Warmer weather on the way for an extended period. This will cause flows to come up moderately due to run-off. Turbidity can be significant especially below the confluence of Hot Creeks inlets, & the irrigation canals. Snow and ice present on the roads that take you to the river. The deeper ruts on the two track roads have deep water, & soft mud. All wheel drive, higher clearance vehicles necessary to safely take you in. The ground will be frozen in the morning, then thaw afternoon making the roads difficult to navigate. I saw 5 vehicles stuck last week. Crowds in the lower section have been very heavy. Fishing has been excellent for jumbo Crowley Steelhead. Fish have spread out recently, adding additional habitat for those bigs to hide. On the warmer days the smaller resident fish go on the bite. First generation BWO’s, & small midges are triggering some feeding activity around 2pm. Most popular attractor patterns will get you looks from the bigs. SJ worms, crystal Vanderleeches, crystal soft eggs, Assassins, and Agent Orange patterns have got us into them while nymphing below an Under-cator. Size 16/18 adult Blue Winged Olive patterns, & FB PT’s will replicate this hatch, and nymph stage of this cold water mayfly. Use smaller broken back midges, crystal tiger & zebra midges for nymphing. Parachute adult midges will get you looks when the fish are feeding on the “clusters” late afternoons. Please don’t squeeze the egg laden hens near the belly. That will cause the roe to discharge prematurely. Air temperatures below ten degrees can “flash freeze” the gills if you keep the fish out of water for more than a minute. Look for oval depressions that appear brighter, or scraped clean on the riffles below pools. These are active spawning nests; or “redds” and you must avoid stepping on them.