Watersheds up and down the state are mostly free of ice and snow from a week of unseasonal warmth and rain. This caused some minor flooding, but small and mid sized streams have settled down quit a bit with some more seasonably cool temps and no precipitation. Our guides are already taking advantage of improving conditions and targeting steelhead that are spawning from Lake Champlain and other area lakes. Fishing for spring steelhead is a small window of opportunity. Generally it starts the first good flush of water that clears the ice. This can be as early as mid February, then fish start heading back to the lake mid April.
Fish can caught coming in and going out. On the way in they like bright streamer and large nymph patterns. The longer they are in they are in they start to key in on egg patterns. Suckers are spawning at this time as well, so having an assortment of sucker spawn pattens is a good Idea.
We have plenty of openings for guided trips during this time. We can improve your strategies if you have been unsuccessful in the past , or get you started on pursuing these hard fitting fish.
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