THE SEARCH
The key to steelhead fishing success can come down to vision. With the use of polarized sunglasses, spotting the fish is your best way to learn where they're holding. The trick is finding frames that fit snugly without pinching your temples, yet allow ample airflow to prevent fogging.

At the same time, you want a lens that cuts the glare of steelhead rivers, and sees into the depths of western rivers. Glasses popular among tarpon and bonefish anglers may look cool, but they can be less than functional in steelhead streams. Copper, amber, light brown and soft gray lenses have proven very consistent for me over the years. I'll even carry multiple pairs of glasses, so as to properly match lens color to sky and water conditions. For me, it's worth the extra few dollars to invest in multiple pairs.

Once you find fish, take a minute to evaluate the surrounding conditions then ask yourself why they are there. Is it water flow, water temperature, air temperature, angler pressure, shadows or something else that caused fish to be there? Perhaps it's a broken surface, offering the protection and higher oxygen flows that lure fish in. Whatever the reasons, take note of them for the next time you encounter that same type of situation.

On some rivers, angler pressure can greatly influence where fish hold. The presence of imposing anglers, be they from a boat or off the bank, can force fish to move into nontraditional holding zones. Some fantastic fishing can be discovered by taking time to explore these off-the-beaten-path areas, especially in low water.

TACTICAL APPROACHES
Once you locate fish, there are several ways to go about catching them, even in low water. Summer steelhead arriving early in the season are typically full of energy and very aggressive. Even if water conditions are below normal and temperatures still fairly low, anglers can go after summer steelhead with vigor.

Because water temperatures during the course of the spring and summer months are likely as low as they're going to be, summer steelhead won't hesitate migrating through a great deal of water rather quickly. Thanks to this fact, anglers can target summer steelhead on the move. Back-trolling plugs can be very effective, as can back-trolling divers with bait. Both presentations put the angler in control of where and how fast baits are moving. Running a bobber and jig setup can also be effective early in the year, as can rolling sand shrimp along the bottom.

Taking the time to thoroughly fish water through which summer steelhead move can be very effective. Conversely, winter steelhead can be targeted in holding water. Low water offers the perfect situation to team up on both fish, and this is the time of year to do it. Due to the same water conditions that can put summer steelhead on the move, winter steelhead may be forced to hold.