Winter Fly Fishing: Technique, Methods and
Patterns
by
Eugene Macri
Winter Fly Fishing is something that most fly fisherman should try but usually don't. There are
many reasons for this but usually it's because most books, websites, and fly fishing magazines don't mention it
much. In Winter Fly Fishing if you have the right technique, methods and patterns you actually could be in for some
of the best fishing of the year especially on certain waters. The reason that many fly anglers don't fish in the
winter is because they feel that trout don't feed much and also don't understand the weather conditions.
Unfortunately, this is not true. As an aquatic scientist I know and scientific studies show that
trout do feed in the winter. They must feed to get through the winter. First understand the two major types of
trout water: 1)freestone streams and 2)spring creeks. In freestone streams trout feed less than in spring creeks
because the water temperature is much lower. However, even in freestone streams trout do feed and on some days they
feed more than others. In true spring creeks like Big Spring, Silver Creek, Falling Spring, English Chalk Streams
etc. trout feed all year around because the water temperatures are the same, usually from 46 to 52 f. Now let's
discuss each type of stream.
Winter Fly Fishing in Freestone
Streams
In Freestone streams Winter Fly Fishing depends more on the elements than in
spring creeks. But don't let that deter you because there is still good fly fishing to be had. First realize that
this is a double edge sword. For instance, if you get a strange week where you get a couple of days when the air
temperatures hits the 50's you should probably grab your equipment and head for the stream because a couple of warm
days will warm freestone waters significantly to cause a feeding frenzy if you are there at the right time.
Freestone streams warm quicker and cool quicker so monitor the temps. Next, the first rule of fly fishing in the
winter: you want no wind or low wind. This is important because it affects your ability to stay outside (yes I know
steelhead fisherman fish in the worst weather but we aren't talking about this type of fishing but some of the
techniques of steelhead fishing will work for winter fishing).
The second most important point is to fish at the warmest time of the day. Usually this is mid
afternoon. It usually doesn't make much sense to fish freestone streams in the winter in the early morning. Third,
find a place you can fish that is protected from the elements and stay out of the water as much as
possible so you don't get so cold. Locate a likely environment where the fish should be. For example, a deep pool
at the tail of riffle where food will be brought to the trout and they can maintain some cover. One other point if
there is any vegetation still in the stream: fish near it. The vegetation often times has invertebrates on or near
it!
The next question is what and how do I fish? First, limit what you carry. You don't need the
stocked vest that you fish most of the year. Let's start with the methods: you are mostly like going to fish with
two methods most of the time. These would include streamer fishing and nymph or wet fly fishing. Over the years
in winter fly fishing I have calculated that this is the main fishing about 70% of the time in
freestone waters. Techniques: your cast should be short and measured. Remember find an area where you can see the
fish or think that they will be. You are not going to wade miles of water unless it is unusually warm. This is why
most fly angler fail in winter fishing. They try and do the same methods and techniques that they do in the spring
and summer. You will get some dry fly fishing even on freestone streams if you are on the water at the right time
and fish in the right place. About 30% of the time you will get Blue Winged Olives (Baetis) in the winter. When the
water temperature hits the mid 40's Blue Wings are usually coming off somewhere on most trout streams in the
winter. Unlike in the rest of the year where Blue Winged Olives usually come off in lousy weather, at this time of
the year they usually come off during the warmest part of the day. But the nymphs are substrate and current speed
specific and are usually found in pockets along the sides of the stream and bank. So look carefully. Also, you will
get midge hatches all winter long especially on warmer days. Trout will feed against the bank sipping these flies
and most anglers never see them. I watched two brown trout over 18 inches on the Yellow Breeches on a cold day
(around 40 degrees) with water temps at 42f sip midges for over an hour with not one angler spotting them!
