Winter Fishing

By: Chris Cook (Admin. for FlyFishingWorld Yahoo Group)

The cold weather has arrived and morning frosts whiten the countryside. But don't put you rod away because the fisheries are still open.

It wasn't long ago that you were considered rather strange for pursuing trout on a cold winter's day. With the fry-feeding carnival over by late October, the stillwater tackle was stored away until spring and, in-between, thoughts turned to grayling fishing. These days you're as likely to find the winter fishery as busy as that of the opening weeks in spring.  There are several reasons for this, but the following points must surely be largely responsible. Probably, the single most important factor is our development in fishing attitudes. Things have come a long way in the last couple of years. New flies and tactics appear each month, enabling us to come to terms with trout under the extremes of conditions.

Global warming is taking effect too, much milder weather now dominates the supposed colder months. Both trout and angler have responded to this by becoming more active. fishery owners have noticed the change as well.

It was once unheard of to introduce fish in winter, now, many waters stock right through the year. Nowadays, triploid trout are stocked. These retain their silvery look all-year-round so dark coloured fish are largely a thing of the past. This certainly helps by maintaining a reasonable head of quality fish.

Finally, let's not forget the advancements in performance clothing. Gone are the days when you were soaking wet and cold by lunch time. Now you can fish all day in the worst imaginable elements, yet still go home dry and warm. This is important, for a cold, miserable angler is rarely a successful one.

Subtle Approach

Generally speaking, lures and sinking lines of various densities will be the order of the day. This is angling at its most skilled and the thoughtful angler fishing lures will often score when others fail.  But, there are occasions (which are becoming more frequent), when a more subtle approach is called for. A floater with a selection of small nymphs also has its place in the middle of winter. Recently, I had a very interesting visit to Tewitsfield Trout Fishery which really illustrated the significance of nymphing during winter. Located north of Carnforth, Lancs, this charming little fishery is an ideal venue to spend a winter's day. The 7-acre water appears barren at first sight. The new fishery manager is Brendan O'Hara. He's been in residence for quite a few months now and has done a lot of work improving the fishery. This includes the arrival of toilets, lodge improvements and the welcome addition of a small tackle shop. Beneath the water surface ledges, extensive shallows and pockets of deep water provide the angler with plenty to go at.  Fish averaging 1.5lb are stocked, both winter and summer. To complement these, trout into double figures are also introduced. At the last count, the fishery record stood at 16lb, held by Cumbrian angler Brian Pickthall.

Flooded Margins Mean Trout Close In

It was a typical winter's day, the sun was playing hide and seek with rain threatening clouds. These fulfilled their promise as squally showers made the air temperature dip some seven degrees. Minutes later the sun would appear, warming things up, before another heavy downpour repeated the cycle. Fluctuating air temperatures usually send the fish deep and make for tough fishing.  Recent rainfall had pushed the level up a good 2ft. Subsequently, the margins were under a band of water, some 12 to 15ft wide. Wearing neoprene waders for the extra warmth allowed me to reach the original shore line by quietly paddling out. A medium sinking line was my compromising choice. This would permit me to cover a wide range of water depths, with varying retrieve rates. No sooner had I made the first cast, than a fish moved between myself and the bank.
Undeterred, I stuck with my original plan, only for two more fish to bulge over the shallows. I then realised what was happening. The flooded shoreline had created an alternative feeding ground for fish.  From the depths, trout were making sorties over the rich, aquatic pasture.  Fish feeding over such shallow areas are often wary creatures at the best of times. A careless cast or heavy fly plopping over their heads has them scurrying away into the sanctuary of deeper water. The answer? A floating line with two no-frills Buzzers attached. Cautiously retreating from the water, I was soon in a position to make a few tentative casts. It's best to work along the bank, fishing a shortish line. This way you spook less fish and with some line off the reel, any fish that show at range can be quickly covered.  Leaders need to be long enough, so as not to spook fish but not too long, otherwise the fly will constantly snag the bottom. I fished one of 14ft, with a dropper 5ft up from the point.

Smaller Flies Fish Higher

Obviously, smaller flies are going to fish higher in the water, allowing more time for the cast to be fished out. With this in mind, I attached two size 16 Buzzers. Fortunately a breeze was blowing into my bank. All I needed to do was pitch the flies out and let them swing round on the ripple. Again this draws little suspicion and the fish seem to accept them more readily. I take two trout in the 3lb plus bracket. With the ensuing disturbance other fish may well become edgy. Resting the water for 10 minutes or so can pay dividends. What better opportunity then, to check leader knots and observe any activity elsewhere on the fishery?  The short break brings its rewards as another fit rainbow succumbs to the tiny buzzer pupa. Fish hooked over the shallows usually make for deeper water at an electrifying pace. Don't panic, let them run. Once into the depths, they generally slow up and you can gain the upper hand quickly. Trying to stop them on their initial run inevitably ends in disaster as you're left holding a pig-tailed leader, minus the fly!

