Winter Fly Fishing

If you don’t mind braving the cold or wearing several layers of clothing, winter fly fishing can attract some nice fish to the fly. An added bonus is that you won’t be crowded out on popular rivers and the fishing can be surprisingly productive.

Before you go winter fly fishing

Winter fly fishing 101 requires you to check regulations before you head out into icy weather. Some rivers and lakes are closed for the winter season; others are open with special regulations.

Make sure that the water you intend going to is fishable. This means checking weather reports and water conditions. Fishing isn’t all that much fun when ice is floating by even if you are wearing suitable clothing. Some waters get winter kill. It is senseless to fish them.

Winter can not only kill the fish, but can kill you too if you don’t take special precautions. A dunk in the river, dangerous at any time, is especially so in winter when hyperthermia sets in very quickly.

Clothing for winter fly fishing

Layers, layers, layers; this is the secret to winter fly fishing clothing. Thermal clothing topped with fleece under your waders will insulate you pretty well. You can always remove excess layers if the day warms up.

If you wear neoprene waders, they’ll provide warmth without too much extra clothing, but as I wear breathables all year round, layers of warm clothing underneath gives me the warmth I need.

Don’t forget your hands and head. Gloves can be a nuisance, but fingers get chilled so I keep a couple of hand warmers in my pockets. You will lose a lot of heat from your head and a good warm hat is essential.

I usually wear a couple of pairs of socks – a case for having boots that are a generous fit. Standing in icy water will soon numb your feet if you don't have inadequate insulation.

Winter fly fishing techniques

Trout and other species become sluggish in cold water. They tend to hold in the bottom layers of the water, sometimes coming into the shallows if the sun warms the area, or if there is a reasonable hatch occurring.

Deep nymph fishing is the most productive fishing method in the winter. I like to use a sinking tip line that will quickly take the fly to where the fish are. If you are not using a sinking line, try adding some split shot weights to your fly. Casting is a little more difficult but the fly will sink. As is the case with any big streamer or heavy fly, slow down your casting stroke and you'll eliminate a lot of knots before they happen.

Cold and lethargic fish are unlikely to rise to take a single fly. They save their energy for either a large hatch or a particularly tempting morsel. Woolly Buggers can be effectively fished using a slow retrieve.

Before the spring run off, rivers are generally clear so you will need to make sure that your line does not spook wary fish. A long and light weight leader is ideal in these conditions.

If you intend to release your fish, take extra time to revive it before letting it go. A fish that has fought against your line takes longer to revive in winter conditions than it does during the warmer weather.

There is no need to hang up your fishing rods because the cold weather has hit. Winter fly fishing can give you a unique fishing experience. This is the time to fine tune your skills as you have to entice sluggish and wary fish. With patience and close attention to detail, your winter fly fishing trip can give you a whole new perspective.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Top Water Action With Ice Still in The Lake (thejoyofflyfishing.com)