Now use a streamer first to locate the fish! Don't waste time fishing water where you get no
reactions. Why fly angler do this is beyond me. A streamer will make the fish move, chase, or hit the fly. You
don't really care if you hook him you want to find out where the fish are. Here's a secret: trout often pound up or
school up in the best areas of a stream in winter. If you find fish then you can work on them with wets and nymphs
or even other streamers. Another technique you should realize: when fishing a streamer in the winter you usually
must keep it near the bottom and must fish it a lot slower than usual. Yes, some days they will chase a fast
retrieve but most of the time they won't!
Fly Patterns for Winter Freestone
Streams
Here's what I carry
for fly patterns for winter fly fishing in freestone streams:
-
Streamers: Maribous: size 6-12 in red,
yellow, black and white
-
Black Ghost Streamer: size 6-12; especially
good for brown trout
-
Streamers: Wooly Buggers: size 6-12 in
olive and black, chartreuse, black, and white. You can use bullet heads or bead head models
too
-
Sculpins: size 6-12 Ed Shenk type or
similar
-
Clouser Minnow: size 6-12 in bright
colors
-
Nymphs: size 8-14 Hare's Ear G.R.; size 6-12 Black
Stonefly; size 6-12 Yellow Brown Stonefly; size 14-20 Pheasant Tail Nymph; size 6-12 Muskrat Nymph or
Casual Dress; size 8-16 Red Midge Worm; size 6-12 San Juan Worm in Various colors; Midge larvae and
pupae size 16-24
-
Wet Flies: You can use any wet fly but I prefer bright
type steelhead patterns tied on trout hooks. Carry some in size 6-12 in a bright, medium and dark
patterns. Try some of my patterns on Killer Wet
Flies; they work great in the winter too.
-
Dry Flies: Blue Winged Olives size: 16-22; Midges: size:
18-24 in Red, Black, Cream, Yellow, and White
This is my basic box for Winter Fly Fishing in Freestone streams. You could probably carry all of
these in one fly box. These patterns are good just about anywhere in the country for winter fly fishing.
Winter Fly Fishing in Spring
Creeks
Winter fly fishing
in spring creeks is a different kind of animal. Because the stream temperatures are basically the same
throughout the year you can find fish feeding at any time of the day. The difference in spring creeks is simply
that the fish feed quite a bit on scuds (side swimmers), freshwater shrimp (which are a bit different than scuds),
cressbugs, and lots of sculpins and minnows. Trout also gorge all winter long on midge larvae, pupae and
adults. In fact, midge fishing comes into it's own on spring creeks like Big Spring, Falling Spring and even
Western Spring Creeks in the winter. The secret to spring creek fishing in the winter is this: Do Not Spook the
fish! The trout in a spring creek are wary all year long. These trout can afford to feed selectively
even in the winter time. The light on spring creeks controls most of the feeding! In the winter time is
probably the best time to fish streams like Big Spring, Falling Spring, The Letort and similar spring creeks for
big trout because the fish will feed in the middle of the day and come out from their lies because of CLOUD
COVER!
Yes, that's right and I doubt if you'll
find this anywhere else on the net or in any book (but you might because a number of guides and fly fishing
websites copy my stuff as soon as I put it up!). These trout are very light shy during the regular season but in
the winter the cloud cover causes the fish to feed during normal daylight hours. In the regular season these
large trout tend to feed mainly at night!
Use the same techniques and methods you
would at any time of the year. However, you are not going to get the hatches in the winter so the fly box you
will use is exactly the same as the freestone fly box except add:
Remember to scan the water with binoculars and take
your time. You will find large fish feeding under cloud cover throughout the day in various sections of the
stream. You will get quite a bit of dry fly action on these streams because the Blue Winged Olives have a number of
different broods per years and hatch all year on spring creeks in some sections. My studies show that some weeks
during the winter trout will rise over 50% of the time for food on some spring creeks especially for
midges!
If you locate a large fish I would fish a small nymph
first! Try and take the trout on a scud, or Pheasant Tail. Watch carefully and see if the fish is on a
feeding lie. Use a streamer or sculpin pattern next and approach the trout from the downstream casting upstream.
Keep a low profile as always and remember to keep your casting to a minimum!
I wish you the best and winter fishing can be quite
productive no matter where you are...keep warm and good luck.
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