winter, weather

not so long ago i was bummed cause i thought trout season had ended. i suppose it never really does, but it does get tougher to get em to eat in winter. lucky for me, a new season started just as the other one "ended".
winter steelheading. a lot can be said about it. there's so much time to think. i guess that's part of the allure. maybe it's because of the locations i've been fishing in lately, but i've really been enjoying the scenery and the weather.
even when the weather is less than ideal, as far as standing in a river goes, it can all be appreciated. sometimes the weather is so "bad" it makes me laugh. i mean, there's a lot worse things to be doing.
i like to think that braving adverse conditions will increase my odds. like the fishing gods will take pity on me for fishing in the rain or the cold and a steelhead will strike. i do believe that those who fish in non-optimal conditions can be rewarded, sometimes extravagantly.
i've yet to personally confirm that while steelheading this season. but as long as you understand that you will, eventually, get a bite, i think that's reason enough to be out there, no matter the conditions.

one bite in the last 4 weekends leave me hoping that it's true.

it is true.

Steelheading guide speech from Charles

Anytime something weird happens, check your fly. If you tick bottom or get hung up, check your fly. Definitely check it on EVERY BAD CAST. Yes, it’s a pain in the ass to check it every time the fly and leader don’t turn over, but it’s a bigger pain in the ass not being ready when a fish grabs. Get in the habit of being paranoid about what’s going on with your fly.

There, that’s my speech. It will likely get stuck in your head when you want it to the least. If all’s well on the leader and you break off another, check your drag. Anything can happen during the fight but breakoffs on the grab shouldn’t happen. That said, it will happen to you now and again for the rest of your steelheading career :)