| Cameron Larsen
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| | gloves. I like them only if there is a
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| It is winter time now. One step on the
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| | biting wind, otherwise I can't seem to
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| frozen porch steps first thing in the
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| | keep them dry long enough to make them
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| morning removes any doubt of that fact.
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| | worth the effort. I can cast adequately
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| Winter time brings on many thoughts,
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| | with either hand, and will sometimes tuck
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| holidays, dark afternoons, football on TV
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| | my free hand inside my waders by my
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| and for me some of the best trout fly
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| | chest.
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| fishing there is. That's right trout
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| | To me a hat is virtually as important as
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| fishing, winter steelhead fly fishing has
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| | waders, and I layer shirts, remembering
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| been around a long time, and gets more
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| | my vest will also provide some warmth.
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| popular every season. But the truth of
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| | Don't forget the inside, a nice hot
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| the matter is trout fly fishing can be
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| | thermos of coffee, has brought many a
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| excellent, the crowds are down to
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| | sigh of satisfaction.
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| non-existent, the scenery and wildlife
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| | Fishing:
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| are plentiful, and it makes those long
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| | Winter trout fly fishing requires some
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| days of early spring with non-stop rain
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| | adjustments. Plan on sub-surface fishing
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| and overflowing rivers more tolerable.
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| | primarily. The warm afternoons like I
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| | mentioned above will produce Blue Wing
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| Winter fly fishing demands a little
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| | Olive hatches in many locations, and
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| timing and planning on your part. One
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| | midges hatch year round as well. Some
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| nice thing is, the weekends aren't
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| | dry fly action can occur, especially on
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| crowded, so you really don't need to ask
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| | smaller streams where options are less
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| the boss for time off, to really get some
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| | for trout. But by and large plan on
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| peace and solitude. But other planning
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| | fishing nymphs. And plan on fishing them
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| does need to be done. The first thing is
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| | deep. Depending on the size of water, a
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| checking your local regulations. Many,
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| | split or two is mandatory, and perhaps a
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| many places now offer year around trout
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| | sinking tip line. I usually use two
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| fly fishing. A good portion of this is
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| | flies, one as a dropper. Good patterns
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| probably catch and release, but that only
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| | include, imitations of food sources that
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| helps in further reducing the crowds.
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| | are available year round like San Juan
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| Some areas allow only lakes to be fished
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| | Worms, Chironomid Pupas, Disco Midge, and
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| year round, some only allow rivers, but
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| | Wd-40's. General nymph patterns like
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| most places will allow something to be
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| | Hare's Ear and Prince Nymphs, will work
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| fished year round.
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| | to imitate the occasional nymph that
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| After you have your areas selected, you
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| | might come in the trout's path..
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| must really get an idea on the weather.
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| | Streamers also make excellent winter
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| Mild winter days, specifically
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| | flies, including Woolly Buggers,
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| afternoons, can provide some shirtsleeve
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| | Muddler's and Mickey Finn's. Don't
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| fishing opportunities. Coastal regions
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| | forget that like trout, small fish and
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| that rarely get snow or ice, need to be
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| | nymphs metabolism is slow as well, and
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| checked more for river levels. Three or
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| | they are apt to stick to the bottom, and
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| four days of steady rain can really put a
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| | out of the main current.
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| river in at unfishable levels. It is
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| | Winter fishing usually means clear water.
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| also rarely enjoyable to fish in well
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| | I use lighter tippet than normal,
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| below freezing temperatures. Even if
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| | because fish seem more easily spooked.
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| you can dress warmly enough, the ice on
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| | Trout's metabolism makes them want to
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| the guides make casting nearly
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| | seek out pools near the bank that are
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| impossible, and the slickness of entering
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| | warmed by the sun, so they are more
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| the river is extremely dangerous.
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| | vulnerable. I usually forgo strike
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| Extreme care should be taken when wading
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| | indicators as well. Also remember that
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| in general, one slight misstep, can send
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| | due to the slower metabolism, the fish
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| you into the river, dangerous all year,
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| | will be sluggish. They often will bite
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| this is multiplied by the cold air
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| | gingerly, hook-ups will be primarily in
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| temperatures in the winter. Also light
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| | the tongue. As trout may often go after
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| is much less, making it difficult to see
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| | several small insects in one mouthful.
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| the river bottom while wading. So step
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| | So rigorous setting of the hook is not
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| very cautiously. And always fish with a
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| | required.
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| partner.
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| | They are not likely to chase food down,
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| OK, enough of the warnings, when to go is
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| | as this will burn more calories then they
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| what we are after. I prefer a nice
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| | will take in. Especially when fishing
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| period of dry weather, with mild
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| | smaller patterns. While small pattern
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| afternoons. I rarely fish in the early
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| | are very effective, in fact the first
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| morning, in the winter, but if you can
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| | choice of many winter angler's, they need
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| get a fogged over morning with nicely
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| | to be fished deep, and in front of the
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| rising afternoon temperatures that reach
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| | fish. Dead drifting nymphs is my first
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| in to the 40's, you have a day to hit the
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| | choice. If no luck I will try swinging
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| water!
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| | streamers, second. I mend my line as
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| What to wear:
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| | soon as it hits the water, to ensure a
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| A few years ago I switched to breathable
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| | drag free drift, and wait for the gentle
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| waders and I actually have never been
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| | take. I let the fish do the setting.
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| more comfortable while winter fishing. I
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| | Once landed the winter fish might need
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| layer underneath with two or three layers
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| | more that it's usual care before allowing
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| of thermal wear, including one layer of
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| | it to swim free. Landing fish should be
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| fleece pants. I can move much better
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| | quicker do to their lower energy, and
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| than in neoprene's, and there is no
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| | then one must make sure the fish is 100%
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| clamminess to bring on chills. Socks are
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| | revived before it's release.
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| also important silk liners with thick
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| | Summary:
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| winter socks work for me. I have a
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| | There you have it, like all forms of fly
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| roomier pair of wading boots specifically
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| | fishing winter fly fishing takes a little
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| for winter to allow for the extra bulk.
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| | practice, and a lot of patience. But the
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| I also don't cinch my boots down too
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| | surreal beauty of winter combined the
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| tight, as that seems to cut off
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| | solitude it brings, makes this an
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| circulation, nothing will ruin a fishing
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| | especially rewarding time of year, to
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| trip quicker than cold feet.
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| | flog the water.
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| Many angler's wear fingerless fleece
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