Icons, a web series from Swing the Fly, looks at the most influential figures in spey casting and swinging flies from North America and beyond in the 21st century. In this installment, we visit with Jeff Liskay, who lives and guides in the Great Lakes region and swings flies on the Cuyahoga River in the Buckeye State, amongst others.
When you are fishing on your own, which river or lake do you consider to be your “Home Waters”?
When guiding my home waters of Ohio and Pennsylvania, I focus on the tributaries that flow into Lake Erie, chasing migratory rainbows that run from late September through mid-May. Spring through summer you will find me guiding on Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie targeting warmwater species.
Personally, when not guiding you will find me exploring my home river, the Cuyahoga. It runs through a National Park system with miles of swing water to enjoy. On the big water my goal is to never fish the same waters I guide and look at different unique areas to challenge my skills.
How does your approach for fishing for walleye and smallmouth bass in big bodies of water like the Great Lakes differ from what you do in smaller lakes and rivers? Same rods, lines and flies?
The endless pursuit of mastering the Great Lakes is not achievable in one’s lifetime. Keeping an open mind and willing to think outside the box is key to unlocking their secrets. My inland waters differ in many ways – the greatest challenge is sharing the waters with recreational boaters and other anglers. The fish are a captive audience with limited areas to call home and relocate to when conditions change, or angling pressure gets high. My equipment generally stays the same, utilizing 6-weight rods matched with floating and intermediate lines for my light work, and 7- and 8-weight rods matched with sinking shooting heads ranging from 250 grains up to 350 grains. When targeting muskies both inland and on the big water, I switch over to 2-handed rods to make the long days of grinding more manageable and less fatiguing. During the peak summer months, it’s key to use heavier grain sinking shooting heads to keep flies at depth at a faster pace of retrieve.
When and how do you fish around the Erie Islands? Is this a “summertime only” fishery?
Guiding the western end of Lake Erie, covering Ohio’s Bass Island and the Canadian reefs and waters around Pelee Island, is an eight-month season program for me. Starting in mid-April, I fish pre-spawn smallmouth bass and northern pike, then transfer over to white bass and largemouth bass until the spawn is over. Early summer through summer peak starts in early June and runs through August. During that window, I have many species options to chase – every day is an adventure where you never know what the day will bring. On many days, you can catch five different species ranging from drum, gar, carp, walleye, and more. Early fall in September, water temps and weather can get a little sketchy, so you will find me in BC chilling for a month. October through freeze-up brings fall peak; it’s my favorite time of the year. Fishing can be unpredictable, but when the stars and moon align, you can experience some special days on the water stripping streamers for super big walleye, bass, and steelhead.
Which river that you have never fished before would you most like to try?
My “check the box list” for a river that I would like to fish would be the Sustut in British Columbia. It’s the last on my list.
What is your favorite fly?
I have lots of go-to flies for various venues, but if I only had one fly to fish anywhere it would be a rabbit strip leech. Most of the time you will find variations and sizes of Brian Silvey’s tandem tube flies on my rod.
What is your favorite two-hand rod, and what line do you most like to use with it?
For rod selection on my home waters, I roll with a Scott 11’ 8” Swing matched with 360-390 grain heads. For bigger water I go to my Scott 13’ 8” Swing matched with 460-520 grain heads.
What is your favorite memory from your times on the water?
You would think my favorite memory would be some epic fish I caught over the years. Not even close – my best memory was sitting on the riverbank watching my good bud connect and land his first BC steelhead. You could not put into words his emotions after he released that fish. Super special moment.
You have made many contributions to Great Lakes steelheading and two-hand casting. Is there one you’re particularly proud of?
Thinking back to 1984 when I was on the steering committee of 12 forming the Ohio Central Basin Steelheaders Club. The club has 330 plus active members and is the speaking voice for Ohio working on conservation and the steelhead program through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
What is it going to take to save wild fish?
Saving our favorite fish is going to take the commercial, sport, Native American tribes, and state officials to all say the buck stops here and work together, not against each other. There needs to be huge sacrifices by all parties before we lose the little we have left. Might need to start thinking net bans, closed seasons, and stream habitat encasement. Fingers crossed that we all can bend enough to help our silver friends.
What are your plans for the next five years?
Looking forward through the next five years into my crystal ball, I see myself still guiding but also helping the younger generation of guides work through the many issues they might face to be successful and conservation-minded.
