A&E

Hard to believe I have been writing this column now for 20 years. Not sure what has really changed but upon reflection I used to write it on a legal yellow pad and handed it in to my editor. So I guess times have changed just a bit. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is that January is still the best month to chase steelhead. From north to south, I will give you a run down on the current conditions of the rivers and what you might be able to expect. Some rivers are clearing, some are coming into shape, and others might not fish for a while.

It should not come as a great surprise that the Sonoma County

Native California Plant Sale

Merlot then, Pinot Noir now

When preparing for any fishing trip, there are a lot of things to consider. In fact, the success of most fishing trips is 90 percent dependent on preparation before you even get to the water. And, of course, one of the most critical decisions made is based on the weather conditions, especially when headed out on the ocean. Today’s fisherman has so many advantages with the Internet and modern day technology when it comes to forecasting but there is really nothing that can substitute real-time first-hand observations from where you want to go.