Now we’re talking. This is real winter-like weather. The kind of weather that steelhead anglers are most familiar with and feel like they are really fishing, snow on the ground and all. All kidding aside, the cooler weather is going to be a benefit. Water temperatures are dropping. There are plenty of fish in the rivers, and this trend will get them biting. Expect the best bite early and late in the day on the smaller streams, and any time there is good flow on the main stem Columbia. I got a great report on the fishing at Rufus Woods Reservoir. Anton Jones, of Darrell and Dads Family Guide Service sent me a note along with some photos to prove it. He recommends fishing near the net pens, and although fish can be caught with other methods, the best way to get them is with baited jigs. Limit catches can be had and fish I saw were a consistent 6 pounds. This is really good news. I know a lot of steelhead anglers pack up their gear when the weather gets nasty. The prospect of catching triploids from the comfort of a heated boat has more appeal to them in the winter.