{"id":6658,"date":"2024-01-13T17:16:10","date_gmt":"2024-01-13T22:16:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/troutandsteelhead.net\/?p=6658"},"modified":"2024-01-20T17:16:15","modified_gmt":"2024-01-20T22:16:15","slug":"winter-steelhead-fishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/troutandsteelhead.net\/winter-steelhead-fishing\/","title":{"rendered":"21 Winter Steelhead Fishing Tips And Tactics Of Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Winter
This is a picture of two of my clients fly fishing for steelhead in the winter. This is our first pool of the morning which fishes well in the fall but is often slow in the winter. I’ll explain why below.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Fishing for steelhead in the winter can be tough for many anglers, but I fish and guide for steelhead all winter and we catch a lot of steelhead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to start catching winter steelhead consistently, then these are my guide tips and tactics that I and other guides use to keep our clients catching steelhead all winter.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s possible to catch lots of steelhead all winter by understanding the fish itself which includes migration and holding patterns, and how temperatures affect steelhead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s also critical to know what methods to use, what baits work for steelhead in the winter, and use the setups that we have proven to catch steelhead anywhere around the great lakes region during the winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\n
\"Steelhead
One of my clients fighting one of over 40 steelhead that he landed with me on this day during the winter. Winter fishing can be excellent if you know what you are doing.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Winter steelhead fishing starts when the water temperatures get close to freezing, and the air temperatures are close to or below freezing most days. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I tell my clients we are in winter conditions when I start to see ice forming at the edges of the river. I know this is when the water is very cold, and the steelhead will start reacting accordingly.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winter fishing means cold hands, cold feet, and ice in the rod guides, and it’s also when the steelhead can get harder to catch for many anglers.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is what you need to know about fishing for steelhead in the winter if you want to consistently catch steelhead, like steelhead guides do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Water Temperature Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Fishing
This is one of my clients fishing in a snowstorm. Fishing for steelhead in the winter means I am often out in some nasty cold weather, but if you know how to dress like I do you can stay warm and dry all day.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Do not listen to anglers who say you can’t catch steelhead when the water hits a certain temperature: that is BS!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steelhead are temperature sensitive, but they can still be caught at a very cold temperatures that are just above freezing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The temperature itself does not matter. What matters and what you need to know is that steelhead will feed during the winter when water temps are stable or rising, and they won’t feed when the water temps are dropping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why on a day in late November when the water temps are dropping and are 43F, it’s hard to catch fish, but in January, on a warmer sunny day when the water temps are 36 and rising, I can catch a ton of steelhead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Location: Where Steelhead Hold In The Winter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steelhead will hold in the deeper slower water sections of the river throughout the winter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they can avoid faster water and shallow water, they will. Focus on the deeper middle and tail-out section of the pools, and you will do much better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Winter
Steelhead will hold in different parts of a pool and where they will be will depend on the time of year, migratory patterns, temperature, and light.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Early in October, I catch 90% of the steelhead in the top part or head of the pool and in faster shallow water rapids and pockets because the steelhead at this time of year are on the move in the warmer water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steelhead migration patterns in winter<\/a> will change, therefore you should learn to adapt if you want to catch more fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Best Winter Baits<\/h2>\n\n\n
\n
\"Best
These are my most effective baits for steelhead in winter.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Any bait can work in the winter. But, the rivers are often extra clear in the winter, so I often start with smaller baits, and if they do not work, I will start upsizing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will also start with more natural colors, and if they do not work, I will try brighter colors. You should always have an assortment of baits that you can rotate through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Good baits to try in the winter are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Spawn Bags<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Single Salmon Eggs<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Beads<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Worms: Live and plastic worms in pink and red are my go-to colors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Minnows: or local baitfish<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Artificial flies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    4. Focus On Predictable Feeding Times<\/h2>\n\n\n