Cold fingers and toes have to be "risen above" to be a successful winter Steelheader.  It is a part of the sport, and is an indispensable part of the pure clean environment where these fish live.   Without seasons, there is no habitat for Steelhead.    I caught the fish on the left in 96, and he was  beautiful and wild.  See the intact Adipose fin?

Unlike a Salmon there is a percentage of Steelhead that do not die after spawning and return to the ocean for another year.  They come back to fresh water to spawn a second, or even a third time.    That makes fishing for Steelhead very different from Salmon, who always die after reaching maturity and entering fresh water.  A Salmon dies whether actual spawning was successful or not. 

Killing a Steelhead could be making a huge difference, (by many thousands of fish) in  future populations.  I want to do my part to help make sure there is a future for the wild Steelhead of the Northwest.

(Above) A beautiful male with more color.  He's showing off to the females that he is a worthy mate.

There are a few fish in any drainage that are the genetic winners.   Those fish carry the best genes for the future populations of of the species, for the current environmental conditions.  Before the influence of man, that "best combination" was what would win in the natural environment.  Then we came along, and not only changed the environment, but started taking out the best genetic individuals, (killing the biggest and best) for years on end, ignorant of the long range effect.  Hopefully we have started to wake up some now.

In many rivers we now release by mandate of law, the wild fish that are the inheritors of the genetic information that the species needs.   Have no fear that the race of steelhead are near extinction, they are not.   But it was too close for a sane society to be proud of.  Some Salmon strains are still too close to the edge and the tough environmental decisions ahead will tax everyone's patience.  But we will do well in the long run.

A wonderful fish!  The above male Steelhead is one of the largest I've ever caught.   Since I don't kill them I have no way of accurately measuring or weighing, but the fish below was comparable and by measuring the rod next to him I've come up with 37 to 40 inches.

A great fish on a great day.

I especially like the fish that have been in the fresh water a few months.  They get the characteristic rainbow, and gill plate colors of a mature fish.  They are, after all, Rainbow trout that have gone to the ocean to feed and are returning to fresh water to spawn. 

And what a Rainbow they are!

  The reel and handle of my fly rod pictured above is 12".  You can see that the fish is over 3x it's length.  He was a beautiful male getting ready to spawn in a few months.  This is a big Steelhead!

By the way...I take all the photos myself by setting the camera on a rock or tripod and pressing the timer.  I then run around and pick up the fish, who has been recuperating in the water.  By the time I get a few shots the fish is ready to release.

Snow is a common companion when fishing for steelhead in the winter.   I have stopped fishing when the temperature is below freezing however, because ice can freeze around the fly line, and when made to bend, cause it to crack.  To be fair... that only happened to me once, and  it was with a trout line, not a steelhead line.  But there is no good technical reason to fish when it is actually below freezing.  Wear many layers of insulating underwear and many good socks.  It is nearly impossible however to not end up with cold toes.  You only stay in the water until the pain starts to disappear, then get out and exercise until the pain starts to come back.  I'm joking a bit, but beware of hypothermia.  It can kill you.  This environment is not at all concerned about how cold you are or how you feel. You are responsible for your survival, a lesson I would  love to have everyone in our current society learn and apply to their lives.

Above is a fish from the 98 season.  Cold fingers?  Yep.

Some days the fish will take one color of fly more aggressively than another.  But it is theoretically possible to take any fish with any fly.  Presentation being the senior factor to size, followed by color. 

The red wing on a black or purple ribbed body is a standard.  The bit of red it seems attracts the fishes attention.  A white hair or calf tail wing is also sometimes very good.

As Winter Steelhead slowly change colors from "sea going silver and gray" they go through colors that are subtle roses, pinks, grays, silvers, and greens, known to all Steelheaders who have had a close look.  It is a privilege I am honored with.