Icy Blue

For almost the past 30 days we’ve been dry, I’m not talking about not having a drink in the month of January, I’m talking about the lack of precipitation. 
January was on of the driest January’s on record and February shaping up to be the same. Not to mention it’s been colder than average. Our immediate forecast is for snow, ice, and a little precipitation. 

I’m a fair weather steelheader? I want it to be wet and cold, with the rivers swollen and volatile. I long for a two jacket day, where I’m soaking wet and the fish are active. I’m done with the low, clear and cold river conditions, where my boat is stuck in every tailout and rock garden. I hate battling East winds, and freezing cold conditions, ice in the guides, and my boat encased in ice. I hate cancelling trips because of low water. That’s about the only time I feel like there is little to no chance of catching fish. Don’t get me wrong, I know the only chance of getting one of those magical fish is by putting time in in the water. 

So maybe I’m not a fair weather steelheader…. I just want favorable conditions. I haven’t fished in a couple of weeks and I’m growing restless.  I need to feel the oars in my hands, the river swirling around my legs, and the rain dripping off my hood. And hopefully that is about to change.

If you’ve been into the shop I have probably told you that in these conditions I have some alternate ideas for you.

First off this is a great time to build up credit. Do chores and honey dues that you would skip normally. This will get you some credit for when the conditions are prime.

Secondly this is a good time for exploration, if you have been itching to explore a different river now’s the time. Don’t go exploring when the conditions are prime. You spend a lot of time driving and exploring rods and access points. Do that when the rivers are low and clear or when it’s too high to fish.

Third option would be to stockpile flies for upcoming trips. I’ve been tying a lot of flies for my upcoming trip to Christmas Island. But you could tie steelhead flies or flies for the salmon fly hatch. 

Another option would be to go trout fishing. G to the Deschutes, Metolius, Fall, or the Crooked. It’s cold but it’s sunny and nice on the east side of the cascades, and the trout fishing has been good. 

whatever you have been doing know that this weather won’t last forever. There’s a change in the air, and as a steelheader my optimism knows no limits.