Unfortunately, I haven’t had any luck with steelhead other than the odd bite, despite going 10+ times. I have talked to many other fishers and they have all said that it has been a slow year for winter steelhead so it makes me feel a little better that this is probably not my fault. With the water levels rising I don’t have high hopes that I will catch anything before this inquiry project is complete. So I have decided to try and focus on brown trout instead of steelhead to have any hope of catching something.

Brown Trout are predators that feed on a variety of insects. Brown trout prefer locations with overhead cover (tree branches, overhanging riverbanks, etc.) opposed to steelhead fish that prefer slower and low water. https://www.flyfisherman.com/editorial/all-about-brown-trout/454242#replay

This means that I have to change up my fishing techniques. I went to the fly shop and had a conversation with the worker there and they suggested that I use the technique of euro nymphing. This involves using smaller flies compared to steelhead because they eat little bugs in comparison to bright smaller fish that steelhead prefer. Brown trout would still eat smaller fish but they won’t go for the bright colours.