Winter Fishing Tips

alanb_ct · 11-12-2009, 11:09 AM

I re-did this article for my blog, but am posting it on TPO first. Thanks for your interest, hope you like it.

“Introduction”
Reports of winter trips to the Farmington always generate interest and fill my mailbox. An early 2009 winter trip was a success, due to advance preparation. This article describes the advance legwork you can do.
This was a 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. The night-before preparation involves several main elements that include rigging, clothes layering, boots, and research on conditions. Let us examine these elements in order for this series, with the last part describing the actual experience. Advance preparation saves you aggravation and cold hands when you get started fishing.
Part two explains the rigging.

“Rigging”
Winter trout often hold in the slower stream margins, calling for an indicator nymphing rig. A fully rigged 10ft rod may not fit in a car assembled, but two 2-piece sections (one with reel attached) do. The reel on this rod lacked a leader, solved by knotting a butt section to the Rio fly-line’s welded loop. Beyond that, the construction of an 11-foot coarse-tapered leader followed, based on Aaron Jasper’s original formula. Above the tippet knot, a #4 Dinsmore tin shot was crimped. The tippet itself then contained two flies, with the second dropper tied to the eye of the first hook. Fly selection for today was simple, and included a cased caddis in size 10 along with a size 16 caddis larva. The lowly, practical sub-surface caddis offerings often produce in the winter.
For the indicators, two fluffy yarn devices were prepared, first with Watershed and let dry, then with silicone-based Mucillin. It is a good idea to equip your chest pack with a strip of “male” Velcro, and use the Velcro brush to comb out your indicators streamside.
On the rod itself, a customized Sage Z-Axis 10 foot for five weight, apply copious amounts of Stanley’s Ice-Off Paste. It pays to apply the material both inside the guides and along the blank, and this reduces ice build-up, at least for a while. The waxy paste also makes ice removal far easier.
Part three looks at what to wear.

“Layering”
In a smallish chest pack, the sorted gear provides the specific required material for that day, nothing more. Especially in winter, lugging lots of gear makes no sense, especially if you are taking pictures for a report with a large camera. Many anglers seem to be pruning their carry gear nowadays. It is important, however, to carry enough monofilament spools to construct new leaders at any time, whether for indicator or European nymphing styles.
For layering options, at least double everything. For socks, modern technical options include lightweight Merino wool with Lycra, covered with a calf high pair of Smart Wool. Two layers of Simms Waderwick pants or the Under Armor equivalent perfectly encourage blood flow in the legs and keep them warm. For the torso, similar synthetic fabric options abound, but wear two layers, with at least the outer layer as long-sleeve. The third layer might be a Merino wool sweater, with elbow patches to fend off the late season sticker bushes. To mitigate the effects of dangerous wind chill, use a Gore-Tex Wind Stopper fleece or XCR jacket, or both. It pays to buy the final outer layer oversized, to fit over bulky clothing, and wear it outside the waders.
With the proper under layers, breathable waders like the Simms G3 keep an angler comfortable. There are myriad options in wading shoes, but if getting to the stream involves walking in snow, choose a hard rubber bottomed shoe. The snow will not stick to the hard rubber. An excellent choice in shoe is the Korkers studded version. Naturally, standing in 39-degree water for long will chill any angler, so frequent streamside breaks and stretches are necessary.
Wind stopper or wool hats complete the outfit, but if perspiration is an issue, take time to “air out” your head often. For wading safety, polarized glasses are paramount. In bright snow, it pays to have a mirrored pair of glasses and many anglers prefer modern photo chromic lenses.
Finally, consider using chemical hand warmers. These little pouches of powder have revolutionized outdoor winter activities. Generally, a couple of the 10-hour variety will easily heat your hands and your core for an entire day. Chemical warmers are more effective when exposed to fresh air now and then.
Part four talks about the research to do the night before.

“Research”
The evening before your outing, it is always hard to get to sleep. It is common to find yourself wide-awake at midnight thinking about how tired you will feel at 5am when you wake. Take advantage of this anticipatory time by doing research to maximize your chance at success, or to tie some special flies.
The Farmington is the only Connecticut tail water, and so benefits from stable wintertime flows. Even so, it pays to check the available USGS gauges for stream flows. A quick check of the flow, combined with experience, lets you know what to expect.
The next bit of research involves a call to the fly shop or friend that fished the river recently. Nothing will ever surpass the value of local information, as conditions change daily. When they are helpful to you, be sure to frequent the same shop and spend money.
If unfamiliar with roads or access, Google Earth or maps can help. Especially tricky access may require some hard copy to bring. The same copy also serves as a place for you to annotate good spots with a red pen.
Part five talks about a successful method you might use.

“Success”
Dave, an avid (or perhaps “rabid”) pursuer of steelhead, always exposes the benefits to standing on the shore or only in calf deep water during the winter. Steelhead anglers routinely wade in 10-degree air and fish 32-degree water, so they know. Indicators provide a comfortable way to fish, providing you can roll cast effectively. A mentor Aaron says about the roll cast “cast it out, not down,” and this always helps. Fish often sit in calm shoreline seams in the winter anyway, so distance is not always an issue.
Once the roll cast and big mend is accomplished, you are free to put your non-casting hand in your pocket for warmth. This is especially useful when you execute a long cast and drift as 20 seconds or more of hand warmth are possible. If you must, wading calf deep is also tolerable, but for about half-hour intervals, based on fitness, personal tolerance and weather. Take the time to step out on the shore, set the gear down, and put both hands in your pockets. Deep knee bends, calf raises and ankle rolls may stimulate circulation and warm your legs.