Winter Fishing technique's

I was just wondering what everyones approach to winter fishing was..
Myself, I usually use heavily weighted nymphs drifted slowly on the edges of seams(Current drop off points), behind rocks(Slack water type) I pretty much just concentrate on keeping the rig deep and slow, it seems to produce just fine, but Id love to hear others view's on winter..

I've never fished for trout in the winter but plan to this year. I'd love to hear about techniques as well.

I will throw in a forgotten technique here... Indicator nymphing is DEADLY in the winter months!

You know how many people tell me, "You can fish for trout in the winter, it is not trout season." My next question is, "When did it end?"

I love winter fishing. I love looking for the ones that are smart enough to evade the Spring, Summer, and Fall capture! And the fall stocking too. No crowds.

I like to break out the brassies in all colors, some copper johns, and small pheasant tails with indicators. I still usually fish them in pairs of contrasting colors and sizes.

If you find a spot where you can euro-nymph, you might not have to deal with icing guides as much.

Repeat of my post from last winter:

The past few days I have received a couple of personal messages about my Farmington trip on Sunday. The trip was a modest success, and the few fish I caught were really the result of some advance preparation. Perhaps this information is helpful to you, as it pertains to winter fishing. As a highly successful guide, I see Aaron getting ready this way all the time.

This was a fairly typical winter's day in NW Connecticut with 25 degree air temperature, 39 degree water temperature and a nasty North wind gusting to about 20 mph. There were three main elements to my preparation the night before: my rigging, my clothes layering and boots and my research on conditions. I will go through these in order. The point is that, especially for winter fishing, some advance preparation saves you some aggravation and cold hands when you first get started.

Since I suspected the fish would be in slower margins, I set myself up for indicator nymphing. My vehicle can not hold a fully rigged 10ft rod, so I set up the 4-piece rod in two pieces with the reel attached. I always put away my reels with no leader attached, so just the Rio welded loop is sticking out of the spool. I constructed my nymph leader, about 11ft and even crimped on a #4 shot and tied on two flies. I coil the butt section of the leader and do not use a loop at the tie-in point. Since I don't need a loop-to-loop, I can simply knot the butt section to the loop in the fly line and am ready to fish. I also applied Mucilin and fluffed up two yarn indicators with a piece of velcro. On the rod itself, I applied copious amounts of ice-off paste to the guides and the rod blank surrounding the guides.

For my vest, I use a smallish chest pack, so I generally sort out precisely what I need. I keep a tote in the car that has all the backup gear. I don't find it practical to lug everything around anymore, especially since I am toting the big camera to generate content for the web-site! As time goes on, I think most fishermen prune down the gear they carry. I do carry enough raw monofilament to construct a new leader at any time, whether I am indicator or Euro nymphing.

For my layering options, I chose double of everything. For socks, one pair of light weight Merino wool/lycra, followed by a pair of calf high Smart wool. I wear two layers of Simms waderwick pants. On my torso, I wear an Under Armor T-shirt, followed by a zip-turtleneck winter weight Under Armor shirt. On top of that shirt, I wear an oversized Merino wool sweater with elbow patches. On top of that, I either wear a Gore Tex Windstopper fleece or a Gore Tex XCR rain jacket or both. The fleece I have is sized 3X, so it fits over my bulky sweater. I generally wear the final layer over my chest waders. For wading shoes, since it there is snow on the ground, I wore my Simms Rivertek studded aquastealth, since the snow doesn't stick to the sole. On my head I wear a Simms windstopper cap. I have them, but I don't generally wear gloves. I always wear photochromic copper glasses.

My research on conditions was multi-pronged. I checked the USGS flows, the three river reports on the Internet, and talked to Aaron about his guide trip the day before (the most useful bit of advance information!). If I had been unfamiliar with the roads or terrain, I would have also used Google Earth at this point. If you ever find a particularly good spot and worry you can't find it again, it really pays to do some legwork when you get home to record the position.

I hope this information is useful to you and leads to winter fishing success! Tight lines.

