The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Real steelheaders wade in water below 40 degrees, fish in freezing rain and snow storms, don't get out of the stream until their toes are numb and cast until their arms are ready to fall off.

A real steelheader will forfeit a higher body count for the art of the swing, the potential for the big grab. Dry flies don't HAVE to enter into the equation, but they elevate the real steelheader to real steelheader first class.

For the record, I'm still a real steelheader wannabe. Although I've caught fish using all the tactics mentioned, I'm still into the body count thing and usually reach for those bobicators. Only on occasion, will I try something a bit different, just for the challenge.