To use this social dynamic to your advantage, learn what they're using, and then don't use it. It could come down to types of lines, scents, baits, lures, and weighting systems that pressure steelhead off the bite. "Looking" at those fishing techniques is the single best way to find out what's working, versus what isn't. If Failing that, a polite question of "What are they biting on?" usually brings a quick response.

Baits and scented baits are just about everywhere winter fishermen go, but usually only one or the other is producing. So it's best to take along shrimp, eggs and worms. Scent baits should be shrimp gel, shrimp liquid, salmon milt, and worm scent; these four are every bit as productive as natural baits.

River surfaces can help you find the places steelhead love to hold. Whenever they're pressured, schools of fish will gravitate to water where they'd ordinarily not be found, and that's where to fish for them. Every veteran angler knows that seams to eddies, tail-outs, pools, slots, and dropoffs are where fish can be found anytime of year. When there's excessive pressure, metalheads can be found near banks where there's very little water depth. They can end up holding in substrate depressions in the middle of a river where there's no perceivable cover.

Schools of fish can be found milling around in riffles no deeper than a foot of water. So long as the pressure is on, fish can end up holding in strange places. When they do, ironically, it's almost always only a few yards above or below where pressure is being exerted. Under combat fishing conditions, anglers willing to probe strange holding spots almost always get strikes within minutes.

It's entirely possible to fish the exact same water that's being pressured and get fish on the hook. In many cases, it's not about the scent or bait, but how it's being presented that keeps fish off the bite. I've seen them bite into offerings that were merely "cast" in a different direction, which can create a different drifting profile.

It may sound too simple to be true, but it does work, and many anglers have seen it. If all the predominant casts are between the 10 and 11 o'clock positions at 20 yards out, then cast at the 12 o'clock position at the same distance.

Casting in this way shortens the amount of optimal drift upriver, but lengthens it downriver where pressured fish could easily be holding. At the end of the drift, if your offering is the only one that steelies see, they'll strike at it. It's that simple! Changing the direction, distance, and depth of a cast can make all the difference.

When on a long fishing trip, don't give up on a spot of water just because it's being fished heavily. Anglers usually congregate wherever winter fish are found, so that's a good sign. Stop and check it out.

If the bite is off, find out what's being used, and then don't use it. If all the usual holds are not producing due to the numbers of fishermen, try fishing those unusual ones. Vary your casts by distance, depth and degree.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Forks has some of the best deals on gear for fresh and saltwater fishing. Check out Olympic Sporting Goods at (360) 374-6330. The store can also refer anglers to awesome fishing guides.

A great place to stay is the Dew Drop Inn, located off Highway 101. Call (360) 374-4055 or 1-888-433-9376. The staff welcomes tourists passing through, campers, hikers -- and of course, fishermen. A great trick is to fish those tributaries that have salmon runs heading upriver in both directions. Whenever fishing the Sol Duc near the Bogachiel, always fish below where the two bodies of water meet. Whatever your fishing technique, fish the seams first. This trick works for any system that produces more than one run of fish and is excellent for fishing the Columbia River.