to fish the lower, slower stretch of the river, I have suspicions that a daring angler equipped with a steady float tube and patience would be rewarded.

Most hook ups are a result of a successful drift with an egg pattern or smaller nymph. 8 out of 10 people try Glo-Bug and Estaz egg patterns in chartreuse, orange and pink. When the browns refine their taste and stop biting egg patterns, lighter tippet (4 to 6 pound fluorocarbon) and small nymphs (size #14 or smaller) are a must. The most successful technique is to cast your fly with 2 or 3 split shot about 3 feet from the end of the tippet well ahead of the fish. Let the lead sinkers take the fly to the bottom and bounce around much like a natural egg would. Keeping a sharp eye on the end of your leader at all times will result in more hook sets. Look for the leader to stop moving, or start flowing against the current. This usually means that a brown has grabbed the fly and has either swam away, or is just sitting there causing drag on the leader. If your leader doesn’t stop or jerk, focus on carrying out the complete drift - pulling out the line prematurely can “rake” browns in the belly, resulting in foul hooking. Shock tippets and poly leaders are a great idea if you plan on targeting just trophy browns or Fall run steelhead. The give, or stretch in the tippet will ensure you’re not broken off when the first violent strike or head shake occurs (browns are notorious head shakers).
 

If you’re after the brown trout of a life time you’re chances of finding a better creek than the Oak (or surrounding area) are slim if you’re on a budget. Lodging is available from many local establishments and marinas and is very reasonably priced (see Four C’s Marina for example).

The key to avoiding insane crowds and sight fishing for a 15+ pound monster is to study the area (a topographic map works great) thoroughly. Don’t be afraid to explore some of the surrounding tributaries such as Johnson’s Creek, Eighteen Mile Creek, Bald Eagle Creek and Sandy Creek (others in the area tend to run dry, thus not proving worth while for browns).

Oak Orchard Creek is a great place to meet like minded people who have flown and driven for miles to be a part of the annual ceremonies. Personally I have met life long friends on the Oak, which is something that I will be grateful forever. It is important to realize the delicate nature of this unbelievable fishery. It is equally as important to practice ethical angling and releasing if not breaking off all foul hooked fish. If people keep harvesting giant females for roe, or continue to leave the creek dragging stringer after stringer of fish, the fishing will simply continue to decline until this world class fishery is reduced to nothing. If you do make the trip, please bring your camera and release as many fish as possible. Some of these giant browns are 8 years old or more, returning to the Oak every year – that is something we should fight to protect forever.

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Written By: Nick Pujic, © Nov, 2003
Photographs By:  Nick Pujic, Graham Owen