As you know, I have been watching the number of steelhead that have been passing over Priest Rapids Dam very closely, and they have been very encouraging. It has been a long time since we have had a steelhead season on the upper Columbia, and I have been holding out hope that this could be the year. We not only need good numbers of wild fish to reach our area, but also the right ratio of hatchery fish. If we get too many wild fish, then we hit the mortality quota way too early to allow for a fishery. It’s complicated, I know, but it looks like the stars may all align for us fans of steelhead fishing this year. When you ask other anglers what their favorite fish to catch might be, and if they have experienced the thrill of seeing a steelhead leap out of the water and tear line off their reel, they will most likely answer—steelhead. My wife is a fairly fair-weather angler, but if I suggest a steelhead trip in the winter, she’s raring to go! I will continue to monitor the progress of steelhead to our region, and keep you posted on potential of a season.