WINTER FISHING
There was frost on the lawn this morning here in Poulsbo, Washington, and the weather forecast is for night time temperatures in the 20’s for the next several nights. In my home in Montana the temperatures are hovering just above zero at night, and daytime temperatures are not much better.
Yes, that time has come, and despite our denials summer has retreated before the relentless onslaught of blasts of arctic air, and global warming is not yet strong enough to deflect its determined will. It has been a long time coming, and it will certainly overstay its welcome. For those of us that due to circumstances beyond our control, such niceties like jobs, bills, and other more mundane reasons, make it impossible for us to escape to warmer climes we must find a way to avoid shooting the TV or kicking the cat. Thus we try to find a way to fish during the winter. It’s possible, even enjoyable, but the rules are different than those that apply during the warmer months.
Concerning winter fishing with flies there is some good news and some bad news. The good news, especially for those folks that are not into matching the hatch, is there generally are not any hatches that need to matched. In addition, if you find getting up early to do anything is disagreeable, there is generally no need to get on the water anytime before noon. Like us, the fish take longer to wake up during the shorter days of winter.
The bad news is that it’s COLD out there. This is not shirt sleeve angling, and normally it’s not even sweater weather; we’re talking parkas and glove weather - at least where I come from. You might encounter the rare day when the temperatures warm to a point where you might call it warm, but in most of the country, excluding those states where winter is only a rumor, its heavy coats and gloves until spring. These realities require the angler that wishes to keep from developing a serious case of cabin fever [shooting the TV, kicking the cat, or worse] to develop some different strategies to avoid going over the edge. Fortunately, in most winters there are some days when the weather is at least bearable for a few hours and it’s for these days that the dedicated angler lives for during the long cold days of winter.
It was an annual ritual for many years when I was wintering in Montana to start the New Year fly-fishing for a few hours. During my 35+ year tenure as a resident of Montana I have seen temperatures dip to 50 below zero and those temperatures normally occur right around the first part of the year. While I never fished in 50 below temperatures many of those New Year’s had temperatures significantly below the zero mark.
Obviously, dressing appropriately for the condition is the first order of business. Forget the breathable waders and dig out the neoprene jobs. On my Montana home waters I prefer the 5 mm chest high neoprene boot foot waders for winter fishing. While it’s unlikely that you will need to do any deep wading I don’t believe that this is the time to wear hip waders. A boot full of ice cold water is not my idea of a good time especially when the air temperature is only a few degrees above freezing. Chest high waders cinched up tight with a good wader belt will keep the majority of your body encased in a warm waterproof wrapper, and that sounds real good to me.
I like to wear wool during the coldest months of the year because it wicks moisture away from your body and it remains warm even when it’s damp, but there are a number of modern fibers that will perform the same function. I have a pair of silk socks that I wear under a pair of wool socks and the combination keeps my feet warm in the coldest weather. I wear a wool shirt and top it off with a down vest and a windbreaker. With my fly vest over the top this is normally enough to keep me warm for a few hours of fishing during the winter. I top this off with a good wool watch cap that I can pull down over my ears. I wear wool fingerless gloves and carry a pair of regular gloves in case my fingers get cold. If this outfit doesn’t keep me warm it’s too darn cold to fish anyway.
Last, but certainly not the least, is keeping your head warm. For those of us with thinning locks of hair keeping one’s head warm takes on much more urgency, but regardless of the thickness of your locks a good hat, with ear protection is in order. On the coldest days I prefer a balaclava, a knitted garment that covers the neck and head leaving only the face and eyes exposed. I top this off with a wool watch cap and I’m good to go.
Under most conditions in Montana I am not anticipating any dry fly action so I don’t have to carry any of my dry fly patterns. As the winter turns more toward spring or during a stretch of unusually warm weather I may encounter a midge hatch that may bring a few fish to the surface so I normally stash a box of midge adults in my vest just in case, but most of the flies that I carry during the winter are weighted nymphs.
The key to success for the winter angler is to go slow. Fish are cold blooded and when the water is only a few degrees above freezing they don’t need to eat very often, and they are reluctant to move very far to intercept a meal. They will generally be holding in the deeper parts of the stream, but on warmer days, especially if the sun is shining, they may move into the shallower water at the tail of pools or in the shallower water at the base of riffles. No matter where they are holding the key is getting your fly right in their face. It’s an old bit of advice, but if you are not hanging up on the bottom occasionally you are not getting your fly down where the fish are living during the winter months. In addition, it may be necessary to present your fly several times to the same place before you convince a fish that he should eat it. It normally takes me twice as long to fish a piece of water during the winter as it would in the summer.
You can enjoy a few hours of fishing even during the harshest days winter in most locations if you are properly prepared. The key to remember is a bit of advice given to me years ago by an old fly fishing guide on the Yellowstone River. “Fish are supposed to be cold and wet, fishermen are supposed to be warm and dry!’’ Excellent advice, especially when the temperatures are hovering somewhere just above zero.