Fly Fishing 365 Days A Year: Tips and Tactics for Winter Fishing
Posted by admin on Monday, February 20th, 2012
While most anglers pack their gear away for the winter, Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited secretary Jeff Yates provides tips and tactics to help you catch fish year-round. This 10-minute video provides strategies on gear and fly selection, as well as fishing methods designed to hook trout in the coldest of temperatures.
Filed in Fly Fishing Flies | 15 responses so far
BCal44on 20 Feb 2012 at 6:17 am 1Thank you for the information.
jeffyates31on 20 Feb 2012 at 6:43 am 2@BCal44 The rainbows that year (2009) were from a late fall stocking of rainbows the state put in the river. In subsequent years it has been mostly browns being stocked – and particularly this year due to the high water levels throughout the season, there are a ton of wild browns in the river and plenty of holdover browns from the spring stockings that survived when most year’s they are caught out by anglers.
BCal44on 20 Feb 2012 at 7:41 am 3I’ve fished the Norwalk a couple of time (probably about 6 times). I started in early November and now it’s the end of December. I’ve had lots of luck with dry caddises, hares ear, black buggers and especially home-tied green caddis nymphs. I’ve caught about 40 stocked browns and about 10 wild ones. Why no rainbows like in your video?
georgeouslyon 20 Feb 2012 at 8:32 am 4Great tips, Jeff.
Thanks
David Williams
jeffyates31on 20 Feb 2012 at 9:02 am 5@jke2411
Thanks! I’m actually not the manager, I’ve just been there for 6 years – and I’m only on-call, typically working Sundays now.
Glad we’ve been able to help you – how has the fishing been this season?
Jeff
jke2411on 20 Feb 2012 at 9:22 am 6You work in the Orvis store right as the manager i love it there and you helped me multiple times chose flies and a rod
wannafish1on 20 Feb 2012 at 9:37 am 7I was out April 15th which is opening day here in new Brunswick, Canada; my line iced up so bad I couldn’t reel it in! Do you have this problem and if so how do you handle it? Thanks!
jeffyates31on 20 Feb 2012 at 9:46 am 8@ATeamAnglers The state stocked the Norwalk last week with 2,200 6 to 9inch trout – primarily browns. The Norwalk has a strong population of wild spawning browns as well. You’ll be able to tell the difference between the wild and stocked fish by the colors – wild are more vibrant, bright orange spots – and the condition of the fins – stocked fish have stumped or damaged fins. Our Trout Unlimited chapter is very active in restoring the Norwalk. Visit us online at mianustu.org
ATeamAnglerson 20 Feb 2012 at 10:38 am 9Dear Jeff,
To start off, thanks for posting this video. your tactics have really helped me in winter fishing and fishing in general.
Second, i live along the Norwalk River and LOVE trout fishing… I fish for rainbows as most Anglers do on the norwalk river. I do have one question however, i’ve been catching lots of browns lately do you know why??? it seems that the bows left and the native trout moved in!!!
natlizvalon 20 Feb 2012 at 11:12 am 10Thanks Jeff. I’m a newby to fly fishing and suffering cabin fever up here in New Hampshire.
JTK1921on 20 Feb 2012 at 11:58 am 11I live right in Wilton, are you near merwin meadows area or somewhere else?
bfisher971on 20 Feb 2012 at 12:04 pm 12nice thanks
lukedog1994on 20 Feb 2012 at 12:13 pm 13thanks, ya iv never been trout fishing before but i started fly fishing last year and i cant wait to go this year and the early season starts march 7th here, so i cant wait but ther is still no open water
but this video is really helpful so thanks!!
jeffyates31on 20 Feb 2012 at 12:34 pm 14Luke,
This is in Connecticut on a small, local river fishing in early January. The season runs through February here, so the river will be closed from March 1 through Opening Day (April 18).
Stay warm.
lukedog1994on 20 Feb 2012 at 12:55 pm 15wow wat state are you in? cuz right now its march and ther is no open water in wisconsin!!!!!