Mouth

Hello y’all. New to the steelhead game but eager to catch one. I went up 5 times last year and had no luck. Can anyone tell me if it’s too soon to go cast little Cleo’s into the lake from the mouth? Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Now would be a great time to do that-meaning “now” as in this time of year.

But you need to check wind conditions. If it’s too windy no one wants to stand down there and get pummeled by waves!

I don't fish the creek mouths a lot, but a few things I've found helpful . . .
 
Now is good.  As the lake cools, it'll only get better.  All the way through the end of October can be productive there.  
 
A steelhead slamming a Cleo is pretty fun, but if you get tired of hucking hardware, soft plastics on a jig head fished under a bobber anywhere from 2'-6' can be effective too.  Just floating baits under a small float can work too - single eggs, sacks, shiners.
 
Don't be the guy that feels the need to wade up to your waist into the lake.  Although lots of people do it, steelhead cruise around surprisingly close to shore.  Ankle deep is more than enough.  
 
 

I seen a boy and his dad last September standing in the middle of the creek at the stop sign hole literally over top of about a dozen fish lol he kept moving with the pod around the stream regardless of who else was standing on the shore line fishing at the time don’t be that guy either

rsquared
soft plastics on a jig head fished under a bobber anywhere from 2'-6' can be effective too.  Just floating baits under a small float can work too - single eggs, sacks, shiners.
 

Set the hook on any pause or slight movement of your bobber out of the ordinary.  They often hit lighter than a 3" bluegill, but when the hook is set, turn into freight trains.  I don't know how many times I would wait for them to "take it", and missed out on a ton of fish.  Started doing this, and caught 10 times as many.  Who cares if you are setting the hook on nothing many times.  Very rarely will they hit and run with it.  Or, need to be patient for them to take it.  Usually, in their mouth to check it out, then spit out when feel the hook or not what they thought it was.
Minnie Foo or other jigs under said bobber, tipped with maggots catches a good portion of EirwE stEekhads//.  They seem to love those plastic "trout worms" in early season too.  Put one of those on a hook with a few pieces of lead 18" in front of it, and cast/retrieve like you would a Cleo.  Same thing in the streams with less lead.  You would be surprised how dumb these fish are.  I've had them charge from 30' away to smack those things.  They kind of look like an eel if hooked the right way, experiment.  Make sure your drag is set light enough for them to run, but not too loose to take an hour to reel it in.  Especially out in the lake, or someone might snip you off...

My preferred choice was to stay in the outflow mainly on most tribs feeding into the lake. For some reason they just prefer that current. Not that you can't catch fish further away, but staying in the flow is sometimes critical to more action. I've seen many occasions guys 50 feet away right and left barely hook up and guys in the flow just slamming fish all morning. Problem is the out flows are super crowded so be prepared. Years ago when I arrived early before light and the crowds I would grab some small sticks and toss them into the lake and watch how they flowed out ....that's was my best indicator where to be ! Sometimes the currents don't flow just straight out might be more east or west flowing.   

Thank you for the information, it is appreciated! 
 

Mmmm powerbaits, sauteed with shrooms & onions in cast iron skillet over a open fire shore lunch. Gooder too when stuck on a fresh cut wiener stick and toasted over an open fire.

I only keep one color on hand🤔 I only pull it out in desperation, and it has never let me down....