Winter Fly Fishing

[AKSkim]

Lads now that the heat index has fallen below 100 and ambient temperatures have plummeted to the 80’s it is time we start thinking about preparing for cold weather fishing.

Salmon and steelhead fishing will be on us before we know it. So I figured I would start a thread to aid our new members to fly fishing in cold weather clothing and preparations.
<O
First up for debate are waders.
Two schools of thought here, neoprene v. breathable. I have worn both and after standing for 8-10 hours in frigid waters with breathable with 300 fleece pants underneath , I have switched back over to neoprene 5.5 mm thickness.
<O
Boots, well in that kind of water boot foot only. Stocking feet are too tight and your feet will get cold quickly. I wear good quality sox, smart wool sox, or rag sox, I have tried those Hodgeman breathable and didn’t like them. Inside my boot I will place Gabber Mycoal foot warmers (they also make hand warmers) that has lasted up to 7 hours and never got a chill.
<O
Layered clothing including a Carthart turtle neck, polypro underwear, fleece under jacket, light weight poly shell, and a breathable outer jacket. Key is layering.
<O
I have more types of gloves, For extreme cold weather I use Polar gloves, they are tight fitting and not as warm as a fleece or wool glove, but if I am on the fish and have my hands in the water retrieving hooks from the fish, then I sacrifice a little warmth for keeping dry. Otherwise, I like wool fingerless gloves. I have never used the wool fingerless with the mitten covering, so if someone has I would be very interesting hearing your opinion.
<O
Head gear, a few years ago at the fly fishing show I bought one of those fleece pull over hat that is tight fitting, and I have never worn anything that keeps your head as warm as that. Sorry I don’t remember the name of the company, but you can use it as a neck warmer, completely cover your head and a pull up section to cover your lower face to your nose.

 

[mang]

Neoprene and fleece can only do so much. A small propane stove and an extra bottle of gas will keep the coffee, soup and your body warm when the wind and weather have got you down.

 

[AKSkim]

Neoprene and fleece can only do so much. A small propane stove and an extra bottle of gas will keep the coffee, soup and your body warm when the wind and weather have got you down.

That is correct if your in a drift boat, but fly fishers like myself who run and gun it would be too much to carry into the stream locations.

You do bring up a very very good point, stop fishing before you get too cold. Take a break and hop in your automobile and drive to a diner and get something warm to eat and drink.

 

[JeffK]

My approach is to not push my luck in the winter. I just head out in the warmest part of the afternoon and fish to 3 or 4 PM. Wake up late, eat a good lunch, minimize wading, catch some fish, and be home early enough for a pleasant dinner - that is my formula for successful winter fishing. When the air is real cold I take the unorthodox method of tying some flies to a 12' crappie pole (or roach pole in England) so there are no reels or guides to freeze up and I can wear my mittens all the time. I have fished this way to 10F moderately comfortably (those real cold days scare most people off the winter fishing spots).

Winter is a time to slow down and stay warm, although I am still driven to some form of outdoor activity to ward off the dreaded "cabin fever."

 

[AKSkim]

just head out in the warmest part of the afternoon and fish to 3 or 4 PM. Wake up late, eat a good lunch, minimize wading, catch some fish, and be home early enough for a pleasant dinner

That is fun fishing at its finest.

However, some of us will travel a great distances to fish streams in winter because that is when the Salmon/Steelhead are present.

After spending the time and money, you feel almost obligated to yourself to fish as hard as you can safely, which may require walking in to some remote areas, wading for hours, so you have to dress for the elements.

An old Aleut saying, "No such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing."

As always, on your side.

AKS

 

[sstasiak]

2 shots of your favorite liquor in the coffee cup works pretty well :beer1:

After spending the time and money, you feel almost obligated to yourself to fish as hard as you can safely, which may require walking in to some remote areas, wading for hours, so you have to dress for the elements

I'm always hiking into remote areas and fishing hard. That's why I bought the Fish Pond Wasatch Tech Pack. It has plenty of pockets for all my fly boxes, 2 waterproof zippered pockets, 2 larger compartments on the back to hold a variety of extras(small thermos of soup, coffee, food, etc.). On top of that, it's comfortable no matter how much I have packed up in it. It's always a plus to have some extra room in the vest to be able to pack up for any conditions, especially winter conditions.

 

[JeffK]

I guess I'm a homebody and just fish local waters in the winter. Haven't been to the Salmon R since 1972, which predates much of this salmon/steelhead stuff (although plenty of big browns were showing up back then with a 10 fish limit). Farthest afield I have been going is to the Finger Lakes tribs since my one daughter lives up there for LLS/browns/male rainbows (which were poor last fall). Keep promising to head up to the Lake Ontario tribs, but never end up going. Maybe this year!

 

[theartoflee]

An old saying...

Based on past experiences snow shoeing and telemarking in the back country of the White Mountain I learned a new Mt.neering saying "cotton kills". I can not emphasis this point enough. I can not emphasis this point enough. I can not emphasis this point enough.


