01-02-2025 REELLIFE DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 23
fishing
My favorite time of year
is upon us. Soon, winter
steelhead will be entering
our rivers to begin their
migration to their natal
spawning grounds. If you
are a “steelheader” then
you savor this time and
are excited to begin your
piscatorial pursuit of this
elusive species. For me,
there is no greater pursuit
than winter steelhead.
Summer steelhead often
enter the rivers in the
summer and hold over until
winter and even spring.
Winter steelhead migrate
into their natal rivers during
the winter months, starting
as early as mid-November,
and often hold over to
spawn in the spring. In
some systems, the two
collide and spawn with one
another.
Unlike salmon, after
spawning steelhead can
return to the ocean to
begin their cycle again and
are known to spawn as
many as 3-4 times during
their lifecycle. Steelhead
are less predictable and
often harder to catch than
salmon. They can be very
finicky and the weather
and changes in the water
flow and clarity can vastly
transform the approaches
that we take to catch them.
This might be the reason
that we love them so much;
they are not easy to catch
and sometimes can be very
hard to find.
While many of you might
love to chase steelhead
as I do, you likely dread
the early mornings, the
darkness of winter, the
cold, and the wet. Let’s
face it, getting out into the
elements when they are
at their worst is not for the
faint of heart. It takes grit
and determination and the
overwhelming lure of this
fish to motivate us to leave
the comfort of our homes
to brave the elements. The
key to a great day on the
water is staying warm and
dry.
Since I started pursuing
winter steelhead about
15 years ago, much has
changed in the technology
of the gear that we
use. At the forefront of
this technology, is the
availability of clothing that
will not only allow us to
endure the elements, but to
embrace them in absolute
comfort. Many of us have a
garage full of clothing that
we have bought to stay
comfortable.
I know that I spend a lot
of time chasing winter
steelhead on a river north
of Seattle that is nestled in
the mountains. It is often
cold and wet when I float
this river, with average
daytime temperatures
between freezing and the
mid-40s on the average
day. Some days are much
colder and many days bring
snow, sleet, rain, and wind.
