Flyguy- just a quick 2 cents worth (the books mentioned will be plenty to get you in the game). If you don't have time to read those books before your next couple of fishing trips, I will suggest a method that worked for me. Before I got an arthritc ankle from surgery I used to flyfish the Kalama R. & Washougal R. in SW Wash. a lot. I have missed it, but will soon be back at it with a new Cataraft.- If you are not a "purist", try a weighted "Double Egg Pattern" winter steelhead fly in flame red or pink color using a short 40" 10# tip leader with a short fast sinking tip flyline. For coldwater winter steelhead, that won't move as far, try casting straight out or even slightly upstream, with a strong quick mend, in the upper section or riffles of the drift. If the current is uniform, as opposed to graduating to stronger the futher away from you, then keep actively "roll mending" so as to keep the fly drifting straight & natural with the current ( same as with driftfishing conventionally) before you let the fly swing across the current. A strike indicator can be helpful in detecting pickups for hooksetting.- Any fly purists still reading better click off now.- For heavier or deeper current crimp on a split shot or two about 22" up from the weighted fly. It can also be helpful to put on a little Smelly Jelly Egg scent on the hook only (sinthetic- no bait ingredient). This method is sometimes refered to as driftfishing with a flyrod- however, it is still flyfishing & challenging. There are lots of other good fly patterns for this drift then swing method (check at your flyshop). Good luck.- Steve Hanson