Winter Fly Fishing

Fly fishing in general can be a challenge, whether you are catching fish or not. When you are fly fishing, you are constantly “Doing”. I am always thinking about my forward cast and if I have a tailing loop or my back cast, “Are there any trees behind me?” Should I mend now or present the fly on the “swing”? If I am fishing the “swing”, then I scan my surrounding for rising fish. I sure don’t want to miss a hatch of midges or caddis flies. The typical fly fishing season for most fly fishers in my area is from April until September; basically spring to fall.

And after the season is over, many fly fishers retreat to fly tying tables and start tying for the next season. However, for some of the brave, the fishing season doesn’t end. The winter fishing season poses a few new set of obstacles and conditions. There is increase wind, which can destroy a cast in a split second, snow, ice, etc; do I really need to go on about winter conditions?

Then there are the flies. My advice is GO BIG; big flies mean more protein. Think of it as this, a trout is not going to go after a slider when it can have a Double Whopper with cheese. In the winter, I typically fish flies from size 6 to 12 (except midges); of course, it depends on the weather and where I am fishing.

The most important aspect of winter fishing is clothing. Layering is an important topic worth discussing at a later date. But generally, if I am headed out for an afternoon, I will wear a medium cushion sock, a base layer (upper and lower), fleece wader pants (lower), and nylon pants and a fishing shirt as an outer shell, and possibly a fleece jacket or vest. Of course, I am wearing waders while I am fishing.

With all of that said, if you try to little bit of winter angling, just remember to stay warm, have an open mind about the fishing, and try some new flies or tactics you normally wouldn’t try.

1 comment February 19th, 2008