When swinging a fly for steelhead I have a rule for stepping distance between casts. The rule correlates to the clarity of the river.
If the river has 2 feet of clarity, step 2 steps between casts
3 feet of clarity = 3 steps
4 feet of clarity = 4 steps
5 feet of clarity = 5 steps…
You get the picture. You are looking for an aggressive fish, commonly referred to as a ‘player’. Steelhead are very aware of their surroundings. The fish should commit if interested. If the fish is not, find one that is.