Well it hasnt been the nicest winter...wilds in winter:helpful tips.

The title says it all !

With one solid day in early to mid January, a 40 degree day to be exact,  and fishing new water with new patterns got my hopes up for winter.  The average fish was at least 14 inches with 5 being caught by me and five being caught by my good pal Frankie and I thought hey this is nice, boy was I wrong.  Fly fishing has become more like a game of cat and mouse.  All of the snow and inconsistent temperature has really been throwing these fish for a loop. So I figured of one place I could go, a Class A wild trout stream.  I knew where fish were, the early start of the melt would help bring these fish out with the warmer days, and where fly selection is up to the fly fisherman.

To turn the odds in your favor here are some helpful tips I would like to share.

1) Fish familiar water; fishing familiar water is a huge added bonus, an ace up your sleeve if you will.  You knowing the water and where you have previously caught fish helps in combatting a severe case of depression on the stream.  The winter times are probably the hardest, mentally, on a fly fisher, cold feet, numb hands, and runny noses also do not help the chances of sinking a hook set.  Fishing this familiar water will help mentally and fish or no fish you can still end on a positive note, knowing that there are fish, and just say maybe another day! Positive, Positive, Positive, can really be a deciding factor in seeing your outing as a good one or bad one.

2) Branch out from your normal habits and thoughts; Different winter water flows call for different situations.  A lot of places I go, I look at the water clarity first.  Then look at my selection.  The water clarity and flow rate can tell you a lot of what you can and cant get away with. However, I do not always live by this.  For me it varies.

Usually on one of my favorite local Class A wild trout streams, water clarity, flow rate, and fly selection go hand in hand.  I like to use a lot of nymphs.  When the water is low and clear, small flies and fine tippets are the way to go fished under a small indicator, a drag free drift is most key.  However, Sz.12s and 14s should not be overlooked.  Sometimes the trout can turn off of the small stuff and start eating the bigger stuff very eagerly. Another situation is if the water is up, but not muddy, and is flowing at a moderate rate or just above a normal flow for your body of water.  This is one of my favorite times to fish.  I enjoy these types of flows because you can get away with a lot more.  5x tippet and a tandem (dropper or double nymph) rig is my go to.  I put the heavier fly usually a sz 10, 12, or 14 tied with a tungsten bead on bottom with a sz 8 split shot on my dropper line coming off my lead fly which is usually a sz 14,16, or 18 nymph.  Streamers are another pattern to never be over looked ! A lot of small and big browns or rainbows, whatever type of trout, will take a swipe at a streamer.  Stick with natural colors in low water, and in high stained water you are going to want some streamers that stand out, your blacks, dark browns, purple, yellow, chartreuse, white , and the list goes on.  Just always remember to get away from the norm and diversify !

3)Pattern selection;  Well with the low clear flows of winter, that do happen to grace us with their presence, can be productive!  Natural but flashy has been a saying of mine and has not steered me wrong.   Staying in the 16-20 range has been the most productive for me with wild trout and having these types of conditions.  Although do not be afraid to fish your 10s, 12s, and 14s with a single split shot.  This will also help keep those nymphs right where you want them, remember fish tend to be even more skittish when the flows are low in winter so stealth, a low profile, and an absolute drag free drift are key as well. 

As winter goes on and the snow has came and went, were going to have some melt, runoff, really whatever you want to call it.  Warmer days plus the early melt or really whenever you end up timing it can be very, very productive.  Flashy but natural and bigger sizes for nymphs really are my top producers in the early stages of the snow melt when the water starts to rise and warm up.  Most of these trout with these conditions are coming out of hiding to eat !  A big fly that is flashy but natural speaks volumes to the fish.

Just remember some of these tips and try them out !  I am most positive some of you will find success with these tips !

Stay Warm !

Nick

Been Slacking.... My Sincerest Apologies

Hello Everyone !

With 2013 gone and 2014 here I must say I am deeply upset at my self for letting this blog go for awhile.

I am going to be keeping this blog up to date as much as I can !

As for a recap of 2013 I can say it was an amazing year of fishing ! New water has been discovered and fished, with great results ! I have been developing new patterns that have been producing a lot of fish!

I am more than excited for this Spring ! I hope everyone is as well !

I am planning on going fishing tomorrow and a stream report will be up on which stream I fish.

I hope everyone will enjoy the posts that are about to come !

Tight Lines
Nick Masteller