Mid-Winter Steelhead Fishing

The difference between a good mid-winter steelhead fishing day and a bad one often is measured by just a few degrees of warming temperature. A bright, sunny and warm day can produce fish while cold and overcast days usually do not.

Ten years of guiding river fishermen taught me many things. One is to watch the forecast, and pick those sunny days with warmer-than-normal temperatures as a time to plan a winter fishing trip.

A key winter fishing day.

Nothing in life is 100 percent except death and taxes, but one thing to remember: a sunny winter day is better for fishing steelhead than a dark and overcast one. A day with a minimum of wind also is better, and two sunny and warm days after a really mild day can be great.

Warming temperatures cause some slight runoff, and any runoff can stir up steelhead resting on the bottom of a deep river hole. It is a false hint of spring yet to come but fish often respond to it.

The second day of warming temperatures is even better, and if sunny days last for three days, I'd choose the third day to go fishing. However, bear one thing in mind: study the weather, and three sunny days in a row during the winter is an extraordinary event.

Fish tight to the bottom with  spawnbags like this.

There are many things a winter steelhead fisherman needs to know, but the two most important things are to offer bait or lures within two or three inches of bottom, and fish as slowly as possible.

Winter steelies are sluggish from water that is only 33 or 34 degrees. Their metabolism is very slow, and the fish will not move far to take bait or lures. An accurate presentation means repetitive casts to the same spot to provide fish with numerous opportunities to strike. It's far more difficult to do than one might suspect.

I make about 10 casts to the same spot and allow the bait or lure to bounce naturally downstream along bottom. If nothing happens, move a few feet downstream to slightly change the angle, and cast another 10 times. If this doesn't produce a strike, keep moving and changing the angle, and then try standing directly downstream of known holding water, and cast upstream and retrieve slowly with the bait bouncing slowly along bottom.

Should that fail, try fishing from the opposite side of the river. Follow the same set pattern of 10 casts and move. Many times I've made 100-150 casts before a fish will hit. And, sometimes they never strike.

The bait, fly or lure must come directly to the fish. Steelhead won't move to take your offering.

Be methodical in your fishing approach.

Key holding areas for winter steelhead are in deep holes and medium-depth runs along the river bank. One thing to remember is that cold water makes these game fish lethargic, and they don't want to expend much energy to hold their position in the current.

Don't look for winter steelhead in the full thrust of the current. Look for them behind, on either side or immediately above anything that breaks the current flow. A large rock in the hole or run with provide a cushion of quiet water behind it that will break up the current. Look for fish near log jams or submerged rocks. The edges where sand and gravel meet can be a hotspot.

If the river depth is known, use a bobber, and adjust the line length from the bobber to the hook. Make certain the depth keeps a spawnbag just off bottom. Cast bait and bobber to the same area, and run it down through the holding water 10 times and then move a few feet.

Fish with a bobber to suspect bait just off bottom.

A bobber-bait rig often provides more precise presentation as the bobber floats along at the current speed. Use enough splitshot above the baited hook to keep the bobber upright in the current. If the bobber dips under, set the hook.

Very few winter steelhead strikes are hard. The bait seems to hesitate, and that is the time to give a good hook-set. Anglers can use heavy line for these big fish, but winter rivers often are low with clear water. Six-pound monofilament leaders work well, but if fish are present and not hitting, lighten up and switch to a four-pound test leader. The battles will take longer, but the name of this game is to hook fish and have a good time.

I've landed countless steelhead on four-pound line, and the angler must take their time and pressure the fish just enough to keep them moving. A motionless fish hugging bottom isn't expending any energy. A fish that is kept moving will tire quickly.

Warm weather warms the water slightly, and this often causes steelhead to strike. It works in both theory and practice.

Posted via email from Dave Richey Outdoors