By: Jeff Hubbard
Winter has arrived, but the cold doesn’t stop the hard-core steelhead angler from fishing the Pere Marquette River. Steelhead anglers are a different breed of fisherman. You have to be a patient and tough human being to adapt to cold river temps, ice and snow. Someday it can take a lot of casting before you get a bite, if you get a bite at all.
The steelhead are there though and they’re still eating. You can find them in slower and deeper winter lies, where they don’t have to exert to much energy to eat. For the fly angler try a slower approach fishing an egg fly or nymph under a strike indicator, this works well in the winter months. Swinging big streamers also works well; these fish won’t pass up a big easy meal if presented right. Fish this much slower using a weighted fly and heavier sink tip to slow you line speed down and sink the fly quicker. I prefer using an intermediate Skagit head this time of year, slows your presentation a lot that works well with the colder water.
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Jeff Hubbard
Outfitters North Guide Service
(231) 898-6246
www.outfittersnorth.com