Buzzers Will Work Deeper Too

With no more shallow water fish anticipated, I turned my attentions to the deeper areas. Following the earlier success of fishing buzzers, I decided to stay with them. Any fish feeding are sure to do so at much deeper depths. Two methods produce consistent results for me under these circumstances., I prefer to set up a slime line with three flies. Using a floater in blustery conditions will often keep the flies high in the water. A slime line offers improved depth control and possibly makes it a little easier to detect takes, as you're more likely to be in direct control with your flies. Two buzzer patterns will occupy the droppers and hedging my bets, a suggestive pattern such as a Diawl Bach or Hare's Ear Nymph is tied on the point. A leader of some 14ft is used, with droppers spaced at 5ft intervals and a final 4ft to the point fly. This leader system balances very well and where necessary, will facilitate casting into a stiff breeze. Having cast the team out, hold the rod tip about a foot above the water. Keep retrieval rates slow and smooth, this helps to spot takes. The line from rod tip to water will now act like a coarse anglers swingtip.  Takes usually register as a slight deviation on this portion of the line. Any hint of a taking trout should be met with a confident lift. Don't hesitate, or the fish will be long gone. Of course, there will be many instances when you feel rather than see the take. These are more likely to be a heaviness on the line and if you're really lucky, you may get the more familiar pull from a taking trout. When remarkably stormy conditions prevail, recognising takes becomes very tricky, as the rod tip and line get blown in every imaginable direction You have little option now than to fish with the rod tip sub-surface. Yes, a percentage of takes will go unnoticed but a good many will also be felt which may otherwise have been missed.

Give The Reverse Parachute A Try

If a more moderate wind is experienced, then a floating line with a team of small imitative patterns will often score. If it's windy Trout in the upper layers can easily be tackled using conventional nymphing tactics. However, the bulk of the fish will generally be located at depth. One method that is effective for reaching such trout and one which dominates my winter campaign, is to fish a team of buzzers under a sight indicator. These days my preferred indicator is a large dry fly. In New Zealand they have been using this technique with great success for years. They favour large bushy dries, like Wulff patterns.  They attach the leader and nymph directly to the dry fly via the hook bend. For me, a large parachute fly to the top dropper position. This worked extremely well but restricted fishing to a fixed depth. After some though and a few failed ideas I finally came up with a clever alternative which gave me the best of both worlds. A parachute fly tied in reverse! The wing and hackle were incorporated at the hook bend with the abdomen tapering down to the eye. With the leader doubled over, thread it through the hook eye. Now take the threaded loop of leader section right over the fly and tighten up to the hook eye. If a different depth is required, simply loosen the knot and feed the fly up or down the leader. Once at the desired depth, bed down the knot once again. Parachute style flies offer a number of advantages for this fishing method. They float extremely well but equally cause little resistance to when a fish takes the nymph. The post wing is easily seen at long range. You can alter the wing colour to suit conditions. Yellow or white is good in dark or poor light, whilst pink and orange are perfect for brighter days. And most importantly these flies also catch a fair number of fish.

Opt For The Natural Look

Try to fish the team as natural as possible. This is easily achieved when fishing into a wind. All that is required is to retrieve at the pace of the drift. Where crosswinds occur, cast the flies upwind at a 45 degree angle. Now fish the flies until they draw level to your position. If back-winds are encountered, try to introduce a little slack into the fly line. You can accomplish this by either exaggerating a slack line cast, or paying line out by waggling the rod tip from side to side once the cast has settled. This way the flies are able to drift with the current. Do not overdo this, for too much loose line means you'll have difficulty trying to connect with a taking fish. A breeze is blowing onto the Causeway, making this an ideal starting point. I begin by prospecting the upper layers. A healthy 2lb rainbow finds the almost static buzzer too tempting. Following that, action is slow. Searching to find a drop-off, I increase the depth to 7ft. Almost instantly a response is forthcoming. The parachute fly disappears again to register a trout's interest. Occasionally, the dry fly will move sideways or waver. Respond with confidence and you'll be astonished at the number of times the rod arcs over as another trout bids for freedom. Fish favour the size 14 dark brown buzzer and a bloodworm on the point also takes a percentage of trout.

Try A Short But Tapered Leader

At times there may be up to some 15ft between dry fly and your chosen nymphs. This is not the best of leader set-ups to cast.  A short, steep tapered section of leader connected to the fly line is advisable. I use a 3ft length with a butt of 20lb breaking strain tapering sharply to 7lb. Depending at what depth you consider trout to be feeding, attach a length of leader material of between four and ten feet. Use a low diameter leader material of 6lb from the tapered leader to the first dropper, as this will contain the dry fly/indicator. When doubled up, the reduced diameter line will still pass through they hook eye. Form a dropper and construct the final section of tippet using 5lb breaking strain. I fish the dropper and point fly only 2 ft apart. This gives impetus to the tippet area, providing better turn-over and quickly sinking flies. If you wish, a third dropper can be added but this can make handling rather tricky.

Dark Coloured Spiders

When sport slowed I moved towards the island area. Here well established weedbeds provide cruising trout with plenty of food. I take an early fish before activity slows up once more. It was then I noticed two rise forms. A hint of warmth from the afternoon sun has possible encouraged a few fish to look-up. Off comes the parachute fly as I arrange the leader to take a third dropper, before tying on two small spiders and a buzzer. The light crosswind creates a nice bow in the line allowing me to swing the flies round in an attractive fashion. This style of fishing is quite deadly when trout are moving close to the surface. Dark coloured spiders with a thorax region are perfect pupa imitations when fishing close to the surface. I watch the curving line for takes. Usually it draws away satisfyingly, and all that remains is to tighten into the fish. A welcome spell of action lasts about an hour. Then a sinking sun brings dipping air temperatures. And the trout vanish as quickly as they appeared.

White Lure For Last Gasp Trout

In the gathering gloom I finally call upon my sinking line. I have found a white lure to be positively lethal as dusk approaches. A steady figure-of-eight retrieve draws two more brightly flanked rainbows from deep water, before my numbing hands fail to function.  Although trout caught over shallow water were an unexpected bonus, it was the awareness and foresight to change tactics that brought rewarding fishing throughout the day. Many anglers arrive at a fishery with their mind already made up as to what they are going to fish. This is fine, but to stick with one technique all day can be detrimental. If trout are not responding to your chosen method don't wait too long before rethinking your game plan. Have faith, try a floater with a couple of nymphs, you may be pleasantly surprised.