Dean Pitt and friends with a morning's catch of Salmon River steelhead taken on custom-made egg sacs. Photo courtesy of Dean Pitt.

Steelhead guru Dean Pitt of Glenville, N.Y., has been a scholar of the sport for the past 20 years. He began dabbling in winter steelhead fishing in the mid-1980s. Now, he and his buddies, Pete Biancisino and Richard Holiday, annually plan at least five trips to the Salmon River pools in November and December.

Pitt said the largest steelhead he's hooked was 37 inches long, and that his favorite aspect of the sport is "tiring them out and reeling them in."

PRIME TIME
Winter steelhead fishing on the Salmon River is world-class.

"Trout fishing in November and December are the two most challenging and rewarding months of the year for me," Pitt said. "The season is open year-round, but fall (mid-September to mid-October) is prime time for the salmon runs.

"Steelhead trout come into the river with the salmon and pick up the eggs as a source of food for the winter.

"Most will stay in the river all winter and spawn in the spring, usually mid-March to mid-April, when the water temperature reaches about 40 degrees."

Anglers will find steelhead in tributaries and the main river.

"October and early November steelies are the target for many Salmon River anglers," Pitt noted.

"But I prefer November and December. The winter months are my most successful for landing the biggest steelhead."

BAITING THE TRAP
Pitt offered several tips on how to prepare for, locate and land Salmon River steelhead in winter. He begins his pre-season preparations by making the baits he uses for bottom-bouncing the river's deep holes.

Pitt's baits consist of salmon eggs gathered from the fall salmon run mixed with borax and wrapped in netting. The sac is then tied with elastic thread.

"When they are ready to spawn in late September to mid-October, the hen will have loose eggs pouring out of her. When you catch a salmon, simply place a bag at the tail of the fish and guide your hand down the belly to assist the eggs into the bag. Place the eggs on ice in a cooler until you get home.

"Keep the eggs on ice for 24 hours. The ice hardens the eggs, which turn a bright orange," Pitt said. "Place the salmon eggs on newspaper and gently pat them dry and lightly sprinkle borax on the eggs. Gently massage the borax into the eggs until they're completely covered -- without breaking the eggs. Then put them in plastic containers and freeze them until you're ready to make egg sacs for steelhead bait."

To make the bait sacs, cut up some mesh or netting material into squares that will hold four to five eggs. Gather the corners and twist the opening closed, and then wrap the loose end with elastic thread and tie it off. Cut off the excess thread.

"This bait may be used for both seasons," Pitt said. "It also works well for stream trout."

PRESENTATION
Pitt has found that a spinning outfit works just as well as the popular fly rod and reel -- and with it, he can cover more water.

"I always take back-up equipment too, just in case," he said. "One of my favorite rods is a 10-foot, 6-inch graphite, light-action model with a good-quality reel. I use 6- to 8-pound-test line, and an ice-resistant paste to prevent build-up on the line guides. The 10-foot pole relieves some stress on the fish, and I can easily lead them in to land them."

Pitt's equipment checklist consists of the following:

One light- and one medium-action reel, with 6- to 8-pound-test line.