Winter fishing is my favorite flying fishing for trout. The nastier the weather, the better for me. You don’t have to fight for fishable water since most people aren’t a fan of fishing in cold rain or snow. But like a friend of mine once told me, “Fish don’t care what the weather is up here. They’re wet anyway.”
Fishing in snow is my favorite. Have you been on a trout stream when it’s cold and silent save for the bubbling sound of water? Add snow drifting slowly around you to that scene. I can’t think of any place I’d rather be.
Trout fishing in winter is not going to be a fish-every-cast adventure. Fish act differently in extremely cold weather. They become more lethargic and generally a little more reluctant to expend the energy to bite your offering. There are, however, a few simple things you can do to boost your success rate.
Winter Fishing Means Slow and Deep
Dry-fly fishing isn’t impossible when the temps get frigid, but for the most part it’s best to stay deep – use split shot if it’s deep enough to merit it.
Look for holes or eddies behind structure. The fish are going to find slow, calm water and wait for a meal to drift right in front of them. When you get a bite there, make a repeat cast – most likely there are fish bunched in that hotspot.
Match the Winter Hatch
Winter trout will feed heavily on nymphs and full-grown midges. Red worms are also popular choices, as long as they are small. Fish small flies – midges in sizes 18-22. If you find fish keying on minnows, by all means try a size 8 streamer. Just remember to strip it slowly. Go slow, then slow down from there.
2 comments
Great article, I enjoyed thinking that Zane Grey must have felt the same way while fishing here in Eddies Pond, NY. He had his home in Lackawaxen, PA and would often speak to doing great fishing in the winters.
Thanks for the writing and sharing, also congratulations on your new website.
Thank you, Semaj! Nice to see you here!