Granted, I've not caught a steelhead yet in my first season of giving it a go(though it's not lack of trying
), but here is what I've noticed... As the water has gotten warmer and the sun has come out, I've downsized my spinners/spoons when fishing that type of bait and I've caught a large number of trout due to the hook size now being small enough to grab them.
Most of those trout have come from turbulent water in potentially snag-riddled areas; that is where fish like to hang out. Those areas provide good cover from both current force and predatory eyes, so halibuthitman is surely correct in stating that the presentation is likely in the correct zone to catch fish.
I've also noticed, through trial-error, that I have learned ways to maneuver the rod/line so as to keep the lure working through those areas, but not get permanently hung up. One thing I can think of is try to minimize the amount of line that is in the water when it's traveling downstream; it often helps you keep your terminal deeper and prevents the current from grabbing a belly in the line, misdirecting your drift path and a side-effect is also preventing your line from wedging into obstacles...it just takes practice and sometimes a bit of luck to keep from having to break off from a snag you can't dislodge. Also, if you snag on the downstream travel, try walking a little upstream to dislodge it. If on the swing, or retrieval, let out some line, let the current take it, then give a pull. The force of the water can pull the lure out backwards from where it entered the snag.
Some days, it seems no matter what, I lose a handful or more of tackle. But others, I can walk away without losing any, or perhaps only one or two.
Either way, the cliche I've heard is that if you're not fishing the snags, you're not fishing the fish...or something like that
