Slow and low...This has been a brutally dry January in Northern California and Southern Oregon making for extremely low and clear fishing conditions on all of our steelhead rivers up and down the North Coast. Downsizing all terminal tackle and baits, using high quality fluorocarbon lines and slowing down your presentation all while using a stealthy, quiet approach can result in some really nice steelhead when your favorite steelhead river runs low and ultra clear. This is a great example of what rewards can be experienced when slowing waaay down, as "Salman" did while steelheading with good friend Dave Jacobs of professional guide service in late January. This chrome steelhead fell for a small natural cured bait and was picked off in no more than eight feet of gin clear water late in the morning. A quiet approach and small baits and gear definitely played a part in the four steelhead hooked that day. Oh yeah, this wild steelhead was one of the two wild fish that Dave and Sal donated unharmed and in great shape to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to be spawned at the Elk River hatchery as a part of the brood stock program on the Chetco River. Angler's can donate their wild fish on the Chetco river when the collection trucks are there. This is a great program for the future runs of steelhead on some of our North Coast river's! This would be a great model program that California can learn from for the future enhancement of California's salmon and steelhead runs.