I guess Liketofish is addressing the run from a statistical point of view and not from his personal experiences. Individuals may have different result, some may even do better than last year (like the 10-minute action post). But there is no doubt that some top rods in this forum show much less hookups than last year.
Perhaps the coloured water makes the lower river fishing a lot harder too. Nicole, I think you should scan through last year posts or Chris' journals in January to have a feel of those days of multiple hook ups. I have been there a few times in runs around or below Lickman. On one of those morning trips, I must have counted a dozen fish within view from where I fished and one of those was mine.
Just to bring the exciting moments back, here is one hack of day of multiple hook ups by many good rods on Jan 18, 2006. I had 4 hook ups:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=9536.0How about this one from Chris, just one of many excellent reports from him:
http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=9544.from1137743959#newNo doubt about it, the fish are there, just not as many. Go get them boys & girls. It may take a while & require some luck this year, but steelheading is about patience & perseverence. Tough it.