| Fly fishers come out in the spring, casting their fishing | | | | winter fishing flies. Materials like rabbit strips and |
| flies out over water in the early morning sun. Often the | | | | marabou work well, as does anything that will catch |
| streams are crowded not just with other anglers but | | | | the light. White and yellow are good colors, though |
| with swimmers and tubers who scare away the fish. | | | | black and red seem to work well too. |
| Finding that dream spot on a stream can be difficult | | | | Use a hook with a large gap, such as a scud hook or |
| but rewarding, and the dedicated fishers continue to | | | | a size 10-14 singer-style hook. Sparse fishing flies work |
| cast their lines through the summer and fall. And when | | | | better than denser patterns. Nymphs tied to a tapered |
| winter comes, that is the time to put away the fishing | | | | leader are usually the preferred winter fishing flies. |
| flies and wait for spring to return. Or is it? | | | | Attach a split shot 10 inches above and a strike |
| The fish aren't hibernating, so why should the fly | | | | indicator far enough up the line to keep the fly drifting |
| fisher? There are fewer people on the river. The fisher | | | | just above the river bottom. |
| doesn't have to get out at daybreak, since even the | | | | Winter fishing requires attention to more than just your |
| fish know better than to be out when the temperature | | | | fishing flies. Long periods in the cold, not moving, maybe |
| is near or below freezing. Instead, an experienced | | | | even standing in the water, can bring hypothermia on |
| winter fly fisher will amble down to the river about | | | | quickly. Dress in layers and add more clothing than you |
| midday, taking advantage of the brief window of | | | | think you'll need. Mentally check your hands and feet |
| opportunity to find the fish rising in sunlit pools. | | | | throughout the day and if you start to lose feeling, it's |
| Winter fishing usually calls for wet flies rather than dry. | | | | probably time to go in. |
| The fish are sluggish in the winter and don't want to | | | | Winter fishing sessions are shorter than in other |
| chase fishing flies, so it's best to drop the fly right in | | | | seasons; as little as an hour or two. Bring along the |
| front of their nose. Winter flies often have a brass | | | | right fishing flies, the right techniques, and the right |
| bead so they can sink more quickly than glass or | | | | equipment and winter fly fishing can add a whole new |
| plastic fishing flies with lower densities. | | | | dimension to your fishing experience. |
| Motion and color are important when choosing the right | | | | |