| Winter fly fishing techniques. What? Fly fishing in | | | | and they do a surprisingly good job of keeping |
| the winter? Are you crazy? Many fly fishing | | | | you warm. I only use neoprene waders when the |
| anglers put their gear away in the winter and | | | | weather conditions are really cold and nasty. |
| resort to reading magazines, tying flies, or | | | | Winter is the time to use subsurface flies. |
| watching football. But imagine, a nice quiet river, | | | | Although, flies will hatch and trout will rise to them |
| beautiful scenery, solitude, and often times, great | | | | under the right conditions during the cold weather |
| fishing. Getting out to your favorite trout stream | | | | months, drifting nymphs under a strike indicator is |
| or river in the winter can be very productive, if | | | | the most dependable and productive winter fly |
| you apply a few simple techniques and are willing | | | | fishing technique to use this time of the year. |
| to adjust to the climate. | | | | Pheasant tails, golden hares ear, stone fly, midge, |
| How to stay warm. Layers, layers, and more | | | | and prince nymphs are popular patterns to use in |
| layers. You will need to layer your clothing | | | | the winter. Downsizing your fly patterns is |
| underneath your waders. Wear 2 or 3 pairs of | | | | recommended. Sizes 12 to 20 works best since |
| socks. Usually, a pair of insulated or thermal | | | | like the fish, the bugs have a slow metabolism in |
| underwear with blue jeans or fleece pants, under | | | | winter also, and they haven't grown to their full |
| your waders will be enough to keep you warm | | | | size yet. Downsizing your leader and tippet is also |
| under most circumstances. Wear a loose fitting | | | | recommended. Many times the water will be |
| tee shirt under a long sleeved tee, and then a | | | | more clear in the winter. Dropping down a size or |
| heavy sweatshirt or fleece with a good rain | | | | two will help prevent leary fish from being |
| jacket over top will normally do the trick to keep | | | | spooked. |
| your torso from freezing. A warm hat and gloves | | | | As expected, trout are not as active, their |
| are also a must have, if you are going to venture | | | | metabolism is slower, and they can be somewhat |
| out to the river during the winter. A pair of hand | | | | lethargic during the winter. With this in mind, look |
| warmers or a warm thermos full of coffee or | | | | for the deeper, slower running pools out of the |
| hot chocolate stuffed in one of your vest | | | | main current. Look for deep, slow running pools |
| pockets can also help take the chill off of cold | | | | close to the bank, or below riffles and rapids. The |
| fingers if your hands happen to get a little wet or | | | | trout will more than likely be holding tight to |
| cold from handling your fly line or landing a fish. | | | | secure cover in these areas. You will also need to |
| Make sure your boots and waders are water | | | | get your flies down close to the bottom where |
| proof. Leaky boots or waders are a recipe for | | | | the trout are holding since they will not be wanting |
| disaster when wading in cold water. Wear boots | | | | to move too far to get their meal. I would also |
| that are one or two sizes bigger than you would | | | | recommend using a double rig. Rig up two flies |
| normally wear to allow room for the extra layer | | | | about 12 to 18 inches apart and set your strike |
| of socks. The key is to make sure that none of | | | | indicator at a depth where the flies will be close to |
| your clothing or gear fits tight. I find breathable | | | | or touching the bottom. This will allow you to |
| waders to be more comfortable than neoprene | | | | cover more water and give the fish more options. |