PEAK STEELHEAD PERIOD

  WHAT PERIOD DO YOU FIND THE MOST STEEL IN THE TRIBS?

Does it really matter, you can catch them from Sept-May. You dont need 50 fish days to have a good day. You need days where people cant see the fish to stand ontop of them an molest them all day.

Nobody said anything about trying to catch 50 fish a day.  The guy simply asked when anyone thought was the period, in the streams, that contained the most fish.  

ORIGINAL: masterangler

  WHAT PERIOD DO YOU FIND THE MOST STEEL IN THE TRIBS?

 
The last week of November/beginning of December is the most IMO,
most years.

i have been fishing the tribs about once a month, september through march (when there's no ice), for the past 3 years.  december and march have been my best. 

Another consideration is whether you want fresh chromers or old spawned out fish.  The fresh chromers are more likely to be around in the fall and early winter.  For my money they are the most exciting.  You hook into a silver bullet and you know there is something on your line.  In the middle of the winter when the water is at or just above freezing, the fish are sluggish.  They still are awesome fighters, but nothing like a chromer just in from the lake during a run in October.
 
One other thing to consider is the fishing conditions.  In late winter and early spring you can have high water, slush, ice, snow and sub-freezing temperatures to deal with.  I love to fish, but when the temperatures are below 25, I usually stay home.  I just don't enjoy having to deal with all the icing up of the eyes, the reels freezing and more importantly, me freezing.  Winter fishing can be fun, but it is often more difficult and can be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing.
 
Of course, the best time to fish is when you have time to fish.  There are usually some steelies in the streams from late August to May so come when you can, enjoy the time away and hopefully you will find a steelie who will find its way onto your hook.
 
Good luck when you come.

I started late Oct this season and did well every weekend through Feb3 then winter set in and didn’t fish again till March 23, and 30 with little success on those last to dates, so I guess maybe next week end will be my last steelhead fishing till next fall sad, sad, it’s winding down but what a great season, so till next fall Allegheny small mouth.