Daily Report

On Monday we had cloudy and mostly calm conditions. The early morning temperature was in the teens so slush ice was a factor in the lower end of the river. In the afternoon a heavy band of lake effect snow moved through our area and we picked up another 6 inches of new snow. Anglers have reported that the majority of public access lots have been cleared. The release from the dam has been 350cfs and Pineville is around 482cfs. With the low water conditions the fish have been holding in and around the deeper holes and larger runs which is normal as we head into winter.  In the mid to upper end of the river and depending on the day anglers have been getting into steelhead in the normal winter holding areas such as Lower Fly Zone,  below the Altmar bridge, Schoolhouse, Wire Hole, Trestle Pool, Pineville area and Sportsman.  In the lower end of the river when slush ice is not a factor anglers have been getting into steelhead around the Town Pool, Longbridge/Staircase, Black Hole and the DSR.  For those anglers who are fly fishing, anglers have had success dead drifting with nymphs, using egg patterns under a strike indicator or swinging small streamers with sink tips. For those anglers who are float fishing or bottom bouncing, egg sacs or beads have produced the best results. 

Suggested patterns:

Egg patterns: Glo-bugs, estaz eggs, sucker spawn, steelie omelet in size 6-10.

Streamers: Krystal buggers, egg sucking leeches, woolly buggers in size 6-10.

Nymphs: Rubber legged stones, estaz stones, steelhead hammer, steak-n-eggs in size 6-10.