Keep looking for that warming trend.  Saw one in the forecast for late next week a few days ago but even that seems to have disappeared.  Looks to be some warmer temps this weekend but not enough to really do anything significant.  I’ve never ice fished for Steelhead in March.  Starting to think that is a possibility.  It is fun but let me be clear:  While having safe enough ice to do this on the streams is nice, it also means it takes a significant warm weather and rain event to clear it out.  At this rate we could be Steelheading into mid-April with good numbers of fish.  It happened a few years in the earlier part of the last decade and this year looks to be no different. 

For now we can’t change or control the weather, but we can keep on pluggin’ away and continue to fish however we can to get through this winter.  Before we know it we’ll all be catching fish somewhere in t-shirts and shorts and marinating ourselves in sunblock.  I’ll be out on the ice this week again and hoping that it’s the last week I do so…..but the auger will still be well within reach in my garage for some time to come. 

On a personal note I am 31 today.  Looking forward to spending the weekend with friends and family and celebrating properly.  For some reason I’ve had an odd tradition of going carp fishing on a local stream for about 10 years now on or around my birthday.  Have to see how that plays out this weekend and if my first fish after the turn is a carp or a Steelhead through the ice.  I have always regarded both fish as stunning and beautiful despite popular opinion on each fish’s worthiness and appearance. 

Every time I think I’m getting old I think of my Grandfather who lived until 83 and in his later years was still whooping the Salmon and Steelhead population of Oregon on the Columbia, Willamette, and Sandy Rivers by accounts relayed to me.  I can only hope to live as long but also to have the will and strength to go out and bring in fish like this.  Judging by this pic I have a long time to go before I can think that I’m old, and Grandpa didn’t look like he cared how old he was holding this King.  I’ve been using Flatfish for Steelhead in Erie more than anyone with high catch rates for 10 years.  Guess who’s tackle box was loaded with them?  This man’s.   Thanks for the posthumous fishing tip Gramps.  -JB