When chasing winter steelies, I've always had the most success between 9 A.M. and 11 A.M.

One explanation might be that in these late-morning hours, the water has warmed half a degree or two from its early-morning lows, making the steelhead a bit less lethargic and thus more readily enticed.

Another explanation could be that I'm not fishing where/how I should be in the very early-morning hours, or that in the excitement and anticipation of the new day, I fish the water too hastily.

As for my lack of success in the afternoon, I attribute that mostly to the fact that after hiking/wading the river for six or seven hours, I'm usually tired and cold and hungry by 1 or 2 P.M., so I hop in my truck, hit Small Fryes in Fall City for a burger and those good, salty fries, and then I call it a day.

That's me.

I'm curious what others have experienced. What's YOUR best time of day for hooking steel?