WINTER FLY FISHING
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I don't define winter so much by a date on the calendar. By the time we're into November by a week or so I've begun to settle into winter mode. Morning air temperatures can get down into the 20's and, as we get further into the month, it happens more frequently. It's possible – and even likely – that there's been some of that white stuff having been spotted falling from the sky. While most anglers have already put away the fly rod I'm not one of them. I'm always keeping an eye on the weather forecast and stream conditions to plan for another visit to trout water.
Some die-hards are willing to brave cold and wind, iced rod guides and everything else that goes along with frigid temperatures in hopes that they can fool a trout or two. I used to be one of them; however, I arrived at a point where I realized that spending a significant amount of time breaking ice out of my rod guides and even off of my line was just a bit too much. Get a day when the air temperature is expected to rise above freezing and the wind won't be howling and I can be persuaded to load up the vehicle and head to trout water.
One of the benefits of living on the dividing line between central and north central Pennsylvania is that I'm about equidistant to the best freestone mountain streams to the north and the limestone influenced streams to the south and west.
The freestone mountain waters tend to be most affected by winter conditions. They tend to freeze up during a particularly cold spell and that means I may be hard pressed to find enough open water to fish. When this happens the stream temperature can drop to the freezing mark. Icy conditions along the stream bank and the possibility of ice breaking free from the flowing water can make it unsafe to move around and fish. This is why I don't usually fish these streams until conditions improve. For most of these streams that may not be until spring.
The limestone influenced streams tend to see much less ice buildup and remain sufficiently open to fish. An exception to this is when we go into winter with unusually low stream flows. Low flows and very cold weather can temporarily interrupt my winter fishing. While it hasn't occurred often over the years there have been times when ice extended from bank to bank.
Some die-hards are willing to brave cold and wind, iced rod guides and everything else that goes along with frigid temperatures in hopes that they can fool a trout or two. I used to be one of them; however, I arrived at a point where I realized that spending a significant amount of time breaking ice out of my rod guides and even off of my line was just a bit too much. Get a day when the air temperature is expected to rise above freezing and the wind won't be howling and I can be persuaded to load up the vehicle and head to trout water.
One of the benefits of living on the dividing line between central and north central Pennsylvania is that I'm about equidistant to the best freestone mountain streams to the north and the limestone influenced streams to the south and west.
The freestone mountain waters tend to be most affected by winter conditions. They tend to freeze up during a particularly cold spell and that means I may be hard pressed to find enough open water to fish. When this happens the stream temperature can drop to the freezing mark. Icy conditions along the stream bank and the possibility of ice breaking free from the flowing water can make it unsafe to move around and fish. This is why I don't usually fish these streams until conditions improve. For most of these streams that may not be until spring.
The limestone influenced streams tend to see much less ice buildup and remain sufficiently open to fish. An exception to this is when we go into winter with unusually low stream flows. Low flows and very cold weather can temporarily interrupt my winter fishing. While it hasn't occurred often over the years there have been times when ice extended from bank to bank.
Many anglers, when they think of the limestone influenced streams, tend to believe that these streams have a much more consistent flow and maintain more consistent water temperatures. This may be the case for true spring creeks but when it comes to these limestone influenced waters with freestone characteristics it just isn't so. Most of these streams see temperatures drop to within a couple degrees above freezing. In some of these streams I've seen significant areas of the stream bottom covered with anchor ice. Cold water temperatures? Absolutely.
There are a lot of folks out there who believe that trout behavior changes dramatically when the water is cold . They hunker down in the deeper pools. They don't have to eat much at all because their metabolism slows to a snail's pace. While that may be true to an extent I've found that, as long as water temperatures have had time to stabilize – preferably 18 hours or more – after a downturn, trout behavior is much more akin to what it may be expected to be at other times during the year and that's particularly true with regard to their feeding behavior. Yes, there's truth to the old statement about keeping the nymph drifting deep and slow and breaking it down a bit more it's a matter of drifting just above the substrate and ensuring that the fly or flies are drifting naturally with the current. Too, I cover all likely holding water, not just the deep runs and pools. I've found that even in cold water trout will take up feeding positions in most a variety of water types. It is important to cover the water slowly and deliberately. I fish a shorter length of stream during the winter than I do at other times of the year. I've had some really good days during the winter with hookups in the range of 5 to over 10 fish per hour with water temperatures recording 35 degrees.
