I am getting mixed reviews on the fishing at Rufus Woods, but with the improved weather I can be sure that steelhead anglers will be out in force on the upper Columbia River. The very high flows that made fishing very difficult are a thing of the past and conditions are ideal for steelhead fishing. Anglers should expect excellent fishing below Wells Dam, and that includes both bank and boat anglers. Fishing from the bar below the dam is one of the best spots on the upper Columbia, where anglers can drift spoons or Corkies, and even bobber and jig setups. Boaters work off this same bar and either cast bobbers and jigs or back troll for steelhead. Another hot spot this time of year is along the docks and shore right at Pateros for shore bound anglers, and further down stream, near the Rocks for boaters. It may be a bit early, but there should be some good reports on fishing for steelhead on the Methow River, which is a favorite of fly fishers. Another fishery about to break loose is steelheading on the Okanogan, as it sheds its ice. If fishing follows last year’s trend it will be hot through the end of February.