Spring Magic
The first half of March has flown by as spring steelheading kicked into high gear. Our tributaries received the desperately needed rainfall we’ve lacked since last year. Finally, our rivers feel whole again as their normal character and flow return. The increase in water has been the catalyst for the spring run.
Fishing has been steady. Lately, the game has been covering water and finding pockets of fish. Five to seven mile floats have been typical. There’s been a few “grind” days mixed in, but for the most part our fish are playing along quite nicely.
With warm temps and high water, significant numbers of winter fish have spawned and made their way back to the lake. These hungry post-spawn individuals have made for great days of angling, often drifting back into winter runs and aggressively taking egg patterns under a float.
Chrome dropback that was munching eggs in a winter run
While winter holdovers are spawning and dropping out, plenty of chrome fish are taking their place. With water temperatures high for mid-March, it seems many of these new arrivals are moving quickly to areas near spawning gravel. Dark pockets, fast moving buckets, and other
”spring” waters have been holding players. Slow winter holes can’t be overlooked and are still producing dropbacks and fresh arrivals.
A first steelhead to hand
Egg patterns and beads continue to be my first choice, with stoneflies and small salmon fry coming close behind. Even in the high, off-colored water, small profile eggs in 8mm and bright colors have been the ticket. Things are definitely leaning toward orange and yellow, although peach and chartreuse have had their days.
Tandem fly rigs with the egg up front, and a salmon fry off the back is a hard combo to beat when searching spring water. Even marginal drifts, where we may have missed a mend or two, still fish well with a fry/alevin as that nymph swings and tumbles in the current.
Catch rates have held steady at around 80% wild fish, 20% hatchery
A huge thank you to everyone who has joined me on the water thus far and those on my calendar in the future. It’s been great to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Some highlights have been watching first-time fly anglers connect with fish, whether they make it to the net or not. Pursuing steelhead on fly is entirely within reach of any angler, but skillsets involved certainly build over time and practice. Seeing friends and guests advance throughout the course of a day, and have their efforts rewarded, is simply awesome.
Charles with a hot fish on a fry pattern
It appears a cool-down is on the horizon, with temps dipping back into the 20’s at night. I’m happy to see it. Ideally, water temps retreat, and spawning slows. Earlier this week, a morning started off in the mid 20’s with sideways snow. We enjoyed a hot bite window in deep holes that morning, breaking ice out of the guides to make each drift. As the day warmed and the sun broke out, things slowed down significantly. Shrug off the forecast this time of year, you really never know unless you go.
Vertical and 45-degree nymphing is my chosen tactic for fishing in the spring. With fish actively spawning in the gravel areas or even the bottoms of deep holes, a vertical presentation with floating lines nearly eliminates the risk of foul-hooking. Not to mention the mending, feeding line, and line management involved translates to so many other scenarios in fly fishing. Presenting a drag-free drift with an indicator is not unlike that of a dry fly drift, and the techniques to accomplish it are nearly the same.
Hunting the dark waters above and below spawning areas is the best bet to find aggressive spring fish. Deep, slow moving winter water is often neglected this time of year, when in reality it offers an excellent space for dropbacks and newcomers.
Wayne with a pocket water goliath
Guide Trip Availability
For the month of March: 18, 31
For the month of April: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10
With colder weather setting in, my early April openings could offer outstanding opportunities. Historically, one of the most consistent weeks of the spring season.
Father and son admiring a wild fish in the bag
The next four weeks are certainly the peak of the steelhead season. While some years the run remains strong through the last days of April and into May, I have a suspicion this isn’t one of them. I imagine things will be slowing down a bit earlier this year, but I could be very wrong. Time will tell.
With a busy calendar of trips in the coming weeks, we’ll be out there doing our best to stay on top of them, enjoying every hour on the water along the way.
Cole DeVault