WINTER WONDERLAND
Most all of us settle back into a comfortable chair to catch up on some reading during the wintertime. Hopefully that will be my, “Spring Creek Strategies” or “Keystone Fly Fishing” book. Others spend many hours tying flies for the upcoming season. If I’m not chasing a late season whitetail of some small game, I like to venture out for some cold weather fly-fishing. Many think the season is over, but that is far from the truth. Even if I'm picking ice from my rod guides every few cast some good fly fishing can be had.
It certainly is not the time to spend an entire day on the stream, but a few hours from mid-morning into the afternoon can be a good fix. Four hours works well, but plan for a little extra time just in case you hit an unplanned exceptional winter day. It can happen just like summer, “you should have been there” days. I can remember many, many years back fishing Falling Springs and for some reason this hatch of small baetis started popping off and the trout went nuts. Long story short, I was just a bit late for my own birthday party and it did not go over well, at first.
You definitely have to dress warm, socks, pants and plenty of layers above and below the waist. You can always take off unneeded layers. Of course, gloves and a warm hat are a must. It is also good to have a thermos of a hot drink handy.
Most all of the action is below the surface using nymphs and streamers. Keep an eye on the water temperature. The warmer water means you don’t have to drag your flies right along the bottom. Water temperatures over 51 degrees, I just like to tick the bottom. Other than that, plan for many bottom snags since most insects are clinging to the bottom. Also, look for adult bug activity. If you see some hatching insects and no rising trout, try to match the hatch with the underwater insect that happens to be hatching. All these streams are loaded with cress bugs and shrimp, so have them on hand – Shenk’s cress bug and Mike’s Simple shrimp. Flies like pheasant tails, copper johns, Mike’s green caddis larva, Mike’s Baetis nymphs, san juans, and your other grab bag of nymphs usually do well. Bead headed and my MH black stonefly nymphs work well too.
Attention, attention!! It is not uncommon to see surface activity during warm winter days. Anywhere in the high 30’s and above, be on the lookout for winged insects. When I pull into a parking area, one of my first places I look is my vehicle. Midges will head right to the warm engine hood. Surface action will most likely consist of sparse hatches of BWO’s. It is possible to see light to heavy midge action. Come February, add in the possibility of the little black stoneflies during warmer days. If I’m lucky enough to hit a hatch, I will go with lower floating flies. Most often it takes longer for the emerging insect’s wings to dry. The emerging insects can also be more sluggish than those hatching during the warm months. So I go with parachutes, my MH snowshoe and CDC emergers and thorax tied dry flies. Still, I simply like to stick with nymphs and a streamer unless I do see some trout actively rising. For me, rising trout must be very active. If they are, I will convert to the dry. I’m usually not going to take the time to switch out spools to rig up for dry fly fishing for those on and off rising behavior.
Many of you already know the streams in the area. The spring creeks are the places for some winter fishing. These streams remain ice free during the coldest of weather. They also flow at constant temperatures especially close to the spring source. For the most part, you will find water temperatures from 53 - 48 degrees. If the air temperatures are real cold, I will work the small spring creeks like the Falling Springs, Big Springs, and even the Letort. But on the Letort I won’t wade due to the deserted redds.
I do guide during the winter months. I have been booking 2025 since April this year. I just do ½ days during the winter months. I can take last minute trips in December and January. Keep an eye on the air temperature. If a warm winter day comes around just give me a call.