Steelhead Season Wrap-Up: Reflections from the River

As spring gives way to early summer here in Upstate New York, another steelhead season has come to a close. It’s always bittersweet wrapping up a chapter that brings so much excitement, challenge, and connection—to both the fish and the anglers who chase them. This season was no different.

A Season of Highs and Lows (and High Water!)

The 2024–2025 steelhead run kept us on our toes. From early fall pushes in low water to unpredictable winter thaws, Mother Nature threw everything at us. We had stretches of high water that shuffled fish and tested our ability to adapt. But when conditions lined up, the rewards were worth every cold morning and every long drift.

Some of the highlights included:

  • Early season chrome in October that came in hard and fast

  • December days with fish holding deep and willing to eat swung flies

  • A strong late-winter push in February and March with fresh fish showing up right when we needed them.

Steelhead C & R during spring 2025 on the Salmon River.

One of many bright steelhead that made this late season special.

Swing Season Success

Spey anglers had a solid season. As always, covering water with a two-hander and watching a fish chase down a fly in the swing is something special. We saw good action on intruders, leeches, and smaller, sparse patterns in clear water. Anglers were rewarded who put in the time and moved with the fish.

What Worked (and What Didn’t)

Flies that consistently produced:

  • Purple and black intruders

  • Senyo’s AI’s

  • Egg-sucking sculpins

Tactics that paid off:

  • Covering water instead of sitting in one spot.

  • Adjusting sink tips and depth constantly.

  • Staying persistent through cold snaps and tough days.

  • Fishing confidence flies.

Looking Ahead

Now that the steelhead are heading back to the lake, our focus shifts to spring trout float trips and the promise of dry fly days on freestone creeks and tailwaters. Brown trout season is already off to a great start, and we’re booking up fast for late May and June floats.

If you fished with me this steelhead season—thank you. Whether you landed a fish of a lifetime or just soaked up the rhythm of the river, I appreciate you being part of it.

Here’s to tight lines, swinging flies, and looking forward to the next chapter.

– Paul

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