Hello all,
Well, believe it or not, after 30 years of fly fishing, I have never really fished in the winter months.
Seems like I have always spent this time deer hunting and then turned to fly tying. I no longer hunt.
So, here’s my question: Any advice on flies to use this time of year? Tactics?
I would assume - small AND slow…
Dear butternet-tyer,
Nymphs and streamers can produce well in the winter, but unless you hit a midge hatch you probably won’t see much dry fly opportunity. Beadhead caddis larva and beadhead pheasant tail and gold ribbed hare’s ear nymphs are some of my favorites. If the stream you are fishing has stoneflies then stonefly nymphs will work as well.
Make sure you read the regulations carefully. I’m pretty sure you will have to stick to certain streams as not all NY streams are open to year-round fishing.
Best Wishes,
Avalon 
Here’s a link to the NY DEC site. Scroll down to the License and Regulations Information. The Freshwater Fishing Regulations Guide 2006-2008 is available on line.
http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/
Regards
Plenty of great water to fish during the winter. Where are you located? We have it much better up here in western NY : ) Once I know about where you live I could be of better help.
I don’t live in NY anymore but I was fortunate enough to grow up in WNY. Winter fishing for steelhead on lake ontario and erie tributaries can be hot. Even if the weather isn’t. 
If you don’t live near the great lakes, as others have mentioned, decent midge fishing can be found on some waters. Have fun :lol:
I haven’t lived in New York for years, but there used to be a season for trout that started April 1st and ended September 1st I think. I know steelhead fishing is done there now after the season, but if you’re thinking trout I’d check on the regs. I know steelhead ARE trout by the way, but I’d be suprised if say the Ausable or Sarancac are open for fishing in the Winter. And if they were, it would be largely ice fishing I would think.
Eric
Yes there is a traditional Trout season in NY that runs from April 1 to around Sept. 30 or Dec. 31 or somewhere in between depending on the stream/river. Some areas are however open year round and there are plenty of these to fish. You just need to check the regs book. I can’t help buy laugh at the anglers who pack my local creek on April 1st when the creek is open year round.
Steelhead by the way are not Trout, nor are Rainbow Trout. They are actually a Pacific Salmon. Latin name is Oncorhynchus mykiss. Others in the Oncorhynchus Genus are the Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye Salmon to name a few. Just some Cliffy Clavin type trivia to amaze and amuze your friends : )
Hi, I fish the Lake Erie tribs for steelhead as long as they are open. White bead head wolley buggers are the ticket, egg sucking leeches, glo bugs, stoneflies and in the spring the deer haired mouse is hot.
As long as there is no ice, you can usually catch a couple. It takes the boring part out of winter…
Dear Board,
Steelhead are certainly an option, but Lake Erie is an awfully long haul from the land of Natty Bumpo where I’m guessing Butternut Tyer is from. Winter fishing in the Leatherstocking Region is pretty limited to ice fishing or a few special regulation streams that are open year round.
Best Wishes,
Avalon
If you are w/in 3 hrs of Pulaski,NY you owe it to yourself to give steelhead fishing a try. There are over 1/2 a dozen fly/ tackle shops in this little town. You’ll find plenty of places to eat,it’s right off 81, 1/2 hr north of Syracuse.
The salmon river is a regulated flow system that is fished year round. Giant steelhead are in there right now and will winter over. The local shops will be happy to give you advice on where to go, what to use and the current water levels.
I go whenever the wife lets me and its at best a 3-1/2 hr tour for me.Well worth the time highly reccomended 20lb steelhead are caught every year.
Good Luck
Three options from my side of things:
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Steelhead/late lake-run browns in either Ontario or Erie tributaries. Salmon River, Grindstone Creek, and Sandy Creek all fish well through winter, particularly the SR. Winter steelheading can be quite rewarding once you figure out what you’re doing.
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If snow isn’t too deep, fishing the 'Dacks for brookies, as they’ll generally take dries all year long. Even Catskills for brookies and browns where possible, though browns will want things smaller and slower as butternut mentioned initially.
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Inland trout streams that are open during the winter. Open both for fishing and open flow. Oatka is a good example, it fishes well during the winter when the water isn’t high.
My personal preference is #1 and I’m probably farther away from the holes than butternut.
Marty
PS I fished butternut creek outside Syracuse when I was in college and caught some mighty nice browns and a few brookies there.
STD,
You are making me wish to the gods I had taken my gear with me…I just returned from a 5 day stay at my in-laws for the Turkey day weekend…In North Syracuse…Lived in the city for almost 2 years before moving back here and hardly wet a line in that time between the new fam and the new job I was working…
I think a trade is going to have to be in order for the coming year…As the Father in-law wants a stay here for some deer hunting with me…and I NEED to hit the Salmon River…Not sure I need be there during the salmon runs…as I’ve been told of late summer/Early fall Brown Trout fishing that rivals that of the west…weather this was an exaggeration of the shop owner that I got it from is up for grabs,But I sure want my chance to find out…
I know the Butternut Creek near the Cuse and had fished it a bit…Is this near you Butternut?
Unfortunately I passed up an oppertunity to fish Nine Mile Creek with a Tyer and Guide who frequents this site from the area…who offered to let me tag along on his day off.
But for me…Knowing how he makes his living and to “Tag along” Not having the extra cash to pay for the day was just not an option for me…Still thank him for that offer though…
Tough to recommend places until whe know just where Butternutt-tyer is located.
MrFishingToughGuy - You recommend the Adirondack’s but 99.9% of the water there is closed all winter.
DF-
Is that right? I know access is a ***** but I remember a few places being open. It’s been so long that I can’t recall the names but I’m sure you have a better working knowledge of that area than I do!
BT-
Where are ya bud?
Marty
Sorry it took me awhile to get back online. THANKS to all who are responding.
I got sick 3 years ago and still fighting hard. Sometimes wake up calls come early in life, like me, and sometimes later down the road.
The answear is to never give up!
So…why not freeze your butt off in a creek?
PLUS, throw the fishys back after you catch them!
“Man are we a strange bunch”!
My home waters are the Butternut,Otego,Warton and Schenvus Creeks. Theses are in the Central Leatherstocking areas of NY. Not far from Cooperstown, Oneonta areas. 2 hours South of 'Cuse.
Lots of people wrote about the streams, rivers and tributaries that can be fished throughout central New York.
I have one more Finger Lake option. During the winter I spend some time fishing Cayuga, Senaca and Keuka Lakes from shore. You can catch bass, pike, land locks, rainbow trout, and brown trout.
Fishing can be brutal on some days because overcast, slightly windy days are the best for fishing. Anyway, the general strategy, and I am certain it will work on any of the Finger Lakes, is to locate points, ledges, warm water discharges and tributary mouths and fish the edges/dropoffs. In many areas it is possible to wade into the lake waist deep and make a 20 yard cast and be in deep water. In other areas you don’t even need to do that.
Generally I use a sinking or intermediate line, 10 ft 9 Wt rod, reel with decent drag, casting basket and large bunny flies.
The flies are based on a double bunny pattern I bought in a local (now out of business) fly shop. Essentially, the fly is a clouser minnow tied with bunny strips instead of bucktail. Lots of flash attached. My favorite color combos are white/grey and white/chartruese(sp).
I also use this pattern in the local tribs for salmon and browns.