subject: Tips For Winter Fly Fishing [print this page] If you're looking for a man-versus-nature adventure, put on your thermal underwear. As fly fishing fans know, nothing beats a quite winter day on the river. Sure, a little extra planning is involved than on a summer day, but it is well worth it.
Start with appropriate gear. In the last few years, many advances have been made in winter fly fishing equipment. Layering is key: don two to three pair of silk underwear under a layer of fleece pants and neoprene's. Sock linerssilkunder thick winter socks (ski socks work just fine) are recommended and fishermen who are really into winter fly fishing sometimes use a larger pair of wading boots to accommodate the sock bulk. Breathable waders get high marks from a number of professional fly fishermen.
Ski gloves are fine for to and from the river, but when you need to maneuver flies, hooks and lines, fleece fingerless gloves are best. A rigorous setting on the hook isn't needed because fish tend to bite more gingerly in low temperatures.
As in any winter activity, a hat keeps the body heat in.
Key to decent winter fly fishing, is an understanding of the river levels. Too much runoff can make a river unfishable. Three or four days of steady rain almost ensure you won't have a bite. Moreover, you have to consider the lightnot just the shorter days but the dimmer light makes it more difficult to see below the river bottom while wading.
Winter fly fishing is a sub-surface experience for the most part. Because small fish and nymphs metabolism slows in winter, they're most likely to stick to the bottom out of the main current so fishing nymphs deep is the obvious recommendation. Fly fishing expert Tucker Ladd recommends a split or two on the line, possibly with a sinking tip line, two flies (one as a dropper) and he's had success with San Juan worms, Disco Midge and Wd-40s. Streamers like Woolly Buggers, Muddlers and Mickey Finn's make superior streamers.
Dead drifting nymphs is the most popular method. Swinging streamers, second. Expert fly fishermen let the fish do the setting. If you're mission is catch-and-release, take care that the fish is 100% revived before release. Because of the cold temperature of the water, they may require extra care. The cold is a reason to pack a thermos of hot chocolate or coffee. Put a change of clothes in your car in case you do get wet and always fish with a buddy, summer or winter. Use your common sense when participating in any outdoor sport in the dead of winter and the likelihood is that you'll be glad you're on the river enjoying its solitude rather than paying $100 a lift ticket to fight the downhill ski crowds.
