Just when you think Old Man Winter might really be here, the forecast warms up.  After a few days of cold temperature and light snow, the temperature moves back to the upper thirties and mid forties.  This is ideal for the winter steelheader.  First, it’s always more pleasant to fish when the temperature is above freezing.  Iced guides, cold hands and trouble tying knots are just a few of the inconveniences of fishing when it’s below freezing.  Another benefit, steelhead tend to be more active if the water temperature creeps up a few degrees past 33 or so.  The final advantage of each warming trend is the snow melt and ensuing influx of water.  Melting snow and increased water flows move a few more lake run fish into the tributary each time.  Whenever get a minor winter warm spell and higher water, there’s a chance that fresh chrome might move upstream.  The best thing about these fresh fish are that they are more likely to bite.  Fresh steelhead are typically more aggressive than fish that have been in the tributary for some time.

We’re in the middle of a pleasant warming trend right now.  Snow has been melting and there should be fresh steelhead in our creeks.  If you have a chance, go fish!  Besides, you never now what frigid weather lays ahead of us in February or March.  If you’re trying to time it right for winter steelheading, then these conditions look favorable.  Try to fish between late morning and mid-afternoon, when the air and water temperature are most likely to be at their warmest point.  It may even reach fifty degrees today, perfect for winter steelheading.

Look for steelhead in the deepest holes and runs.  Get your fly on the bottom and concentrate on precise dead-drifts.  This is a great time to scale back the size of your fly and to present a more natural offering.  I like to fish smaller egg imitations (sizes # 14 to #16) and dark nymphs or stoneflies (sizes # 12 to #16).  Sometimes,  I’ll slip a hot bead for flash or weight on my nymph.  It pays to have a variety of sizes, shapes and colors as you may need to experiment with a pattern that the fish prefer.  I find this especially true on popular steelhead holes that spin fisherman, center pin fisherman, and other use.  Sometimes those fish have seen all types of offerings.  A small, natural, weighted # 16 Hare’s Ear Nymph, Pheasant Tail, Latex Caddis or a Dark Stone is more realistic and may provoke a bite from heavily pressured fish.  With as many large steelhead as I’ve hooked over the years in Winter on small patterns (sizes # 12 to # 16), it never ceases to amaze me the capability of these fish to key in on more natural offerings.  Regardless of what you decide to fish, go out and enjoy this warming spell.  Perhaps you’ll be fortunate enough to time it just right for a Winter Steelhead.