With that said when you chose to venture out in winter that is something to consider while getting dressed for a days fishing. You will want to wear moisture wicking clothing that is made of synthetic i.e. polypropylene, Capline... anything but cotton.

Be sure to cover ones head with a wool cap as most of the body’s heat escapes from ones head... how many times have you heard someone say I can be hot headed...
If you are a smoker you may want to consider starting to quit NOW before the temperatures start to drop even further as synthetic tend to trap the odor of smoke and smoking also hinders blood circulation and is no longer politicaly correct. Even if you have the nicest boot foot waders that might be enough to aid in getting the circulation in your toes going.

Be sure to eat plenty of food with high fat content the good fat that can be found in Olive Oil and bring candy bars for an extra boost of energy and remember to stay hydrated. GUYS by staying hydrated I am not referring to the old Pats Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee, Hefevisen beer, Dunkle beer, Absinth, Moon Shine or any other Alcoholic drinks as they dehydrate the body and give the false illusion of keeping one warm... take my word… much like Jeff K and other NEFF members I too went to College in NH.

As for rods try and stay away for high performance rods as they are all the rave for the feathery feel and light weight however that becomes a disadvantage. That extra weight companies save with their hight teck guides becomes a double edges sword. Since these guides are hairline thin it takes them that much less time to freeze over. Many an amateur has tried to remove ice from their tip top only to get their reel wet as they awkwardly fumble with their 9ft rood... only to have the reel freeze solid.

What can I have often thought that nothing compares to a woman’s scorn but then again Old Man Winter can be pretty COLD... he will take your life if needed.

 

[sstasiak]

GUYS by staying hydrated I am not referring to the old Pats Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee, Hefevisen beer, Dunkle beer, Absinth, Moon Shine or any other Alcoholic drinks as they dehydrate the body and give the false illusion of keeping one warm.

:iagree: , although one or two shots of brandy in the coffee never killed anyone(at least I don't think)

 

[AKSkim]

:iagree: , although one or two shots of brandy in the coffee never killed anyone(at least I don't think)

Watch out for ice when drinking ...

 

[artist]

At the risk of being obvious....


I think the most important aspect of cold weather sports... no matter the endeavor...
is to know yourself.... and your body's response to cold.... meaning the beginning signs of hypothermia.


Sounds easy.... but knowing when to take yourself to a warm environment is the best way to avoid problems.


<OBeing in a place w icy footing and tricky waters makes the need for coordination most important. In my case I know that my lack of subtle coordination is a warning sign... and time to get to a warmer place.


<OGood luck... and be safe.

 

[AKSkim]

Artist you are so right. Enough cannot be said about what you posted.

I also carry with me waterproof safety matches. You never know when you will need to quickly make a fire to warm up if your in a ways from your vehicle. Even though they are water proof, I have my box of matches inside a zip lock bag that some Estaz Grande Fl. Red came in just to be on the safe side.

A good friend of mine while winter fishing also carries a small solar blanket. Now that I am writing this, the next time I am in a sporting goods shop I will be sure to pick one up. They all fit very nicely inside the pocket of your waders.

 

[AKSkim]

Freezing Rod Help

Another tip that I employ to keep my fly line and rod from building up ice is to use Stanley's Ice off or the home kitchen product "Pam" on the rod guides.

Some days it is better than others.

 

[AKSkim]

Cold weather with freezing temperatures will soon be here, so it might be a good time to review some of the suggests listed below.

 

[Scott]

Re: Freezing Rod Help

Another tip that I employ to keep my fly line and rod from building up ice is to use Stanley's Ice off or the home kitchen product "Pam" on the rod guides.

Some days it is better than others.

I used to use stuff like this but was distressed by the slick that appeared on the surface during application. I think I've mentioned this before, but these days I just dunk the rod under water for a second or two, pull it out & give it a shake. The guides will stay ice free for longer than you'd think.

Once when I was fishing with the air temp in the low 20's and the water temp in the high 30's I had to dunk the rod every few casts. But hey, I was catching fish. Believe it of not they were taking Griffith's Gnats on the surface too.

I had to get out of the water after 45 min to an hour when the ice started to form on my waders to walk along the bank a bit & warm up.

Got to love fly fishing in the winter!

And concerning alcohol, ONE shot of booze actually does warm you up, something to do with calories and a bump to your metabolism. But two can kill you. In sub zero temperatures, a flask of booze can also kill you if the alcohol is super cold, as it can instantly freeze your throat shut & you suffocate. Not much danger of that here in the Northeast though, but it has happened in areas much to the far north of us.

I read about that in Discover Magazine (I think) a long time ago...

 

[rford]

 

[Eagle Claw]

I would think the PFD's are really important in the winter, if you take a spill in cold water and start to go into hypothermia a PFD may keep you head out of the water long enough for a rescue or make it easier to kick into shallow water.

 

[AKSkim]

Knee deep in water, temperature just above freezing, air temp just a bit lower than that.

You drop something into the water next to you.

Leave and lose it or do you reach down into the water to retrieve it?

Now you are in a quandary.

