Current water flow is 1200cfs released with 1390cfs on the gauge at Pineville, NY. With the increase in flow it goes without saying that you need to exercise caution when wading. The current water temperature is 34/35 F degrees and a dunk in these temps can be a bad thing. Fish with a partner and wear some sort or wading cleat, korkers or a studded wading boot. If you feel the need to move around in the water use a wading staff, they're not for sissies.
The steelhead fishing is fair to good. The colder water temps as well as the fluctuating flows have been keeping the steelhead in a constant state of flux. Colder temperatures slow the fish down making them conserve energy. This means that they are not going to move very far to pick up a bait and they tend to prefer smaller offerings this time of year. They are still in their typical winter holding areas, Schoolhouse, Trestle, Pineville, Ace, Sportsman, Birdhouse, Compactor, etc... You will need to have patience and work these areas thoroughly, and work them deep.
The steelhead get stressed easily under these conditions so getting them released as soon as possible should be the goal if you are not keeping the fish. Use your drag. Alot of anglers are so afraid of loosing the fish they go with too light of a drag, this can kill the fish as it unnecessarily prolongs the fight. If you are using 6-8lb test you can go fairly heavy on the drag. Also, work the fish out of heavy current as quickly as you can. This is done by rod handling. Pull the rod downstream and into the shore, keep the pressure there and lower the rod to parallel or slightly below parallel to the river surface. Giving the fish a 'rod up' fight does not give you much control over the fish.
Photo-ops are great, even I as a guide try to get good photos of my client's catch. In these conditions, however, even a quick fight will stress a fish so here are some suggestions. Use a net or a 'Michigan Mit' to help keep the fish safe and calm once you land it. Beaching a steelhead is fairly easy to do but having a fish flop around on the shore and then having your buddy pin it down against frozen rocks or bank does not help the fish at all. Try to handle the steelhead as little as possible, meaning get set up to take the picture before you handle the fish. Getting set up to take the picture means deciding how you'll hold it, what you want for a back ground, who's taking the picture and how many shots do you want.
With the higher water level, if they are sustained, the steelhead should begin to become more active spawning. I have noticed a few spawn beds in a few areas but things will begin to heat up soon. With more spawning gravel covered by higher flows we will see more activity in these traditional areas and in the diversions. The basic instinct to procreate is a strong thing in these fish and soon it will be their primary focus.
Hope you have had a chance to get up here this winter or are making plans to fish here this spring. It is shaping up to be a good spring for steelhead as there are excellent numbers in the river now. It will only get better.
Tight lines.
