The Fishing Corner
By Larry Dublanko
Anglers can all agree on this one thing. We are still very early in this winter steelhead season. This time frame reveals a number of facts relating to fishing.
To begin with, the rains have washed out a lot of debris and leaves which have collected near slow moving water. Leaves can be particularly annoying as they play havoc with lures.
Most rivers have yielded to higher water levels. As the dark color fades to “steelhead green,” it gives rivers the optimal coverage needed when trying to entice an elusive steelhead from hiding. Rivers should continue to run on the higher side with more rain in the forecast. This is definitely the norm during the wet winter months.
Adapting to higher water and swifter river currents means more weight and even larger set-ups. Steelhead tend to prefer the bottom portion of holding water, therefore it is critical for lure presentation to get where the fish are. This is more of a challenge particularly when water is moving swiftly and has a tendency to keep lures and bait more buoyant.
In addition, the fishing traffic has thinned out into the month of December. Many casual fishers have hung it up for the season. However, steelheaders live for this moment. So, it should not be a surprise to see more dedicated and serious anglers take to the rivers from here on out.
This is further evidenced by the equipment and boats that are being used. Sleds do not come cheaply. So, the adage “the difference between men and boys is the price of their toys” fits the serious steelheader. We, steelheaders, have a tendency to take this matter seriously and are easily convinced that equipment changes could enhance our productivity.
Usually steelheaders are a friendly and courteous bunch. But they can get close-lipped about where steelhead may be lurking. Such information can be extremely classified. Most anglers who have been preparing for this season are already well informed where to spend their efforts even if we are only in mid-December. A good clue to bear in mind is to follow the boaters. They have done their homework and in part figured this out.
Early steelhead are going to be ocean fresh and prime for the taking. Usually, they will run a little smaller in size, but they will still put up a good fight and challenge the fisher.
Some deterrents for anglers at this time may be busy schedules just prior to Christmas and the shorter days. This is about to change when the days start getting longer in a week or so. You may not notice the change immediately, but as the season wears on it will be self evident. Unless a person has flexibility with a work schedule, weekends will attract most fishermen.
Even though we are still early in this season and daylight hours are at a premium, it is still a good time to go steelheading. Why you ask? Well, the answer is obvious. Steelhead are being caught and who wants to miss this opportunity?