Obviously, the vast majority of winter fly fishing revolves around nymph fishing. Rather than limit myself to one technique I choose which set-up I use depending on the conditions of the day and the character of the particular stream section I'll be fishing. If I'm blessed with little to no wind and I can get by with casts of 25 feet or less I like to tight line with a sighter leader. I can't call it Euro nymphing since I mostly fish a drop-shot rig. Anytime shot is added to a leader it's really no longer Euro nymphing.
If I'm going to fish with an indicator or, as some may call it, a suspension system I like to use a New Zealand strike indicator. Using an indicator allows me to present my nymph/s at longer distances. A significant wind calls for more wieght to carry my nymph/s to the water through which I want them to drift. Neither a sighter system nor a New Zealand strike indicator is going to be of any benefit here. I use either an Air Lock indicator or solid indicator with a hole through the center that's held in place with a toothpick-like wedge.
There are a lot of folks out there who believe that trout behavior changes dramatically when the water is cold . They hunker down in the deeper pools. They don't have to eat much at all because their metabolism slows to a snail's pace. While that may be true to an extent I've found that, as long as water temperatures have had time to stabilize – preferably 18 hours or more – after a downturn, trout behavior is much more akin to what it may be expected to be at other times during the year and that's particularly true with regard to their feeding behavior. Yes, there's truth to the old statement about keeping the nymph drifting deep and slow and breaking it down a bit more it's a matter of drifting just above the substrate and ensuring that the fly or flies are drifting naturally with the current. Too, I cover all likely holding water, not just the deep runs and pools. I've found that even in cold water trout will take up feeding positions in most a variety of water types. It is important to cover the water slowly and deliberately. I fish a shorter length of stream during the winter than I do at other times of the year. I've had some really good days during the winter with hookups in the range of 5 to over 10 fish per hour with water temperatures recording 35 degrees.
Obviously, the vast majority of winter fly fishing revolves around nymph fishing. Rather than limit myself to one technique I choose which set-up I use depending on the conditions of the day and the character of the particular stream section I'll be fishing. If I'm blessed with little to no wind and I can get by with casts of 25 feet or less I like to tight line with a sighter leader. I can't call it Euro nymphing since I mostly fish a drop-shot rig. Anytime shot is added to a leader it's really no longer Euro nymphing.
If I'm going to fish with an indicator or, as some may call it, a suspension system I like to use a New Zealand strike indicator. Using an indicator allows me to present my nymph/s at longer distances. A significant wind calls for more wieght to carry my nymph/s to the water through which I want them to drift. Neither a sighter system nor a New Zealand strike indicator is going to be of any benefit here. I use either an Air Lock indicator or solid indicator with a hole through the center that's held in place with a toothpick-like wedge.
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For indicator fishing I use a 7 ½ foot knotless leader tapered to 3X. I cut the leader back from the tippet about 2 feet and tie a small perfection loop. For those who like tippet rings you can add a tippet ring in place of the perfection loop. To this I tie a 5 to 6 foot long tippet of 4X depending on whether I'm fishing one or two flies: 6 feet for one fly and 5 feet for a two fly rig since I add tippet for the second fly. New Zealand indicator set-up will not slip over knots and this set-up has only the smallest diameter cutting through the water column. This modified leader set-up allows for repositioning the indicater quickly and easily and it's something I do often since I encounter varying current speeds and depth as I move through the stream section I'm fishing.
