Winter Fly Fishing
A lot of people ask me if I fish all year long, meaning, do I fish in the winter months. I'm usually taken aback by this question because of course I fish in the winter. Then I realize most people are fair weather anglers and maybe they just never considered fishing in the winter. Either way, in this blog I'm going to try and take some of the mystery out of winter fishing and offer you insight into what you need to know about the colder fishing months in the Willamette Valley.
I follow several social media pages where I often see people asking where they can go to catch fish. It seems that they want someone to tell them where, when, and how to catch the fish rather than do the work needed to do it themselves. Sometimes another member gives them a tip but often they’re told to, “Just go.” Now this can be frustrating for those of you who may fall into the above category, but I'm here to help you learn when and where to go fishing in the winter, in general.
As a fly fishing guide I've spent innumerable hours on the back roads, in the woods and along the rivers and lakes in search of the best waters to fish. I wont say that it's been a struggle since I love being out and in the presence of nature, but it does take time. I realize not everyone has a lot of that, time, when they have to work and raise families. So here we go, some secret guide intel coming your way.
During the late fall and into early spring, water is falling and rising. Rain, the thing that makes our valley so beautiful and productive becomes our nemesis. What I mean is rain causes the river levels to be in flux all the time making wading (and floating) more of a challenge or impossible. It also affects the insects that fish eat as well as fish behavior. The colder the water, the less fish feed. It also ques fish to move to better holding lies both to lessen the water’s push on them which requires more energy and to seek warmer water.
In addition to the rain, we get hit with cold air temperatures which affect the water temp (think bugs and fish) and our own abilities to be outside withstanding it. High pressure systems bring in colder air and raise the barometer which further complicates our winter fishing strategies. Combine the two, cold rainy days, and not many folks want to go seek out fish with lock jaw while their hands and feet freeze.
My goal here is to point you to some resources that will help you identify places and times that could be “optimal” to fish while sitting in the comfort of your own home. You’ll save a lot of time, stay warm and probably learn a few skills to use all year long. Here we go-
Where to go fishing - Resources:
When you know what the river levels should be for you to wade safely you can sit in the comfort of your own home and look at a few websites to ascertain if fishing might be good. I have three websites that I refer to frequently when deciding if it’ll be worth me driving to the river and layering up for a few hours.
USGS National Water Dashboard- https://dashboard.waterdata.usgs.gov/app/nwd/en/?aoi=geolocate-25
NOAA National Weather Service- https://water.weather.gov/ahps/region_forecast.php?state=or
local weather forecast
The USGS National Water Dashboard, a useful site that will let you look at any number of water gages across the USA. I set the parameters to a 50 mile x 50 mile area around my home and check several locations to see what the levels are. Once you learn what the upper and lower water levels are for your favorite streams you can save yourself a lot of traveling to “go look”. You should also look for water temperatures here; many gauges have this as an option. You can also research past levels up to one year. There’s so much information on this site that they’ve provided tutorials to help you use it. https://help.waterdata.usgs.gov/tutorial
The second website I use is the NOAA National Weather Service site. I typically look at the “river forecast” and drill down to view Oregon. From there I can look at my favorite streams and gages to see what NOAA is predicted to happen over the next few days. There’s a huge array of data you can review here and a great way to lose a few hours going down a rabbit hole or two.
And finally, I check the local weather forecast on my phone. It's not important which one you use, you just want to know what the general conditions will be in the area you’re considering fishing. When you gather information from all three resources, you can paint a fairly accurate picture of what the river conditions will be on any given day within the upcoming week. And this my friends is how you decided WHERE to go fishing.
Here’s what to look for:
-water levels allowing you access
-steady or falling water levels (fish aren't happy with rising water)
-water temps that improve your chances at catching fish (45-60 are best)
-weather you can personally tolerate
All of these factors are variable and depend on your personal level of physical and mental comfort. For example, I'm confident wading the MF Willamette below the NF gauge when the water level is below 3500 cfs. If I check the gauge and it's at or below that 3500 cfs, it’s not pouring rain, and I can drive there safely, I'm probably going to go fishing.
