It’s winter steelhead season…

It was 25 degrees this morning when I first looked at the outside temperature.  By the time I went fishing it had warmed up to a balmy 34 degrees.  This was the first time this year that it was so cold outside that I had to wear a hat and gloves while fishing.  It was sunny and nice despite the cold.  When I got to the river there were three other cars full of anglers in the parking lot.  Two of the three groups got out ahead of me.  As I hiked in I decided to go up river past all the fools who had just gotten there.  I probably hiked about a mile up river from the last angler I past before I put a line in.  There was a small amount of ice on the bank and in small pools left behind after the water receded from the last high water event.  The water was in good shape.  The flow was at about 200 CFS, and there was a nice stain to the water.  I looked like “normal” for steelhead season.  It was much better than the low and clear river conditions we had all fall.  I fished through a couple of runs, nothing.  I fished a deep hole near a downed tree, again, nothing.  I moved up river and started to fish a spot where the current was broken by some underwater rocks.  Usually this kind of current break is productive; today it was not.  I began to fish the bubble line on the far side of the underwater rocks.  On the second pass I had a very subtle strike.  I set the hook and it was fish on!  The fish fought to stay deep in the run; eventually it surfaced and shook its head a few times before taking off on the run.  A couple of long runs and I worked the fish in for a picture (posted below).  I fished a little while longer before I ran into a buddy down river.  We chatted for a while and I headed back to the parking lot so I could make it to dinner on time.  It was a nice afternoon of winter steelheading.  After the unusually warm fall, it took a little getting used to the cold; now it feels like steelhead season.