Hey King Killer, take it easy on yourself. This whole steelheading addiction thing is way overblown. I steelhead 3 times a year(see my posted thread a few days ago regarding New Years Eve tradition) and I never expect to catch a steelhead. Don't get me wrong, I want to catch one, but I don't expect to. I fish a lot and use to write articles for some magazines. I fish for many species throughout the year, but the steelhead fever thing never really hit me. It's basically because I like to CATCH fish! Time spent standing in the cold rain for hours and days with not even a bump is not time well spent. I caught one the other day(one of my 3 steelheading days of the year) on the Sky booning. From the time the fish picked up the bait to the net was about 30 seconds, whoop-te-do. No ass-cracking hit, no need to adjust the drag, no leaps, no sore arm. Six hours for one 30 second fish. I've caught(and released) 14 coho in one day and each one just about tore the rod out of my hand when they hit. Long fights, big leaps, reel singing, sore arm, big smiles, good day.

Steelhead have the mystique because there aren't many of them. To catch steelhead is all about location. Fish over fish. Don't get down on yourself when there is probably only a few fish in a several mile stretch of river and you can't catch one. Ever see pictures of a 10 year old girl in fishing newspapers or magazines holding her "first steelhead"? Is she a better rod than you? No. She fished over fish that day, probably with a guide. If you want to increase your odds on catching a steelhead, go to the Olympic peninsula or the Cowlitz, hire a good guide and fish over fish. If you want to be happy, realize what steelheading is and get over it. Do you have kids? Take your son or daughter down to the river and catch a dozen whitefish. If you want to be happy, wait until you see the smile on their face when they reel one in.

I love all fishing, including steelheading, but keep happiness in perspective. Good luck!