HOW TO STAY WARM - Layering:
When you know you’ll be warm and comfortable on the water, even during winter, you're more likely to get out there and give it a go. The outdoor industry has come a long way in developing materials that are lightweight, warm, and comfortable. If you're an outdoor enthusiast and have some tech clothing, it can probably serve double duty as winter fishing apparel. The number one rule is, NO COTTON! Cotton absorbs sweat/moisture and holds it against your skin whereas wool or the tech fabrics wick it away and allow for evaporation. Here’s how I stay warm in the winter, while wading.
Beginning with your feet, you’ll need two layers since your wader’s stocking feet don't breathe. Start with a 100% synthetic sock/liner followed by a mid weight wool blend sock. Make sure you're not crammed in your wader’s stocking foot and wading boots as this can decrease circulation and warmth. You can also add “Lil Hotties” for the feet or buy heated socks if you prefer
Next up is your lower/upper body. Start with a base layer of polypropylene or wool blend against your skin; you want it to “breath” and absorb the moisture you’re going to generate. Next comes the insulating mid layer of fleece under your waders. And lastly, for your upper body you can add a down or synthetic vest or jacket. Depending on the weather, you may need your waterproof wading jacket. Besides repelling rain and snow, it's a great wind blocker.
Hands are important and there are lots of options including wool blend fingerless gloves, “Lil Hotties” in your pockets, nitrile gloves under wool gloves, etc. Find something that works for you and helps make the day enjoyable. Ultimately, you’ll have to sacrifice your fingers to the cold to manage the rod and line, but remember to take time out to warm them up occasionally.
TACTICS:
So now you’ve found a run to fish and you’ve got the right clothing to be out in the cold weather. You might be wondering what the fish are eating and where they might hold in the water. Trout do move around based on water level, temperature and food sources. In the colder months they move into deeper runs and pools where the water flow is easier to hold in and a little bit warmer allowing them to use less energy. Most trout won’t move very far to eat due to the cold so you have to be more precise in getting the flies to them. Don't overlook water that’s moving slowly, walking pace, and 2-4’ deep; this can be a mecca for trout.
As for what trout are eating in the winter, think small. Blue Wing Olives (BWO) and midge patterns in a size #18 - 22 are my go to patterns. With less sunlight and colder water temps the hatches are less frequent and the bugs are generally small. It’s a rare day in winter when you can fish dry flies, but some of my most memorable winter trout have come that way. It's amazing to see noses breaking the surface on a cold January day as the fish gorge. Be prepared with a few dry flies but pack a decent selection of nymphs because, “This is the way.” (from “The Mandalorian”)
You should be tuned up on your nymphing game (rigs, casting) for winter fishing. Either traditional indicators or tightline nymphing tactics are great options for our local waters. Tightline nymphing will allow you a more precise delivery of your nymphs but also necessitate you to be closer in proximity to where you want to fish. Indicator nymphing can be accomplished while not having to wade in as much. In my opinion, one is not better than the other and both have their place on the water. Nymphing rods can also be used for fishing streamers and dry flies if you know how to set them up but that's a topic for another day.
There are myriad nymphs scuttling around the substrate throughout the year, and winter is no exception. Most of a trout’s diet is going to be on mayfly and stonefly nymphs. These insects take anywhere from 1-7 years to mature so imagine the varying food opportunities for trout. I carry #6-10 stonefly patterns, #14-18 Mayfly/caddis, a several attractor patterns in the #14-18 range. Oh, and don't leave home without a few soft hackles and streamer patterns.
Time of day is an important factor to consider. In winter there’s no need to get up at the crack of dawn unless you're steelhead fishing. Trout eat throughout the day but are more keyed in when the bugs are moving around and this is dictated by sunlight and temperature. Plan for a midday/afternoon fishing session based on weather patterns and water temps. You can find this information by using the resources above.
So now you have a lot of information at your fingertips, literally, to make winter fly fishing a cinch. If you get out on the water and play around with different set ups, flies and depths, you’re sure to catch something, even if it's only a good time. Don't be intimidated or think too much about it, just GO FISH.