At what water temp do the fish avoid the main current?

Alan,

Being as it was my first time fishing in serious winter weather last week, I was not prepared...

We got out of my friend's truck and opened the tailgate to begin putting on our waders, rigging our rods, etc. After approx. 2-3 minutes of exposure of the winter winds/temperature to my hands, I would have to try to warm them up, stick them in my pockets, blow on them, the works. Rinse, repeat. That will only take you so far...

I got my waders and winter gear on and began rigging my rod for the day. BIG mistake not to pre-rig my rod! My hands were so cold by this time that I couldn't even tie a piece of tippet on my leader. Solution: I had to sit in the truck for 10 min, warm up the hands, and then feed my rod tip through the back window and rig it up inside the cab.

Needless to say, in the future I will most definitely be pre-rigging my setup, probably even put my waders on beforehand, etc.

Sholgate, people don't know that it never ends...Some of my best days were when it was nasty out, Remember last year x-mas(Icy storm)? One of my better days, had the river to myself and the fishing was non stop...
Im with Alain with the glove-less approach, I always lose them while tying leaders or flies..It sucks watching them float away...I have three left gloves now

I go out anytime my wife has something else to do OR when she will not miss me. :) Holidays when the family has been around a little too much. There will always be a fishing season!

Here is a pattern that has been working for me well this fall....
[smg id=483]

Kierran: maybe you told me before, but are the Barbour gloves wool or synthetic? Thanks.

my two cents on winter fishing - buy a pair of 5mm neoprene waders with boot feet. Stocking feet will kill you.

Fish places where you have a high confidence fish are holding, and drift every inch of the slower, well oxygenated water - when the water temps are just above freezing, fish will not move far for a fly.

Thanks Kierran. I just checked the Orvis site and they are listed as lambswool. Seems like a great value for only $19.

jovalle: I wear my breathable G3s just fine. Every half hour or so you have to get out and stretch.

I am actually working on some more content about winter fishing with more detail.

I fished last year for the first time through the winter months thanks to Torrey and other guys on this site. I loved it. This past Saturday morning was the first taste of it this year. I only had a few hours so I was at the river at 6:33am and it was 24 degrees. If you dress for it you'll be fine and Alan is right set up your rig the night before. I stayed in the slow waters and euro nymph with small flies. I managed 14 fish in 4 hours, hated to go but had somethings I had to do, smiling all day. Anybody looking to try it this winter and looking for company let me know.

One thing I've found is during Winter fishing the best time of day is generally the afternoon, especially the magic hour just before dark. Water temps oscilate on all the streams - the coldest part of the day is first thing in the morning, the warmest is the afternoon till dark. This is especially important on freestoners, where temps can be just above freezing on a cold winter day.

http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s...g?t=1258039162

Trout also have a tendency to stack up during the Winter. I'm not sure of the exact reason but probably allows the trout a further means to conserve energy. So, if you catch one, more than likely there are many more to be caught.

JohnyL,

Good info!

Someone told me thhat ice will form in places on the bottom of the stream. I had always thought that this was impossible due to the physical properties of water as it approaches the freezing point. What do you say about this Alain?

Lopat: in a lake this is impossible since water is denser (heavier) at 39 deg and sinks to the bottom. This leaves the top (less dense) water to freeze. If this wasn't true lakes could not harbor life.

In a shallow area of a stream, the water mixes together, so in cold weather anchor bottom ice can form. This also happens when the water is low for a time in winter, letting areas freeze, which are then covered up with high water.

Good topic.

Ok, that makes sense. Thanks for clearing that up for me Alain!

Ah an Ice debate, The coolest thing about ice is when it ages it get sky blue looking.. But that only happens when ice sticks around for longer then a season,Which doesn't happen around here, but I have seen it in B.C. Went to Whistler One spring break few years back..

Walsh: the ice you see along highways like Rt 8 in Connecticut looks blue. It seeps out of springs in the ledge rock and cliffs blasted away for highway construction. You know the stuff, check it out.

