January 20th 2025
Well if you haven't figured it out yet, winter is here. Most of our rivers have locked up in the last few weeks, which can be good or bad depending how you look at it.
Locked up rivers means less ice and slush mix floating down the river that poses hazards to boats and wading anglers. Fishing closer to dams or fast moving usually means less ice slush and chunks in the current. The water coming out from under the dam is usually a touch warmer a the discharge and has to travel a few miles before ice starts to form leaving open water for winter anglers. Faster flowing water also helps prevent ice from forming, but can get slushie in extreme cold. If the river that you like to fish doesn't have dams on it or is a slower flowing river, there's a good chance that it's iced over making it unfishable. If this is you this is your chance to explore new waters or get on your vice and start tying flies for when things warm back up.
Slow presentations with a lot of movement this time of year are some of our favorites. Swing flies with çraft fur or rubber legs help entice fish to stike in cooler water. Articulated stone or wiggle nymphs can can help add movement to your favorite indicator or nymphing rig.
A couple of our favorite methods this time of year are swinging with switch/spey rods and euro nymphing. Both are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but the one thing they have in common is minimal line stripping. The less line you have to retrieve at the end of each cast or drift the slower the ice will build up on the guides of the rod. There are pastes and waxes that you can use to help reduce ice build up. Loon makes a good ice off paste and when in a pinch gink, chapstick, and a quick blast of rainex windshield cure works well. (Rainex is best done the night before)
When swinging flies we are fishing just the head of the fly line and not shooting any line out on casts. This eliminates most of the water that would be carried by the fly line icing up the guides on the rod. If you feel that swinging with 30ft of line out isn't enough, using a longer rod, longer head, or longer lighter leader may help you out.
Euro nymphing is similar in the aspect that your casts require very little stripping and most of the fishing is done very close to you. Euro lines are also a very thin diameter and don't collect as much water as a traditional fly line.
Proper layering can greatly extend the amount of time fishing. Using liner socks, moisture wicking base layer, followed by Merino wool and fleece layers will keep you toasty warm. A good pare of boot foot waders or neoprene waders offer the most warmth. If you're wearing boot foot waders maybe look at getting an extra set of boots one or 2 sizes big to give you're feet some room to breathe. Tight restrictive clothing or boots will get cold faster than loose boots or cloths. A good thick fleece, vest, and a hardshell wading jacket to keep off any moisture or wind is my upper body choice of layering. A good knit or fleece lined hat for the head and your choice of gloves or mittens and you've got all the bases covered. In my pack I like to carry a few hand warmers, emergency blanket, lighter, thermos of hot water, and a second set of Simms wool fingerless gloves.
It's important that when you're fishing in the winter to use caution and be smart. Things can change in a hurry on the river if you get wet or happen to fall in. Fishing with a friend or having a check in person is always a good idea. That way if things do go south help isn't far away. Packing an extra set of cloths to keep in your vehicle or stowed away in a dry bag on the boat can also be helpful. Even if you do fall in at least you can drive home dry.
The winter months are also a great time to fill your fly boxes. We've got a lot of fly tying classes scheduled throughout the months of January and February featuring some of the best guides and fly tiers in the state. Even if you don't want to tie along at any of these events you will leave with far more information than you came in with. We are adding new materials every week and have the largest fly tying selection in the GR area. If we don't have it we will get it for you as soon as we can.