Winter steelies

Planned the trip weeks ago and despite bad reports of low, clear and frozen conditions we hit the tribs Monday. Had to bust ahht ice to fish elk. Fresh snow falling, only 1 other car. Nice deep hole covered by at least 40 foot long and 15 foot wide ice that was about 1-2 inches thick. I knew the fish were there if we could get to em. My buddies thought I was insane wading into freezing water above my...well you know. Never experienced that sensation before. After about 30 minutes, we started pushing the iceberg, and this chunk of ice started moving!!! It was pretty cool seeing a “glacier” start flowing dahhnstream. At first we saw no fish. Then one or two here and there. Then my buddy said “they are moving with the ice!” Finally once it started breaking apart and hittin the fast water we feasted our eyes on a fairly large pod of spooky fish. But at least we found em! Waited a few for them to calm down and starting working the jigs.
Had to go hard and my toes were numb by the end of the day but it was all worth it! Nothing like winter steel!

fisherofmen376
Here’s a couple pics... I don’t feel the need to photo EVERY fish I caught or list numbers but we did well, especially considering conditions. Gonna be locked up for a week or so with these temps. Prolly my last trip of the year unless I can convince my wife to come with me to get frozen boogers and numb toes!

congrats man. You guys are truly dedicated

great job i like the cold angling too
 
 

That is true dedication to the Steely fishing,but it is not my idea of fun...no thanks!

"No anglers were harmed during the aqua-environmental modifications of elk creek."  That I know of.
 
I DO love the scenery, no crowds, and the payoff to catching fish in adverse conditions.  I DO NOT love the 'oh crap i am getting frostbite' feeling, the sometimes lethargic wet boot-style fighting fish.  Some had spunk though.  

Really nice seeing those big wide sheets hit the riffles and bust up into a million pieces . Watched guys take some good thumps and falls busting up the thicker slabs in Winter. 

Got to a nice hole on Elk near Folly's late winter. Five guys were busting up a nice big section for a long time. They were really struggling to get it cleared. Finally they cleared it and all started fishing not realizing sometimes you got to wait an hour or so. They were all so cold and wore out it didn't take for them to pack up and head to a warm bar......one of the better Steelhead days I had fishing that hole !
 
Sometimes it pays to be late !...lol

Surfed many glaciers over the years. I always enjoyed winter fishing on the tribs. Beautiful scenery.
 
PT2

Anyone currently up north and know how much snow they got or are getting? Thinking of making a trip tomorrow and staying till monday.

Yup, know about the ice. not a problem getting it to break up. I'm just more worried about the snow to get where I need to park lol.
 
I'll venture up tomorrow in the late morning and go from there if worth staying till Monday. 

If you can wait it’s gonna warm up a little and rain next week. Then again it might blow ahht and not be fishabke till thurs.

I hope you are taking a friend...safer with two than solo. Good luck and let us know how ya do.