I believe that both summer and winter fish feed, at least occasionally. I suspect the winters feed less because of cooler water, a shorter period from entering the river until spawning and less food in the river.

Even so, most of us who have fished winters with bait have had steelhead take the bait, be it sand shrimp, eggs, or prawns, very deeply. Downriver winter fish are often aggressive feeders, which I believe fits well with my theory that they feed when they can and when they need to.

I have a friend who swears he took a winter fish that had a water ouzel in its stomach.