Perfect Steelhead Weather

There is never a bad time to be on the water, but some days are just better than others. Yesterday was one of those days. Fishermen chasing steelhead around the Great Lakes in the fall and winter know that weather will play a part in their pursuit of chrome. Usually they can eliminate the sun, as it seems to appear as frequently as Halley’s Comet this time of the year. That leaves everything else on the table, and yesterday had just about everything else. And it was fun.

I was anxious to hit the river as the water was back to fishable levels after last weekend’s rain and snow. The bump in flows should have brought in some fresh steelhead. The weather forecast called for some rain coming in over the next few days, so I felt Friday morning was the best opportunity to hit the river.

The morning was perfect. Grey skies were dripping rain, snow and sleet like a leaky faucet. Fog shrouded the tops of the trees that were no longer bearing any color. When I arrived at the parking lot I was surprised that no other cars were there. That couldn’t be right. I expected to share the river with at least a half dozen other fishermen. Weather doesn’t keep steelheaders from their time on the water. Maybe I picked the wrong spot to fish?

Perfect day for steelheading but an empty river. Unusual for a Great Lakes tributary.

(Click on image for a larger view.)

Working my way downstream on the trail I came to another surprise. A beaver made his or her mark on a tree. A perfectly gnawed tree stood near my first fishing spot. One more night of work and that tree will be used to build an addition to a den.

A beaver has been very, very busy.

Continuing to walk downstream, I finally arrived at a series of pools that almost always hold fish. It felt strange to wade into the water, look around, and not see another fisherman. I knew it was just a matter of time before someone showed up so I made the best of my time and worked through the pools quickly. The first pool produced nothing. Then I noticed a few dead shiners laying in the water, and immediately switched from a dark color woolly bugger to a white one. At this point, the rain changed to wet snow. There was no wind, so the flakes gently hit the water like a well-presented dry fly. I had to take advantage of the perfect weather and an empty river.

Moving to the next pool I told myself there has to be fish in here. The pool had depth, structure and some current. Heck, I’d live there if I was a fish. After making a few casts I moved to the tail of the pool. The snow had changed back to rain and drops were now noticeable on the water. I made a cast to the opposite bank and let it swing across the tail of the pool. Just as the line straightened I felt the tug. The fresh steelhead made several strong runs. Getting it close, I reached with the net when it made another run, this time behind me. It made a move for a downed tree but I managed to steer the fish away from it. Finally, showing some exhaustion, it came to the net again. A nice, 25” hen found a temporary home in the bottom of the net. After a quick picture it was released to live another day.

The end to a perfect morning on the water.

There must have been something about yesterday and the color white. On the Facebook Steelhead group I belong to there were three or four other steelheaders who reported catching chrome on a white streamer or lure. What’s interesting is the rivers were 30 miles apart. Maybe the fresh steelhead were still keying in on shiners that are plentiful in Lake Erie.

Perfect comes in many different forms. My morning had perfect weather, no other fishermen, and fresh chrome.

Find your perfect.

Go out and fool a fish!