Cold As Ice (Almost)

Steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes area in mid-December can be a real challenge. The lakes themsleves create their own weather and most winds from west, northwest, or north pick up moisture as they cross the warmer lakes and deposit either rain or snow when land is reached.

Jeff Liskay swings a fly on Rocky River last sunday during a usual mix of December weather on Ohio's North Coast. The day started with air temps in the 20's and slush on the river, but "warmed up" to break the freezing mark with a mixture of snow, sleet, and rain, just to make it interesting. These conditions can be tolerated if the angler is dressed correctly. Patagonia developed the concept of layering to keep warm and dry during extreme conditions and has been a leading supplier in the clothing needed for this. The shelf ice along the bank gives a pretty good indication of the water temperature.