Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 12
INTERMEDIATE
HOW TO CATCH
LATE WINTER
STEELHEAD
by Nick DelVecchio
photos by the author
I
12
t's no secret that the late winter steelhead season
in Pennsylvania can be a harsh one. Frigid
temperatures, howling wind, and blinding snow are
more the norm than exception on Erie's tributaries. For
those brave enough to battle such elements, opportunity
abounds to catch a few more steelhead before the ice
locks things up. Steelhead don't always come easy
though, so having a plan and knowing what to look for
and how to find the fish is critical to success.
The trick with steelhead is usually finding where they
are located. As a migratory species, they are constantly
moving throughout drainages and a particular run
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
can be full of fish one day and almost devoid the
next day. It's a simple idea, really-shallow water will
freeze first and more completely than deeper water.
It seems obvious, but it is crucial to remember. Fish
will congregate in the deeper, slow pools. Targeting
these areas in late winter is a fantastic way to get fish.
Once the shelf ice starts to extend into the pool itself,
steelhead will hunker down underneath the ice edge,
so working drifts right up against that ice is always a
productive idea.
Compared to earlier season steelhead fishing, the
rigging isn't much different overall. The fish eat what
they eat, and there isn't a new or different insect
hatch or fly color that captivates fish during this time.
However, certain considerations should be given to
the manner in which a rig is built and how it's fished.
For starters, make the entire setup a little bit deeper
since many fish will be hugging the bottom and trying
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2023 - Cover4
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