My last day on the river was January 6th. At that time, based on past history, the winter was mild. But around the Great Lakes people know “it’s just a matter of time”. Well, shortly after that date winter showed up. It hasn’t been a snowy winter but it has been cold. In northeast Ohio we are about 18” behind the average snowfall, but the temperatures have made up for it. We have had only one three-day stretch of below zero temps but they have consistently been below 32° for highs, and low-to-mid teens for lows. That locked up the rivers, and made ice fishing lakes and ponds the preferred activity.
Typical look the last month or so. Locked up rivers with minimal open water.
(Click on image for larger view.)
The rivers are starting to look like this.
Soon they will look like this.
Fast forward 37 days since the last time my waders got wet and there’s a crack starting to show up in winter. Daytime temperatures are starting to creep upwards. Long stretches of water are opening up. In fact, yesterday was the first day since early January that good numbers of steelhead were caught in the rivers. Days like yesterday will do more for a steelheader’s attitude than a couple of beers.
The rivers and streams are filled with chrome. We just need the opportunity to get to them.
Now that I’ve pumped myself up, and hopefully my readers, time for some cold water in the face. We still have 36 days until spring. And around northeast Ohio a lot can happen between then and now. One storm can erase the snow deficit, and a polar vortex can still chill our bones. But, we know fishermen are optimists, and right now we see that crack and want to make it bigger. Anyhow, keep the beer close just in case.
Go out and fool a fish!