-

Mantis, that was a really nice post. Thanks. Reminds me of some great times in the winter.

Getting back to the gloves... there is an army surplus store near me in Patterson, NY. They sell some fingerless green wool army gloves for $5/pair. The keep my hands warm even when wet and I can tie knots just fine with them. A cheaper alternative to the admittedly more fashionable Orvis version. I tried a pair of Simms with the flip back fingers but found them very clumsy for knot tying and fishing. I cut off the tips and I think the $5 army surplus keep my hands warmer so the simms are collecting dust in the garage.

What do you guys think? I believe trout stack up in the winter just because there is less suitable holding water. For example, if they sit in a deeper pool, the water near the bottom may actually be warmer and more comfortable for them. It's another kind of thermal refuge, right?

-

I Think they stack up, you hook one trout in a spot and its usually good for a bunch..I know they dont move to far in the cold water, but neither do I..

Would they be stacking up in the warmer water for metabolic reasons? What I mean is that it takes a bit of warmth to digest food and being in the warmer water would make it easier to digest whatever they are eating kind of like the way turtles and snakes will bask in the sun in the spring. It seems logical enough to me but I am no biologist.

Lopat: Yes, I think that's it. That's the reason trout always seek the most comfortable temperatures. It may also have to do with the amount of dissolved oxygen in water of some temperature and therefore density. I believe this is the key to stillwater success, too.

Let me introduce myself, My name Kevin and I live in the pacific northwest. Spokane Washington. I fly fish for anything that will eat a fly. I have just recently started fishing the czech way and I haven't ever had so much fun. So to my question on this subject.

I have always wanted to fish our Spokane river going through town in the winter, but didn't have a clue where to start. We have redband rainbows and brown trout in the river and it is a freestone river with huge boulders. Where do you feel fish would position themselves in the winter time, and what kind of patterns would you use?

thank you

Kevin

Look for the deeper runs beind the boulders. I know it's obvious but that's where they will go. Look for that water that looks like glass. That's where the water is less turbulent. The ideal current speed in the winter is about walking speed. The fish can be rather lethargic so work the water slowly. More casts and patience usually result in more fish.

Also, if there are pools be sure to fish them thouroughly. Often times the fish will pile up in one spot and if you find them you will find a lot more.

Don't get into the mindset that Czech nymphing is the only way to go. Indicator nyphing often shines during the winter months. Every technique has it's place. Post some pics of the stream. I'd like to see it!

BTW Welcome to the site...

Do trout beat at suckers rears for eggs like you would a vending machine?

Here are some pictures of the Spokane river, it varies in width and depth from spring to fall and also dependent if you are closer to the Idaho side. It is a wide and deep river. And slicker then snot. The trout are big and fiesty,, but not as plentiful as the streams you guys talk about,, If we catch 3-4 fish in 5-8hrs of fishing that was a good day, but the average size is 20-22 inches.

here is another one

last one Aaron.

What a beautiful river! I would love to fish there. Are the fish browns or rainbows? I like the pockets under the bridge on the far side of the river! They look JUICY;) I would probably have to take a swim there because I'd have to at least try to fish some of that mid-stream structure. That picture is breathtaking. Thanks for posting it.

now here is a average fish from the river..

Aaron, the upper river towards Idaho has brown trout, cutthroat and smallmouth in it. that section of river is slower, there is at least one big brown of over 28" caught every year, that section is all catch and release. The lower section closer to Spokane is all rainbow and redband rainbows which almost look like steelhead in their coloration.

I want to fish the river in the winter this year,, what do you feel is to cold of water temp to even try to fish?

I have caught them when the thermometer read 31.8 degrees once!

I would fish the largest of nymphs and hope that one hits the fish right in the nose. With that being said those fish might move for a fly, given the extreme turbulance of the stream. It might be a 1-2 fish a day venture so persverance would be the key to success as well.

That's a sweet looking river! Welcome to the site!

I sure do love the fall/winter fishing, was out ealier today .I was the only guy out there.. Just got to watch out for the trees with no leafs, there harder to see...