Winter Rules for Alaska's Steelhead Anglers

Amongst the slush ice and frozen guides, Tony Lewis finds reason to chase steelhead on Alaska’s Deep Creek and suggests the foods of choice for late-season fishing, just before the rivers freeze for good. “Steelhead can be fooled with all manner of flies. Purples, oranges and pinks paint a steelheader angler’s fly box. But subtle works, too. Small, dark-colored flies resembling nymphs sometimes are the right choice. Sometimes, white yarn flies tied to resemble rotten salmon flesh work, too. Someone I know uses a large mound of fluorescent green yarn tied to a hook with good results. On this day, I use orange and red beads that mimic stray salmon eggs drifting along the bottom with the current.” In the Anchorage Daily News.