Tips & Tactics

Getting Geared Up for Winter Fishing

by John Huber

With the snows of winter not too far away, it is time to start getting ready for a whole different fishing environment. The following is a check list of things to do and gear to gather in order to make your winter outing a productive and safe one.

Clothes and Coverage

Sunscreen: Don’t forget to put this on. The light bouncing off the water and the snow is as harsh as any summertime conditions. Use SPF 30+ on your face. A good lip balm will also keep lips from getting wind chapped.

Fingerless Gloves: Whether they are fleece or wool, fingerless gloves keep hands plenty warm and keep sensitive fingers in touch with the line and rod. Hand Warmers: These air activated heaters are perfect to slip under the gloves on the backs of your hands. The heat will keep the blood headed for your fingers warm. (Don’t get the heaters wet.)

Under-wader wear: Long Johns accompanied by fleece pants and an extreme weather sock will keep you nice and warm, even in the water.

Waders: Even though neoprene may seem warmer, once you get trudging through the snow, breathable waders will let your sweat evaporate and keep you warmer than the much more restrictive neoprene.

Roomy Wading Boots: Boots that fit you snug will make your feet colder faster. Wear boots that are a half size too big and you’ll get more circulation in your feet. Remember that the water pressure will squeeze boots even tighter when wading.

Neck Gator/Hat: These two items are essential. No matter how nice it is outside there is always a cool breeze working up the river in the winter. A fleece hat and neck gator can keep you fishing when everyone else is headed home.

Warm Uppers: The upper half of your body should be covered in a layer system. Try a long john top, a breathable shirt like your summer ex officio shirt, a fleece jacket, and a windproof/waterproof wading coat. If you can find a coat with neoprene cuffs, even better.

Extra Clothes: Always take warm dry clothes and leave them in your vehicle! If you slip on a rock and come up wet on a thirty degree day, dry clothes can make the difference, whether preventing hypothermia or just catching a cold.

Rods and Reels

If you can, fish with a slow to moderate action rod to prevent breakage of brittle graphite. Typically the quicker the rod the more prone it is to breaking in extremely cold weather. Spring Creek rods like a Winston are a good choice. Keep in mind most good winter rods are good spring creek rods if you want just one rod for both seasons.

Like the summer time, a nine foot, five weight, is the perfect rod for our valley. If you only like fishing the afternoon rise in the winter, a four weight is perfect for most dry fly midge situations.

Reels need to be very well lubricated in the winter as they can get damp and freeze up on you. You don’t want to find this out while you are playing a big, red striped winter buck that you just cast to for twenty minutes. Periodically turn the reel to keep it ice free. Try to avoid using reels with wood handles. The wood can get wet and then swell and crack. This usually won’t happen until the following season on a hot summer day, but rest assured when it does it will be because of winter miss-use.

Flies

The best part of winter is the simplicity of the fly selection an angler needs to have with them. Here is an easy list. Fill a fly box with these patterns and you’re set to go all winter.

Copper / Red / Green - Bead Head Brassies: Size 14, 16 and 18. Fish this fly in bigger sizes around the holidays and smaller as we approach spring. Switch colors a few times while fishing the first run of the day to see which is the most productive on that particular day.

Black Back Hares Ears: Size 14 A great fly to target the biggest fish in the winter.

Prince Nymph: Size 12 Fish this fly with a greased line technique, letting the fly sink with a little weight and then swing it up from the bottom on a tight line.

Griffiths Gnat: Size 14 and 16 Midging fish will eat this fly on occasion, but more importantly it is a good lead fly when fishing two dry midge patterns in tandem. You can see it silhouetted against the glare easily.

Midges Dries: Size 16, 18 and 20 This can mean Palomino Midges, Trailing Shuck Midges and a variety of others. Fished in tandem with a Griffiths Gnat these flies will take most surface feeding fish in the winter. You may not see these flies well, but if a fish comes up near the Griffiths Gnat…Set the hook!

Olive Woolly Buggers / Philo Beto: These streamers, that imitate the Wood River Sculpin, fished on a tight line swing with a split shot right above the fly will catch fish on the slowest days in the winter.

Leaders and Tippets

Nine feet of leader is plenty for most winter fishing situations. When fishing on the surface use a 5X or 6X tippet, depending on how smart the fish appear. For most nymphing situations use a 4X tippet and for streamer fishing 3X or even 2X is perfect.