I'm curious as to how many more steelheaders fish in the winter compared to those that fish in the summer. The last time I went out, about three weeks ago, there must have been about 100 steelheaders (bankers and boaters) near the hatchery. (I just got back from a two week vacation but did manage to go deep sea fishing and got skunked.)Probably had a lot to do with the good conditions at the time but I wasn't expecting this much company on a Tuesday. Sometimes in the summer I've seen maybe around 25 fishermen on the busiest weekend day but usually there are not alot of fishermen. I also notice less people fishing for steelhead in the fall. Probably has to do with hunting.

I think that there must be 3 times as many people that fish for winteruns compared to those that fish summeruns. I think they plant alot more winteruns in more rivers than summeruns. Probably easier to float in a driftboat when teh water is hight too. I'm sure there are alot of you that fish for steelhead all year long.

One of the things I love about fishing is the solitude and I'd rather fish my own stretch than fish shoulder to shoulder.

For me, I'm mostly on the ocean in the summer. But every once in while I like to pursue those summer fish. Especially w/fly.
1 for Winter.

I fish for Salmon most of the summer, with some side trips out for Steelies.

Winter is Steelheading time for me.

I do both summer and winter steelheading. Though in the past 3 years, since discovering that you can catch salmon off the beaches with a flyrod, I haven't pursued the summer runs nearly like I used to.

Thanks for the replies. I do a little bit of salmon fishing in the summer/fall too mostly from the beach or bank. The summer steelheading seems to taper off when it gets hot and dry in July and August until the first fall rain. Usually I go winter steelheading about once a month from November until March and then try for some spring chinook. Summer steelheading in late May through June is awesome.

I fish for summer and winter equally, I used to prefer winter but now I prefer summer cause there's less people . In the summer there are some days when I won't see another person . I guess their all out salmon fishing.

1 for winter runs even though I promise to fish more for summers .

~steelymann~

Until about 15 years ago I never saw anybody while fishing for summer runs. But, still, there is less pressure than winter because there are a lot more fishing opportunities in the summer.

I spend most of my effort and time after the late Feb thru April nates.Would love to get dialed into the summer steelies,but I work construction so my time then is very limited

I fish hardcore in the winter and the summer! I love the way winter and summer fish give you completely different challenges!

Winter only for me any more....used to chase summers, but fly fish lakes instead now in the summer. May take up chasing salmon again from time to time, but the regs are so screwed up any more that I'll probably just leave the salt to the people who think it's great.

Mostly fish the winters but do enjoy swinging feathers for summers on occasion.

i fish winter and summer steelhead. its all the same to me. except a little warmer in the summer.

I may fish once or twice in the summer, have resolved to give up salmpon altogether and fish winter steelhead almost evry weekend starting this coming Saturday. I have to wait until duck season is over. It works out pretty well, December and the first two weeks of January seem pretty crowded. As the weather sours the boats thin out.

Winter is the time I get to fish without the family unit.