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[andrew5]

HI all,

fist year into the rabbit hole for Steelhead. Just wondering how this unusually cold spell might affect the fish specifically. My theory is that with the river levels so low because of the cold that fewer fish might be entering the river, and the ones that are in there might be a little more cautious.

with the water temps so low, will the fish have less energy, and be less likely to chase down a jig or worm?

Any insight is appreciated.

Thanks

[Noahs Arc]

Just slow down and fish a little mor thoroughly. You've got to put it right in front of their face.
I've had some stellar days in cold snaps, it keeps all the daisys and tulips inside.

[Easywater]

Steelhead fishing is not necessarily a first light fishery.

Caught most of my fish after 10:00am when things warm up.

Fishing with iced-up guides is pretty common.

[RalphH]

Steelhead are 'cold blooded' animals just like reptiles or insects. Their metabolism is dependent on the ambient temperature of the water. The lower the temperature the lower their metabolism and correspondingly how active the fish. Temperatures above 8 degrees and below18 are when their metabolism is most active. Below about 8 degrees it slows down and they become less active. Below about 5 degrees they became rather lethargic. As temperatures slip to 3 degrees and lower they move little if at all. If they are moving much it will be to find little seeps of ground water or springs that are higher than the overall temperature of the river. All fish at these temperatures will show little if any feeding activity. With the temperature of the Fraser at the level it is I don't imagine steelhead will be leaving the salt to go up the Fraser or any fish in the Fraser will move into the Vedder.

As others have pointed out fishing may be better in warmer parts of the day. River temperatures usually lag air temperatures so peak temps occur after air temperatures start to go down in the afternoon. Usually rivers like the V/C display 'diurnal' temperature patterns - lowest early in the morning & highest in the mid to late afternoon - depending on the season. However with the current weather this pattern isn't apparent, at least at the gauge at Vedder Crossing.

Here's this morning's graph:



temperature is on the right axis, the orange line is the plot

[andrew5]

Fantastic insight Ralph! Thanks so much for the information.

so my deduction is that in really cold weather, we will see lower river levels with clear water. It sounds like fish are less likely to move into the system, and less actively feeding, leading to tougher fishing.

I will definitely still be heading out though. New to centrepinning and loving it. I will watch the forecast for warmer weather ad hope for better results then!

[ribolovac02]

I agree with everything Ralph said, and for most part it's how it is, but my best day of stealheading the vedder was a sunny cold day, -8  degrees celcious,8-10 inches of snow on the ground, I hooked 9 stealhead and landed 8 of them in a span of 4 hours or so, and had another guy fishing close to me, that I saw land four fish in the same time.
So you never know about theories, the water was cold also , couse the cold spell had lasted 4-6 days prior to that.
This is not a bragging post, as I'm sure other people have experienced similar situations, and at the same time I've had spells of being skunked in great fishing conditions .
Mind you that was a year to remember, the return numbers wore great that season.

[Dave]

Fantastic insight Ralph! Thanks so much for the information.

X2 Ralph. I remember reading somewhere steelhead basically don't move when water temps are 4° C or lower.  Also agree that perhaps the best time for angling in cold water events is in the afternoon.

[NothingToSnagAbout]

I hooked 9 stealhead and landed 8 of them in a span of 4 hours or so

I would have gone straight to the casino.