To me, one of the most incredible aspects of fly fishing is that we are in a constant state of growth. Whether a seasoned veteran or novice, if you spend a day fishing and you don't learn anything, you ain't livin' right. A great way to grow as an angler is to build an intimate relationship with your local water in every season. For me, much of my "growth" came in the winter months. Let's face it, it sucks. There's mud and snow, crappy flows, tingling fingers and toes, and frozen banks just begging to snag my 6x tippet and ruin my drag free drift. I've traded the sun hoodies and Chacos for waders and boots, and #10 chubbies for #24 midges under a bobber. Tying tiny bugs onto thin tippet can be a true test of patience, even before you spend all day staring at the bobber and convincing everyone it "ticked". Or maybe you're like me and you spend the day thinking about how you could've just lived in your Jeep for the last year, so you could've saved up the money to be standing on the dance floor of a panga in Ascension Bay right now. But alas, fortune favors the brave. No matter what the day holds, I'd always rather be the one writing the fishing reports than reading them. Trust me, I still have a lot to learn as a fly fisher, but I've spent more time freezing my butt off on the river than I care to admit. So here's a little bit of what I've learned about fishing in the winter.
First and foremost, be smart! It's January in the rockies and frostbite is real, so be prepared for any situation. Preparation is critical to a successful winter fishing trip. Constantly check the weather. Winter weather can be extremely unpredictable. Although there's something purely magical about fishing in a snow storm and maybe seeing a few noses, it may not be everyone's cup of tea. There may be a storm rolling into the high country, but the Pueblo tailwater might be 45 and sunny. The front range may be getting a blast of the white stuff, while it's blue bird on the Blue. Be flexible and willing to change plans last minute if mother nature decides not to comply. Focus mainly on tailwater sections. They tend to have more consistent winter flows and won't freeze as easily. Look for stretches on the river that will be close to the car so you can take a break and change if you get cold and/or wet. Don't plan to explore some new water, plan to hunker down at your honey hole and see how long it takes before you feel your pinky toe freeze off. Target the deeper, more pronounced pools, as the trout tend to stack up here during low flows. I like to use less weight and more length during low spooky water, so don't be afraid to extend that leader for added stealth when high sticking.
Make a checklist of everything you might need besides the obvious gear and water. I won't bore you with my laundry list but here are some key items: Base layers, 3 pairs of wool socks (backup pairs because my waders leak and yours probably will too), a knit hat, a full change of clothes in case you inevitably go for a swim, and maybe more important than anything else, a first aid kit with an emergency blanket. If you or someone you are fishing with falls into the river and becomes completely submerged, that simple mistake can become an emergency very quickly in cold weather. A less important item that can turn a good day into a great one is a Jetboil/crockpot/grill. This one's self-explanatory, and when you're sharing some coffee or soup on the riverbank, you'll be sure to be invited on the next trip. One of my favorite memories of winter fishing was hanging on the riverbank, trying to assess my level of frostbite on my toes while enjoying a bowl of my friend's mom's homemade chicken and dumplings. Also, don't forget a towel and hand warmers. These beautiful inventions are key for after you've just released your fish, with hands soaking wet and numb. A quick wipe of the towel before grabbing the warmers in the kangaroo pouch of your waders; this move is an absolute game-changer.
As always, remember to protect our fish! Hopefully, by now, you've accustomed yourself to the proven catch and release practices of trout. This is even more important in the winter months. Make sure you remove your gloves and wet your hands before handling your fish. Think about fishing with barbless/pinched barb hooks.
Contrary to popular belief, the barbs on those #24's will not help you land the fish any better and will just drastically increase the fish's time out of the water while your hands are getting frozen. Above all, do not lift the fish out of the water unless you absolutely have to. Their gills are very fragile, and in cold temperatures, they will sustain damage after more than a few seconds. Think about the way your soaking wet hands feel when you lift them out of the water, and they instantly freeze; now imagine that feeling on your lung tissue. Maybe skip the grip n' grin on that yearling, or better yet, use a rubber landing net so you can still get that Instagram credit photo with the fish in the water. Remember, you are the key to conserving this beautiful resource for future generations. If you see someone out there abusing the resource, say something to them. Remember to be kind. Almost every time I've encountered someone improperly handling fish, they were unaware/uneducated on the subtle nuances of proper catch and release tactics.
Lastly, lower your expectations. Fishing in the winter can be downright brutal. The water your fly line carries will freeze to the guides on your fly pole constantly (use mucelin/chapstick on line and guides prior to fishing to help mitigate this). You'll likely be tying on the smallest midges in your box onto the smallest tippet you have with you (6x is plenty small enough) and cursing the heavens when you drop that fly, and it has vanished into thin air. To make this easier, place the fly rod vertically on your windshield with the wiper holding the cork against the glass. Crack your driver's window and feed the line and leader into your car. Then sit in the car and rig up with the heater blasting so you can at least drop all those #24's in your lap. Don't expect to catch fish, and don't make it about catching fish. Make it about having fun. Make sure you have enough snacks to occupy yourself on the bank while you heckle your buddy for farming the hookset on the one feeding trout in the pool you're in. Make it about hitting the toilet bowl and leaving early to finally try that brewery you pass every time you drive down there. As long as you lower your expectations and make it about having fun, you'll be successful. I've had some great times hanging out in the car in the parking lot, laughing with my buddies, and wondering why we thought it was a great idea to drive 3 hours one way to fish in 15-degree weather and 40mph winds. Needless to say, we were grateful for the brewery that day.
