While the action was not as fast as January, I managed to come up with at least 1 trout or salmon on all 5 open water trips in February.
As is often the case, the best outings came during cold frontal passages. I was fortunate to be on the water during one such weather change that lead to a mini-blitz of 6 salmon and brookies. Multiple year classes of salmon were in the mix, and tube jigs with an erratic retrieve rang the dinner bells.
Most of the outings featured bright skies and low water conditions. That made for a tough combination that had me changing lures, spots, or both to scratch up a few bites. On some outings, more subtle lure colors (brown, pumpkinseed, clear, etc.) were the answer.
Other times, I was surprised to find fish going for faster retrieves with spoons and other larger hardware. This salmon charged a spoon that I was ripping back at a pace I'd normally associate with fishing for blitzing bluefish. An enigma to find fish so charged up in 32* water
I caught the smaller fish of the pair I raised. The big male nosed the lure, got pricked slightly by the hook, and did not come back out to play.
Toward the end of the month, as interesting pattern emerged. The fish were holding tight to wood cover. I'm guessing that the wood and dark bottom heated up just a bit, activating salmonids and their prey. Eddies where tributaries joined bigger rivers or lakes and concentrated debris were good.
Just a little ice-free water was all that was needed. I was also able to enjoy some winter sight fishing
When I spotted this salmon holding in some brush, I was standing on a high bank about 10 feet above the water. I dropped lure from above and the salmon nailed it. While sliding down the bank to get in a position to land the fish, it gained just enough line to get wrapped up in the brush. I figured I'd be lucky just to get my lure back, but somehow the fish stayed pinned
The 1st of each month is like opening day for me, particularly during the winter as I try to extend my open water streak. March 1st was a lockjaw kind of day, but the woody debris pattern held and the 1 bite I got was all I needed to add another month to the streak.
I may turn my attention to fishing more on late ice season hardwater, but I expect that the draw of each flow bump on the soft water may divert me
