Made it out to a river I know well this weekend to fish by myself dark to dark. Conditions were perfect. Visibility was 3-4', river had been dropping from high from high for days. I was shocked by how few fishermen were out; it was a ghost town unlike I've seen in years.

I fished very hard and with many different presentations in areas I've caught dozens of steelhead, and never got a bite. Never even a mysterious float down or tap on a drift. I've been fishing these areas for 12 years and they have been good to me. I fished known spots because I wanted to up my chances at finally tailing a fish this year of my own but it didn't happen.

I'm starting to worry this is a really down year for steelhead numbers in the PNW. Some fisheries started out hot but have now slowed to a crawl. It may be cold weather making fish lethargic or late too.

What do you guys think? Bad year for returns or typical?

Moisture level: Dry 1/10; snail slow day, scary low numbers for this time of year; depressing.