Steelhead, Winter outing?

[Fishnhunt]

With the melting weather and warmer temps I took a new to steelheading friend along this week. I know the avid ice fishermen don’t want to hear it but with birds singing and ducks flying up and down the river it felt like spring.
The water was still dirtier than I would have liked but it was fish able.
It took a couple hours to find the fish but when we did a darker male was the first fish landed.We kept fishing the area and my apprentice hooked a heavy fish but lost it when it tangled up in some grass right at his feet. A few casts later he hooked a four pound male that he landed.

He ended up hooking three and landing one and I went 5/5.Three of the fish were dark enough to indicate they had been in the river for a few weeks while the remainder were bright silver.

We kept a couple dinner guests and released the rest. It was a fun day of winter steelheading in great weather conditions. I think my friend will be back!

[Fishnhunt]

First fish

[Fishnhunt]

His first

[Fishnhunt]

Another

[Fishnhunt]

Last one

[sabmgb]

looks like a great day to take a newbie. this winter been so crappy lets let it go and get into spring and get boats out.

[crappeeeman]

Nice fish. It does feel like spring that's for sure.