Our house is getting bombarded by the first major rainstorm of the season, which means the lakes and rivers here in California are getting some much needed rain. Some of the lakes around our neck of the woods were down to 29 percent capacity as of last week, so even though the fishing has been put on hold for a couple days, I’m looking forward to what this downpour means for the local creeks, streams and lakes. The first big rain also means steelhead season is officially here.

In California, like many states, there are strict steelhead regulations. The season typically runs from Dec. 1-March 7, but fishing can only occur on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday or legal holidays. Wild steelhead are catch and release only and anglers must fill out a steelhead report card after each fishing trip and return the card to the Department of Fish and Game on Jan. 31. Check your local fishing regulations for more information, or refer to our Rules, Regulations and Records page and click on your state to find the respective fish and wildlife agency that manages your region. In the meantime, here are five tips to improve your steelhead fishing, wherever you might be angling for the silver bullets this winter.

Photo by Brian Milne