As winter approaches, people typically start cleaning their fly fishing gear and storing it for the winter season, only to then live vicariously through facebook groups and youtube videos of those living down in the warmer states. Then there are those, like myself, that never put it away. When I tell people that I willingly stand in a 34 degree river in January to fish for trout, people often ask “You still catch them?”, “Don’t you get cold?”, “That sounds miserable!” I personally find it peaceful and productive. But yes—it is cold.

Many of us associate fly fishing with hatches, or bugs. We all know that the trout need a food source, and there is nothing that boosts an angler’s confidence more than seeing bugs zipping out of the water, or better yet, trout feeding on the surface. While it’s possible for hatches on the warmer days of winter, it’s not the most common. The rivers often appear lifeless—keyword being appear.

Snowboarding, snowmobiling and all other winter festivities have taken a back seat to fly fishing for me. In fact, I have had my most successful day of trout fishing in December 2017. Hopefully these tips can help you do the same.

FISH SLOW (OR DEAD) WATER. Often times when we look at a river we search for the most “fishy” looking riffles and runs. This is my go-to 75% of the time. In the winter, my perception of the river and its flow has to change in order to be successful. The slower water directly next to a run, eddies, and slow pools are a better bet. I’ve found myself standing in runs that would be full of trout in April, just to cast to the eddy adjacent to it in January. These areas may look like a churning boil of water, but underneath the surface is often a calmer area for the trout to sit waiting for a snack to drift by. In cold water, trout will position themselves in a position to use the least amount of energy, but still have food brought to them via the current which is exactly what makes these areas perfect places to target.
FISH BIG STREAMERS. If you google winter fly patterns, you will likely see an array of tiny midges and stoneflies for nymphing. Proper nymphing techniques are an absolute must for fooling winter trout. That being said, big streamers work too, and at times, better. I use what I call the “strip-hang-drift” technique. Throw a big streamer across slow moving current and give it an aggressive 2-4 foot strip, and then let it hang in the current for 1-5 seconds. After the hang, slowly bring your rod tip downstream allowing the fly to dead drift downstream. The aggressive strip can trigger a trout’s predatory instinct. As soon as they see that huge leech pattern pause, the fish sees the opportunity to strike and takes it. This technique is best used in a slow stretch of water with minimal current. It is commonly said that trout do not move far for food in the winter which can be true, however my experience with big streamers says otherwise.
DO NOTHING. Yes, you read that right. One of the most productive methods I’ve employed to catch winter trout is to cast into a small pool or dead water next to a run. Once the fly hits the water, I do nothing. Keeping my rod tip high, I will hold the fly in an eddy next to a run and let it hang. Even if you don’t get a bite, you may see a curious fish swim up and inspect your fly. Another way to “do nothing” is to cast directly downstream and just hold your rod tip about 1 foot off the top of the water letting the fly dangle in the current. This is slightly different than swinging flies, in that you don’t cast across current and wait for the flies to reach the bottom of your swing, but instead cast to where the end of the swing would be and leave it. Doing this requires a lot of moving around, otherwise you will start swinging your flies—although that can work as well!

There are certainly more things to keep in mind while trying to fool winter trout, such as fishing during the middle of the day, and watching your shadow with the lower sun. These are just some of the things I wish I knew years ago when I began my quest to fool winter trout. Using these three tips, as well as the other great resources available online, I am confident you will increase your success while fishing in the winter. Always remember to check your local regulations for which waters are open to fishing, as well as bag limits if you intend to keep some for dinner. Tight lines!