1. Oregon steelhead fishing guides like waking up in the middle of the night to go steelhead fishing in sub-zero freezing temperatures. No pain no gain, right. Early bird gets the worm. Actually it’s not that bad – average winter temperatures in the Portland, Oregon area are quite mild. In January for instance the average daily high is 47° F and the average daily low is 36° F.

2. Oregon steelhead fishing guides like winter weather driving conditions and towing their boats to the river in sleet, snow, freezing rain, freezing fog etc. etc. On the positive side, the worse the weather the less competition on the water.

3. Steelhead fishing guides in Oregon like avoiding patches of black ice and sliding around on slick roads. I still say it is safer going steelhead fishing than driving down the freeway in rush hour traffic.

4. Oregon steelhead fishing guides also like the feeling of their tow rig sliding down a frozen boat ramp backwards while attempting to launch their boat. No big deal – this is what insurance is for. Did I mention a licensed Oregon steelhead fishing guide is required to carry a $500,000 liability policy ïŠ Also of note: four-wheel drive comes in mighty handy in these conditions.

5. Oregon steelhead fishing guides like the smell of burning waders while their clients stand too close to the propane heater not paying attention because they are too busy steelhead fishing. This is no big deal either, happens all the time – just another excuse for some new waders. Breathable waders are all the rage these days but the old school neoprene ones will always be warmer.

6. Oregon steelhead fishing guides also like watching their clients not being able to cast first thing in the morning because the line guides on their fishing rods keep icing or freezing up. Here is a little tip: spray some Pam Cooking Spray on the guides (original flavor not butter scented).

7. Oh and don’t forget how fun it is for Oregon steelhead guides attempting to instruct their clients to cast in 40 mph wind gusts and sideways rain that push your boat upstream against the current. OK I’m exaggerating here a little, well most of the time anyways ïŠ

8. If you’re not cold enough already, not being able to feel your fingers after releasing a fish in twenty something degree water. In all actuality, you really can’t feel it as long as you are catching fish. The adrenaline numbs the pain.

9. Steelhead fishing guides in Oregon like having to chain up the tires on their tow rig just to pull the boat out of the water after a day of fishing because it has been snowing all day while you were on the river and the roads by the river are the last ones to get plowed. Ask this Oregon steelhead fishing guide how he knows about this one.

10. Oregon steelhead fishing guides like trying to clean, filet, and process your catch that has frozen completely solid in the bottom of the fish box. In reality a salmon or steelhead is much easier to filet while it is slightly frozen. Keyword here is slightly. On the positive side, the need for massive quantities of ice is eliminated.

All joking aside, the bottom line is “If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.†Although this cliche is true of all fishing in general, winter steelhead fishing is in a class all by itself. Oregon winter steelhead fishing guides and anglers alike are a unique breed. This is not your fair weather fishing crowd and the challenges that winter weather present make an already tough sport that much tougher. I encourage you to come out on the river for a day and find out what makes winter steelhead the “ultimate game fishâ€. For more information check out Oregon Winter Steelhead Fishing Guide courtesy of Oregon Dept. of Fish & Wildlife

Tags: oregon steelhead fishing guide, oregon steelhead fishing guides, steelhead fishing, steelhead fishing guide oregon

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 25th, 2015 at 11:30 pm and is filed under Steelhead Fishing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.