OK, most of our rivers are blown so I'm curious how you modify your presentation during winter.

I'm not talking Spring for nates - this is Dec-Feb for mostly hatchery fish.

I've taken two approaches and each has worked sporadically.

One is to target deeper slower pools (5-8' deep), use lighter sinktips, and cast slightly upstream (essentially a Grease Line presentation with a sinktip) to get the fly to a fishable level by the time it's in front of the fish. Works OK, but deathly boring.

Another is to focus on the near-shore travelling water - 2-3' deep. Riffly water, scallops, logs. Anything that creates a change in depth/flow along shore. Still using really light tips.

I've had the best luck with this, even under low water conditions. You can (1) slow the swing of the fly and (2) know that you're in the "strike" range of the steelhead even with your light tips as the variable of depth is minimized.

A caveat - I'm fishing larger rivers with wider floodplains. This might not work as well on smaller rivers like the NF Stilly or Pilchuck.

I'm sure there are others cold water tricks - what works for you?