Fly choice is so dependent on personal preference. It is my opinion that if I were to survey anglers today as to what types of nymph patterns they fish the majority would fish beadheads and/or jigheads. Most of these patterns don't really suggest any of the real critters inhabiting the stream and, since I'm definitely opinionated, I believe they appeal more to a trout's curiousity than their need for caloric intake. Of course, I could be persuaded to agree that a beadhead stonefly nymph might possibly be the exception: except the style known as Pat's Rubberlegs. I'm not aware of any of these patterns used by the Euro nymphing crowd that would be more used for winter fishing than any other time. That means patterns such as the Red Dart, Iron Lotus, Frenchie, Walt's Sexy Worm and Tungsten Surveyor can be effective as well as a Zebra Midge and any other patterns you may opt to use. Here's where I seem to find myself apart from what I see as the majority. I fish non-beadhead nymphs and, in fact, the only nymphs I add weight to are my stonefly nymphs. This is one of the advantages of the drop-shot rig. I place all my weight below my bottom fly and I don't have to concern myself with the weight of my nymphs. Since I fish unweighted nymphs I can use patterns that I feel suggest the sizes and colors of the naturals the trout rely upon for nourishment. Here's where getting a handle of what lives in the particular stream I'm fishing directly relates to the patterns I choose to fish. If the stream has a real diversity of bug life I can choose to suggest some of the immature mayfly nymphs, caddis larvae or stoneflies. I learned a long time ago that some mayfly nymphs do most of their growing before the winter turns things cold while others realize their major growth spurt as winter fades and spring approaches. March Brown nymphs are already #14 2X long while Sulphur nymphs are #18 or #20. The larva of some of the free roaming caddis are fairly small at this time, as well. While my hands might get a bit cold I still reach into the stream and pick up some rocks. If the stream I'm fishing has a population of stoneflies using patterns to suggest them is always an option. I fish both black stones and golden stones. While some streams have a real diversity of bug life some others do not. On one stream I frequent this is the case. Here I've found that cress bugs and scuds are incredibly abundant along with midges. Fishing with flies suggesting these critters can produce very good results more often than not. |
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I was talking with Erik Francis, a local fly-fisher who also happens to tie flies commercially under the name of Black Run Fly Co. Erik is a very gifted fly-tier. I asked him what flies he prefers to fish when he treks to the stream during the winter. He likes to fish variations of some of the more commonly known flies. While they are tied with beads they are tied as soft hackle flies. Hare's Ear, Gray Hackle Peacock, and a fly he calls the P3 since it's tied with golden pheasant, peacock and partridge. Another of his favorites is a peeking caddis tied Euro style as he describes it. Anyone can check out some of Erik's flies on facebook or instagram.
One important point I want to make is that, while I don't venture out when the air is below freezing there are a number of folks who aren't averse to dealing with the inconvenience of frozen guides and other annoyances which go along with freezing temperatures. It's important to know that anything exposed to frigid air can dry out and freeze very quickly. It is of utmost importance that, if at all possible, a trout should be kept in the water. Soft tissue is most susceptible to damage from freezing temperatures. For trout it's the eyes and gills.
Finally, when we decide to make that trip to good trout water during the winter it's with the goal of enjoying time pursuing trout. I don't consider it fun being uncomfortable with my body shivering and my toes going numb as I'm standing in knee to thigh deep water. Dress appropriately. I layer my clothing and I don't want any moisture given off trapped in clothing against skin. Choosing clothing that wicks away moisture, especially from my legs and feet, is important. Too, while I know that a number of folks who fish during the winter prefer neoprene waders I choose to wear breathable waders. Neoprene doesn't breathe and that means it traps moisture.
There's no question that there can be some great opportunities to pursue trout during the winter. The only caveat for me is I can't tie flies and fish them at the same time. Since I'm one of the great procrastinators I have to ask myself if I want to add to or decrease my fly inventory today. When conditions are right I tend to humor myself and say, “Ah, what the heck. I think I got enough flies to make it through today. I'll just tie tomorrow.” And then I don't.
One important point I want to make is that, while I don't venture out when the air is below freezing there are a number of folks who aren't averse to dealing with the inconvenience of frozen guides and other annoyances which go along with freezing temperatures. It's important to know that anything exposed to frigid air can dry out and freeze very quickly. It is of utmost importance that, if at all possible, a trout should be kept in the water. Soft tissue is most susceptible to damage from freezing temperatures. For trout it's the eyes and gills.
Finally, when we decide to make that trip to good trout water during the winter it's with the goal of enjoying time pursuing trout. I don't consider it fun being uncomfortable with my body shivering and my toes going numb as I'm standing in knee to thigh deep water. Dress appropriately. I layer my clothing and I don't want any moisture given off trapped in clothing against skin. Choosing clothing that wicks away moisture, especially from my legs and feet, is important. Too, while I know that a number of folks who fish during the winter prefer neoprene waders I choose to wear breathable waders. Neoprene doesn't breathe and that means it traps moisture.
There's no question that there can be some great opportunities to pursue trout during the winter. The only caveat for me is I can't tie flies and fish them at the same time. Since I'm one of the great procrastinators I have to ask myself if I want to add to or decrease my fly inventory today. When conditions are right I tend to humor myself and say, “Ah, what the heck. I think I got enough flies to make it through today. I'll just tie tomorrow.” And then I don't.
