Hey Thumbman,

I like to get my flies down to where the
fish are in a timely manner. In the winter,
I usually fish weighted flies here. I'll
usually tie my winter flies in a weighted
version and an unweighted, or lightly
weighted depending on the pattern. I use
different color threads for the head so as
to tell them apart. I hate using weight
like splitshot to get them down. But when
we put a couple of milder days together
even in January or February, my fish will
often come much shallower and even into the
banks. A heavily weighted fly catches more
bottom than fish then. So yes, I like to
fish weighted flies in winter, but I also
like to have some unweighted in case the
fish move shallower. My $.02. Warm regards, Jim