By Robbie
Heading into December winter season steelheaders begin itching with enjoyment. Many steelhead that get captured this early will get published on social networks and individuals will typically recycle photos to create enjoyment (like in this report). So things can appear much better than they actually are! This write is indicated to assist individuals focus and temper that enjoyment. A great deal of individuals have time off late November, December, and early January. That is winter season steelhead time right? It can be. We have actually gotten many call asking where to go winter season steelhead fishing. Uhhhh … possibly no place without some rain.
Initially a Little Bit Of History
Pre 2010s the kickoff for many seaside streams was the very first rain around Thanksgiving. For more history check out our short article from 2008. Long story brief: the very same pressure of hatchery fish, an early returning Alsea stock, was planted all over. Those fish were infamously bad biters and returned late November– January. This produced disappointed anglers, uniform fisheries and brief seasons. The seasons stood out: an early hatchery fishery and a late season wild one. Now those early returning fish are utilized moderately and just equipped (I think) on the Alsea and 2 North Coast rivers. Presently, on the Alsea early returning hatchery steelhead comprise about 30% of the run. So it still can be a real early season manufacturer. Wild steelhead and contemporary broodstock hatchery fish return in numbers much later on: January– March throughout our rivers. I put more effort in winter season steelheading beginning December 15th and go to about March 30th, often fishing into the very first week of April. I fish hard early January through March.
Report
I fished the Umpqua Thanksgiving week and swung a couple small smallmouth on my superb 8126Sage R8 Spey Rod Good. Its really low with summer season sludge still on the rocks. I talked with a couple anglers who had the very same concept and everybody showed up 0’s. I have actually seen some photos and heard some murmurings from distant North Coast streams of connections. Not to state there is not a single fish around in your area however I would concentrate on connecting, other preparation or get ready for a long drive. We are totally equipped on MFC Ostrich and Aquaflies products. We even have black ostrich! I likewise enjoy Skeena River Ostrich, Angel Hair, and Lagartun Flatbraid for my winter season steelhead flies.
Outlook
All over south of the Siletz is too low for a severe push of fish to have actually can be found in. If you require to go out, I ‘d concentrate on the Siletz and North Coast. Unusually enough they got rain this weekend and the week previously. We missed out on both those rain occasions. That puts us 2 freshets behind. I normally do not trouble to endeavor north of the Siletz. Nevertheless, over the next week and half that is where your finest chances lie. Yes, you will need to take on the glass boat caring city folk from Portland and the Bendites by method of California that winter season on the North Coast. However anybody who enjoys to steelhead fish is all ideal to me. We may get some rain by the end of the week that will generate the very first couple of fish in the lower Siuslaw, Alsea and Umpqua. The previous couple of years I have actually entered my very first winter season steelhead on: December 25th, December 18th and December 20th. So do not feel difficult done if it takes a couple of weeks! Wild winter seasons will drip in throughout December and some hatchery fish are out there to be had. The earliest winter season I have actually landed I think was December 8th and it was a one salt wild on the lower Alsea unusually enough.
Some Old Blogposts to Get You Stired!
Here are some old posts to get you delighted and sentimental! January 2025 report by me with great deals of suggestions on techniques and items. Some success on the Alsea, December 2009. Couple legendary shots from February 2014, and December 2013. Our blog site consists of a bonanza of short articles going back to 2008 that show the history and development of fly fishing throughout the Pacific Northwest with lots of regionally popular factors. If you require a break from preparation and connecting flies do some checking out on our blog site!
Thanks for reading– Robbie
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