Winter Steelheading is HARD. With colder water temperatures, fish are less active and grabby, some days can get a little frustrating. So, the first thing you need is an optimistic attitude and the last thing you need is to be cold.

Whether you are drifting from the boat huddled up around a small propane heater or waist deep rocketing your favorite intruder across a 35 degree river, Winter Steelheading can be FLIPPING COLD. Some days there’s a gnarly wind-chill, some days its dumping snow, while others are perfectly glorious, sun-filled days or a mix of all the above. We find that it’s best to be prepared for everything to ensure that your awesome day on the water isn’t ruined or even ended early due to poor clothing choices. So, we’re going head to toe, helping you stay warm this Winter Steelheading season!

Before we get too far, LAYERS. We can’t stress it enough. The worst thing that can happen is you bring too many and have to take some off. That’s not a problem, being too cold is, so here’s a layering system we use.

Layer 1

- Standard ball cap (WITHOUT a mesh back).
- Long-sleeved base layer (preferably something quick-drying as we tend to get our sleeves wet when we catch fish). A hoody that is quick-drying can be worn year round and is a perfect sunshade in the summer!
- Midweight long-johns/leggings/base layer with a tapered ankle.
- A thin sock. A running sock works great.

Layer 2

- Active fleece hoody. Bridget’s is a full-zip hoodie that was on sale at REI.
- Pant insulation layer. This can vary based on your warmth tolerance and your budget. Our number one choice for this is an insulated pant, these are a complete gamechanger when it comes to Bridget’s fortitude for winter fishing, camping and hiking. The next option we would go with is a thick fleece or fleece-lined pant. Sweatpants work in a pinch.
- Next is a nice fluffy wool sock. Be sure to tuck your pant hems into the outer sock and smooth it out as best you can. Otherwise, it might bunch and ride up when you pull on your waders!

Layer 3

- Insulated vest. These are great for someone who is going to be fairly active while out in the cold, keeping your core warm while your arms are busy catching all the steelhead!
- Brandon finds a vest indespensible nearly year round. They are great for nippy mornings in the fall and spring and because they provide core insulation only it allows for better heat regulation for the hike in, the row out, and the deep wade.

Layer 4

- Beanie that can stretch around your ball cap.
- Insulated jacket. This should really be a requirement to get on the boat in the winter.
- This is your puffy layer, or insulation layer and can be a number of different pieces including a high pile fleece, a down jacket, a synthetic puffy or even a shell with built in insulation.

Layer 5

- Waders. This is not the time of year to bring out your old beat to the curb waders. Your day could be ruined with the slightest pinhole in the wrong place. Make sure you’re all patched up before your big trip. Also, cold feet can make your whole body cold and could very well be the most important and difficult part to figure out, but I think we’ve got it down. To start, you need to make sure that your wading boots have ample room to fit your feet, enough sock insulation to keep you warm, and your wader sock. We like to go up a size in boots for this exact reason. Yes, that means that in the summer time when we’re wet wading our boots are a touch big but that’s nothing when compared to frostbitten toes.

Layer 6

- Rain jacket. Keep all the precipitation and wind out while trapping all your yummy warmth in. This one is an absolute must for Winter Steelheading. Even if you looked at the weather report and they are promising sunshine and glory, it’s still the PACIFIC NORTHWEST. Bring a rain jacket. Sometimes the wind-chill can really surprise you.
- Gloves. This one is more preference. Some people hate managing line with gloves on but we always recommend bringing a pair or even two of your favorite gloves. Bridget will guaranteed within 1 hour get her gloves wet and Brandon will have to dig out his spare pair. If you tend to get very cold hands, it might be a good idea to bring some hand warmers too.

Now, this is what we typically wear from December through March in Southern Oregon and Northern California. But every trip we go on we bring a dry bag with the following essentials, just in case:

- Cozy, large fleece/sweatshirt

- Sweatpants

- Extra gloves

- Extra beanie

- Extra wool socks

- Wool buff/scarf

We hope this helps keep you warm while pursuing the elusive Winter Steelhead. Their an unforgettable catch and we would hate for you to miss out on their glory because you were too cold.

If you’re interested in a Winter Steelhead trip with us, check out this page and contact us here.

Good luck and tight lines,

Brandon and Bridget