[Per Stadigh]

During x-mas vacation I had a discussion with a friend up at Smithers regarding who of us that had caught a fish at the lowest temperature. This slightly masochistic topic boiled down to minus 20 Celsius for "Team BC"(Steelhead) and and minus 18(Searun Brown) for "Team Sweden". Anyone out there who has been lucky at even lower temps?

I am not saying that it is fun then - the line quickly gets pencil thick and ice makes any hook barbless, if not pointless! But a man needs to fish - even when the temps. fall through.....

Per

 

[andre]

what are the water temps? I've caught steelhead in 35 degrees f. The air was a hell of a lot colder in the mid 20's but when it get much colder thatn that I'm inside having a malt.

 

[fredaevans]

Not sure what the exact temps (air or water)

but outside temp was about zero F. And had been this way for over a week. Water was so cold it was flowing slush ice. Fish were so loggy they'd pull up into about a foot of clear 'frog water.' To hook them you just stood above them and 'floated' the fly down into the open mouth. Fish shuts mouth, set hook.

Once on the bank the 10-11 pounder was frozen solid within minutes.

Much younger, and dumber days, pre-catch and release.

 

[pmflyfisher]

Here in the Great lakes we fish all winter since the steelhead are in the rivers. But it is cold fishing with air temps in 20s and 30s. etc.

The coldest air and water i have ever caught a steelhead were 30 degree F air and 35 degrees F water.

I have fished was 10 degrees F air with a wind chill factor below zeoo degrees F, but beleive me it is not fun and don't fall in, or it could be a fatal experience.

Now I will not fish unless it is at least mid thirties and no major wind.

Thats what age and wisdom brings :devil:

P.S. But I am still in good athletic shape that if I knew the fishing was great, and had the urge to go, I think I could gut it out for a few hours to try for a nice steelie !!

 

[Moonlight]

During an early cold snap in Sitka when visited by a fellow angler who just had to go we went to local stream for Coho. The water was slushy around the edges with some anchor ice on the bottom, we each caught a fish both were dark males and very sluggish. The air temperature was -6F fotunately there was not a breath of wind. As far as ice on the guides we were fishing a very small pool and only made a few cast each before hooking up and one apiece was enough to win the fools medalion and head for warmer digs.

 

[Per Stadigh]

I was tired when I let that old question off, last night. I ment the temperature of air in Celsius degrees. (I have a grasp on how to convert from Fahrenheits)

When we fish for searun browns in that cold conditions, the temp. of water is maybe 0.1 degree over freezing. What I find strange is that fish bother to take when their body temp must be next to freezing, as well. Funny critters - some even jump in the when being fought.

Now it is mild here and we are off on Saturday to river south of Stockholm where they run into the high teens of pounds. At least the ones the "metal heads" catch....

Per

 

[silverdoc]

Back in my young & foolish days,[now old & sedate ], I caught steelies in 32-33f water, but they had all the fight of a wet sock.
These days I don't go out until the water temp is at least 35f.