On the Water in Winter: The cold season isn’t just for fly-tying
Published atVICTOR — Snow may cover the ground and ice may cover the ponds and lakes, but the West’s bigger rivers are still open for fishing, including fly fishing.
“Fish still got to eat,” said Danny Lane, a fishing guide for Three Rivers Ranch. “I fish a lot in the winter time. I think we all do. It’s kind of our time to get out and fish for ourselves.”
“It’s a great time to go,” agreed Andy Asadorian, a guide for WorldCast Anglers out of Victor. “The flows are down on the rivers, so they are the lowest they are all year.”
Lower water levels mean the bigger rivers that are normally approached by drift boat are suddenly walkable.
“You can walk around and wade almost anywhere bank to bank,” said Asadorian. “The fish are all centrally located in pretty easy to read spots. Where you find one you will find a bunch of them.”
Asadorian described good wintering water as having some depth and a mild, but constantly flowing, current near the tail outs of runs.
First check if where you want to go is open in the wintertime.
“A lot of the smaller tributaries are closed,” said Asadorian. “It’s important to check the regulations to make sure that area is open in the wintertime. There are a lot of closures in the winter.”
What to use
Even though it is cold out, the bugs are still hatching.
“On the sunnier days you can get pretty good midge hatches small dry flies size 18 to 22, black and grey,” said Lane. “They are pretty prolific in the wintertime. All over, from the South Fork and the Henry’s Fork, and the Teton—every piece of water’s got them.”
“[Midges] are a light sensitive hatch, not a temperature based one,” said Asadorian. “There’s a midge hatch almost every single day of the year. In the summertime they get overlooked because they’re such a small insect. But it’s a large portion of the biomass of western rivers.”
It may seem surprising, but dry flies can be effective in the winter.
“You can see fish up on the surface even in the winter feeding on midges, so you can fish dry flies in the winter,” said Asadorian.
Midges can be used as a dry fly or a wet fly.
“The midge life cycle starts as an egg underwater and then hatches into a nymph,” said Lane. “The entire life cycle is a good winter go-to.”
Other wet flies include stone fly nymphs.
“Stone flies are always a viable option when it comes to wet flies or nymphs in the winter,” said Asadorian. “Stone flies have a gestation period anywhere from one to three years in the substrate, so there are always generations of stone flies that the fish can get on.”
Eggs are another option.
“Browns spawn in November, white fish spawn in December, and rainbows spawn in April to May,” said Lane. “So basically from November through May there are eggs for fish to eat.”
Lane also mentioned that plastic beads and glow bugs are useful in winter.
When to go
The best time to fish in the winter is the opposite of summertime.
“You’re looking for sunny days,” said Lane. “Anything to warm the water up and get the bugs moving… In the summer you’re looking for cloudy days but in the winter sunny days.”
That means a late start and an early finish.
“It’s a short window, it’s really only good in the heat of the day,” said Asadorian. “On a typical day it’s only going to be good from 10 in the morning till 2 in the afternoon.”
But even if it’s sunny, there’s a cold that can be too cold.
“If it’s below 15 degrees, you’re better off staying home and watch a movie or tying some flies,” said Asadorian. “Below 15 degrees you’re fighting keeping the ice out of your guides. If it’s over 15 we get a lot of sunshine, and that usually is enough to keep the ice out.”
Asadorian advised to fish near your vehicle and in an area that wasn’t totally unknown.
“If something does happen and you slip and get wet, I always park close to where I am so I can get to it and get dry. I always keep a spare set of clothes in the truck.”
What to wear
Because it is cold and fishing involves water, it’s important to layer up.
“The warmth comes from the layering system,” said Asadorian. “Wool is my first choice when it comes to base layer because even when it gets wet it retains some insulation value.”
Both guides recommended avoiding cotton.
“I swear by synthetics, because if they get wet, they will still insulate,” said Lane. “[But] cotton will freeze…Then you have to go home—quickly.”
“Synthetics are good,” agreed Asadorian. “If they get wet they dry out quickly. They also retain some insulation, but nothing really compares to wool.”
Summer waders do work, but there are winter options.
“You can wear different waders, you can wear neoprene waders with insulation in the boots,” said Lane. “Not a lot of neoprene waders come with felt soled boots, so it can be a little slippery… Be sure you’re stable on your feet. I still wear my breathables and I just wear long johns when it’s really cold.”
Remember that cold temperatures mean extra energy spent staying warm.
“I bring a warm drink to keep in the truck. Bring a snack or lunch anything to put energy back into you. Being cold takes it out of you,” said Lane. “You’re more tired than you think.”
Dangers to pay attention to
With the colder temperatures come a set of hazards that don’t enter into summer fishing.
The first one is ice.
“You always want to keep an eye out for ice coming down river, because it can knock you over and get you in trouble. That’s from experience,” said Lane.
Ice moving down river can pick up surprising amounts of speed.
“If it just warms up after being really cold, keep an eye out for ice dams,” said Asadorian. “They can be pretty nasty and definitely do some damage.”
There’s also the stationery ice to think about.
“The sheet ice can extend a third of the way into the river on both sides leaving only the middle of the river open,” said Lane. “If there are prominent ice sheets you should consider going home.”
Taking care of your equipment is another cold weather concern.
“Not shooting a bunch of line will help keep the ice from building up,” suggested Asadorian. “It’s better to send a fixed amount of line. Making the same 15-20 foot cast and walking around more will keep you fishing longer.”
Remember the colder temperatures can also be hazardous for the fish.
“The water is warmer than the air, so keep them in the water as much as you can,” said Lane. “Ideally don’t take them out of the water at all. There is freezing mortality.”
To help the fish stay in the water, Lane suggested bringing a net.
In many ways the winter water is less hazardous for fish than the warmer, summer water.
“Luckily fish do best in cold water,” said Lane.
Although the fish like the cold water, human beings need to be more careful. But don’t let that put off renewing that license early to take a trip.
“Using caution is probably the best winter fishing trip advice,” said Lane. “Just be cautious.”
This article was originally published in the Teton Valley News. It is used here with permission.