Fly Fishing in Winter

Safety first: cold water is not a gear problem

Before tippet and flies, the part that matters most. The National Weather Service describes three things that happen when a person goes into cold water. First comes cold shock in the first two to three minutes or more: involuntary gasping, rapid breathing, a spike in heart rate and blood pressure, and panic that gets in the way of clear thinking. Then comes physical incapacitation, with muscle control lost within seconds of entering cold water. Hypothermia begins once core body temperature drops to 95°F (35°C).

Two details from the same page are worth remembering. Cold shock can be as severe at 50 to 60°F as at 35°F, so a river that does not look icy is not a safe one. And the advice is to dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature.

What that means for a day on a river:

• Tell someone where you are fishing and when you plan to be back. The NWS recommends a float plan for boaters, and the idea carries over to the bank.
• Fish with a partner when you can.
• Wear a wading belt and carry a wading staff if you wade at all. A staff gives you a third point of contact on slick rocks.
• Skip deep wading in freezing weather. Vail Valley Anglers says low, deep rivers often let you fish without wading, and says to cross a river only when you can do it with absolute safety.
• Do not stand on ice shelves over deep water. Vail Valley Anglers calls this unsafe, and I agree.
• Carry a dry bag with spare clothes. Vail Valley Anglers notes that cold, wet clothing can end the day quickly, and it can also do worse.

If someone does go in, the NWS says to stay calm, get out as soon as it is safe, use floating objects, and, if you cannot get out, conserve heat in the H.E.L.P. position: knees to chin, legs together, arms against your sides, head out of the water. For treating a victim afterward, the NWS passes along Red Cross steps: call emergency services, move the person gently to a warm place, remove wet clothing, and warm the core before the hands and feet, slowly, because warming too fast can cause dangerous heart rhythms. Please read the page itself before winter, not during it.

Where the fish are in winter

Orvis says winter trout tend to pod up in deeper, slower water. That is the whole map: slow runs, deep holes and the soft edge beside fast current. Vail Valley Anglers adds that low, deep rivers often fish well from the bank.

Orvis also lists well-known winter tailwaters and rivers, among them the South Platte, Frying Pan and Gunnison in Colorado, the Bighorn and Madison in Montana, the Snake in Wyoming, the South Fork and Henry's Fork of the Snake in Idaho, the Provo and Green in Utah, and Great Lakes tributaries. Local water you can reach in an hour is usually a better start than a long drive to a famous name.

One piece of advice from Orvis is worth taking literally: once you catch a fish in a spot, avoid disturbing the water and keep fishing the same place, because the fish are grouped. Work slow water thoroughly, and move if nothing happens.

When to go

Later, and when it is milder. Vail Valley Anglers says the bite usually starts mid to late morning, so arrive later and pack lunch. It also says to fish the days before and during a storm, when it is warmer, and notes that bright, clear days after a storm are often too cold for feeding. Orvis says surface activity peaks in mid-afternoon on sunny days, and on gray, snowy days without wind it can last all day.

Check the regulations for the stretch you plan to fish. Seasonal rules vary by water and by state, and the agency page, not a blog, is the authority.

How to fish it: slow, deep, dead-drifted

Orvis puts it plainly: dead drift is critical in winter, because trout will not chase a fly in cold water. In practice that means two setups from the Orvis page: a strike indicator with a weighted fly, or extra weight on the leader with a high-stick method that keeps most of the fly line off the water. Vail Valley Anglers agrees on the principle: a long enough leader and enough weight to keep the fly bouncing along the bottom, where trout hold.

If you swing flies, as for steelhead, Orvis suggests a sinking-tip line and a strong mend at the start of the cast so the fly swings slow and deep. For the lines themselves, see fly lines and our types of fly line guide. If your idea of winter nymphing is a long, light rod with no fly line out, euro nymphing is the same principle taken seriously.

On tippet, Orvis says light usually works better in winter and names 6X for trout and 4X for steelhead as its author's usual choice. Take that as one writer's habit, not a rule. Water is often clear and low, which is why finer tippet comes up so often.

Flies are small. Vail Valley Anglers lists midges in sizes 18 to 22 (black beauties, disco midges and RS2s) as accounting for most trout, with Copper Johns, Princes, worms and eggs as attractors, Griffith's Gnats and Parachute Adams for risers, and heavily hackled Buggers or Double Bunnies for streamers that work without a fast retrieve. For a dry fly, Orvis suggests one small midge emerger or a tiny olive mayfly emerger and nothing else, which is a refreshingly short list.

Winter fly fishing gear

Winter gear has one job, which is to keep you dry and warm for hours standing still. A few things to look at.

Waders. This is the main purchase for cold-water days. Our insulated waders page lists models with an Insulation value in the table, and neoprene waders are the other common choice for cold. If you are choosing between neoprene and breathable fabric, the breathable vs neoprene guide explains the trade. I would not buy for winter on a photo: read the fit and the Insulation column, and look at what the "More specs" toggle shows. A value marked "claimed" is the maker's word, and "—" means we could not confirm it.

Layers under the waders. Vail Valley Anglers says to layer and avoid cotton, using synthetics and merino wool. Our what to wear under waders guide goes through the layers, and wader socks cover the feet. Leave room: tight waders over thick layers lose the air that insulates.

Boots. Vail Valley Anglers says rubber soles are more practical than felt in winter because snow freezes in clumps on wet felt. See wading boots and the felt vs rubber guide.

Gloves. The same source says fishing gloves are useless once wet, and to take them off before handling a fish. Bring a spare pair and keep them dry.

Rod and reel. Nothing special in the spec sheet, but check that the reel you take is one you can operate with cold hands. Fly reels with a large, easy-to-grip handle or a simple drag knob suit cold fingers. This is my preference, not a tested claim.

Common winter mistakes

• Covering too much water. The fish are bunched up. Fishing four holes quickly is worse than fishing one hole well.
• Going out at dawn. According to the sources above, the bite usually starts later.
• Fishing too fast. If the fly is not near the bottom and not drifting naturally, it is not in the game.
• Wading deeper than you need to. In cold water the cost of a fall is high. Fishing from the bank costs you a few feet of reach.
• Handling fish with wet gloves. Vail Valley Anglers says to take them off before handling a fish.

Fish don't read spec sheets. You should, and in winter the spec you most need to read is the water temperature.

A short winter checklist

1. Weather and water conditions checked; someone knows your plan.
2. Waders sized for layers, belt on, staff in hand.
3. Rubber-soled boots, spare dry clothes in a dry bag, spare gloves.
4. Small flies, weight to get them down, a light leader.
5. Regulations for the water checked on the agency's own page.