This is winter fishing.

 

[Wise-Man]

The other you shouldn't forget to keep is a sleeping bag or warm blankets in the trunk of your car. If your ride won't start, or if you ended up really cold, the sleeping bag can save your life.

 

[theartoflee]

The other you shouldn't forget to keep is a sleeping bag or warm blankets in the trunk of your car. If your ride won't start, or if you ended up really cold, the sleeping bag can save your life.

Sound advice I put mine in my car last night already. I am also going to keep a shovel in my car along with jumper cables.

 

[mang]

Knee deep in water, temperature just above freezing, air temp just a bit lower than that.

You drop something into the water next to you.

Leave and lose it or do you reach down into the water to retrieve it?

Now you are in a quandary.

This is winter fishing.

If it's a hemo, leave it. If it's a Wheatley full of a month's work at the bench, dive in!

 

[jcstikfish]

Knee deep in water, temperature just above freezing, air temp just a bit lower than that.

You drop something into the water next to you.

Leave and lose it or do you reach down into the water to retrieve it?

Now you are in a quandary.

This is winter fishing.

If the stream isn't too deep...

Step 1 :Go to the bank, get a stick.

Step 2: Re-enter stream and locate whatever you dropped again. (Sometimes easier said than done.):dizzy:

Step 3:Submerge your net on the downstream side of the object and "putt" your dropped object into the net.

Step 4: Claim your wet and icy prize! :applaudit


~James

 

[AKSkim]

Step 3:Submerge your net on the downstream side of the object and "putt" your dropped object into the net.~James

Good suggestions. However, I never carry a net.

So I guess mang's point of diving in will have to do.

 

[C&R]

Knee deep in water, temperature just above freezing, air temp just a bit lower than that.

You drop something into the water next to you.

Leave and lose it or do you reach down into the water to retrieve it?

Now you are in a quandary.

This is winter fishing.

Isn't that why they make wading jackets and neoprene gloves?

 

[AKSkim]

Isn't that why they make wading jackets and neoprene gloves?

Just go ahead and try it. you'll learn...

I have neoprene gloves from Glacier, and a Cabela's jacket with the neoprene cuffs to "keep the water out"

That all sounds good right?

Guess what?

 

[AKSkim]

It use to be the winter was for tying flies, the long awaited Fly Tying & Fly Fishing shows, and the Devils.

The short number of day light hours, snow, ice, and that ice cold chill in the wind all now signals the start of steelhead fishing.

Except for a few, it is the start of trout fishing where you have long stretches of the river to your self and not having to fight the maddening hords of Orvis cowboys. Chance to demonstrate your nymphing techniques in usually low clear water conditions. Just think, standing knee deep in a steam with snowflakes falling all around you. Winter trout season...

 

[mang]

Orvis cowboys

What is an Orvis Cowboy?

 

[Flyfisher]

I would love to go winter fishing but since an accident i had a few years back my knees can't handle walking up and down hills without getting mucho pains in them. I used to go walk in the the Ken Lockwood Gorge over by the bridge and walk up the far left bank and fish the pocket water. For some reason or another people often overlook that area. For some other reason it tends to hold what i think are wild trout *brookies browns and bows all in the 10 inch range. I like to use PT Beadheads back there around this time of the year.

 

[AKSkim]

Working an Area

There are some that preach if you make a few good casts and drifts and nothing looks at your fly move on. I personally have seen some fly fisherman work an area so fast it was incredible. I work slow, I attempt to cover every square foot in and around each possible holding spot as possible.

In my youth, to have access to additional ice time, I drove a Zamboni. On a regulation size sheet of ice a perfect number of passes would be 8 times around and leaving no ice surface untouched. I use this same formula for fly fishing areas. I cut my area into slots and fish each and everyone until I am assured that I did not leave any area uncovered. I see too many fly fishers cast and drift their fly over the same area repeatedly without ever realizing it.

After I am confident I have covered the area as completely as possible, I move only a few steps either up or down stream, which will put me and my fly into another possible holding area. I continue this process until I have fished the entire area. Some days, I will switch flies and start the process all over again where I am certain (have caught fish in that location before) there are fishing holding, adding additional tippet to compensate.

Once into the zone and the bite is on, during the winter, trout will congregate together, so where there is one, there will be other's.

 

[JeffK]

Fish do congregate in the winter so stay put for a little while. They also wouldn't chase a fly so you need to get it right in their face and it may take a while to get that perfect drift.

However, in my best wild brown winter holes if I catch somewhere between 1 and 3 fish in clear water the rest spook for the remainder of the day. I generally call it quits if the fish stop biting since I fish close to home and the best periods to fish in the winter are short. If you feel the fish are getting spooky move on. This doesn't apply as much to the Little Lehigh or the Pequest, but even those more human tolerant trout can be fished over too much. If you make a perfect drift and the trout ignores it move on. If the water is a little muddy catching a fish doesn't seem to spook the others as much and you may be able to catch quite a number from a single spot.

I guess it is always good to be able to read whether the fish are spooked or not in any season.