HOOK AND FUR By Bob Brown January and February are not the most favored fishing months for many fishermen because of cool and inclement weather, but there are fishermen who could care less about those conditions and are willing to brave whatever nature has to offer while engaging in their favorite pastime. We are referring to winter steelheading. In his book, "Steelhead in North America,GÇ¥ author Dave Richey said winter steelheading is known more for its challenges than catching. It is still always possible to catch a winter steelhead, providing you have more than one day to fish. Winter steelheading is a cold, demanding sport that places the highest emphasis on physical stamina, concentration and angling ability. Anglers need to be flexible and swing with the moods of the river during winter conditions, and be mindful of the two factors that affect winter steelheading: Water flow and water temperatures. Steelhead find steady water flows to their liking, but a river that has fluctuating water levels due to rainfall, snow melt and runoffs from tributaries are factors that affect steelhead behavior and chances of angler success. Stream or river fishing techniques vary only slightly from spring or fall methods, but there are a few tricks that pertain more to winter fishing than any other season of the year. Water temperature is an important factor in winter steelheading. When water temperatures are as low as 34 degrees, fish are sluggish and are not prone to bite. However, with temperatures that low, experienced anglers suggest it pays to fish baits and lures right on the bottom. With its head near the gravel, it takes something to bounce off a steelhead's nose to bring on a strike. Cold-weather steelhead strike less readily than at other times of the year. During most winters, about half of all steelhead anglers go through the season without catching a single steelhead, even when figuring in experts who catch a lot of fish. The best fishing occurs when the water temperature is 45 degrees or warmer. Also, if a fish is suspected to be holding in certain lie, slow the fishing pace to a crawl to give the fish a second or third chance at the bait. Falling rain or snow is usually warmer than the river water, and this often triggers a favorable reaction from fish. January and February are traditionally the time of the year when winter steelhead are in their yearly migration mode and although not presently inundating local rivers, their numbers are starting to increase. Terry Rudnick, a noted Northwest fishing guide, said, "The sea-run rainbow trout that we call a steelhead is a thing of beauty and an angling trophy without equal, at least to those who pursue it, and if a winter of fishing provides a single opportunity to hook just one, most steelheaders would consider it a winter well-spent.GÇ¥ So what is the fascination with winter steelheading? Considered one-of-a-kind fishing, for many fishermen it is the challenge, not the by-catch. Whatever it is, a winter steelhead is a prized fish without equal and worthy of a little hardship. -á Fishing and hunting news -á " Fishing on the Cowlitz has taken a downturn. Coho catches have fallen off to near zero for boat and bank anglers, and steelhead fishing hasn't been any better. Sampling checks during Jan. 12-18 counted 42 bank anglers with two steelhead kept, while six boat anglers had no catch. Tamara Fletcher of Tacoma Public Utilities said that during the same period, Tacoma Power employees recovered 283 coho adults, three jacks, 179 winter steelhead and five cutthroat trout at the Cowlitz Salmon Hatchery. As of Jan. 16, a total of 8,694 fall chinook had returned to the hatchery, plus 109,244 coho. Flows were approximately 13,900 cubic feet per second Jan. 20. Current river flow information on the Cowlitz, Nisqually, Wynoochee and Green rivers, plus lake levels for Riffe, Alder, Wynoochee and Cushman lakes, is available on Tacoma Power's toll-free fishing line at 1-888-502-8690. " Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported anglers fishing The Dalles and John Day pools have been catching some summer steelhead, though all fish sampled were of the wild variety and had to be released. Boat anglers in Bonneville Pool have been catching some legal sturgeon; however, bank anglers are not seeing much in the way of action. " A reminder: Hunter reports are required from deer, elk, black bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and turkey hunters by Jan. 31. All reports must be completed to avoid a $10 penalty. -á Bob Brown, who lives in Roy, is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be contacted at robertb1285@fairpoint.net
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