When I attended college in South Carolina, I was perplexed that locals broke out their winter coats when the weather hit the mid-60’s. Growing up in the Midwest, the only change that the mid-60’s  brought about was the addition of long sleeves. Clothing, comfort, and climate in general are all relative. You only have to go a little south in the summer to warm up, and a little north in the winter to cool off.

It also means that you don’t have to travel to the Caribbean if you want to enjoy good fishing in the coldest months. You only have to go as far south as you need to in order to get into good fishing.

I’ll be honest: the majority of my winter angling migration destinations have been in the American Southeast. Florida is an obvious choice. Arkansas can still be chilly, but boasts solid trout fishing. Virginia, while often frozen over, also has spring creeks and tailwaters that are very productive in January. Even if a trip to the Mid-Atlantic  means that I’m simply packing one less layer than I would be wearing here in New England, it feels like a big change.

And going a little south for a big change is often worth it.

What the three spots I mentioned ought to communicate is that you only have to go a little farther south. For people in the Midwest or New England, a trip to the South takes half a day. The same is true for whom the Southwest is accessible. More temperate climates do provide a wider range of opportunities. Really though, they provide a more reasonable level of comfort for you.

The first step is figuring it out. We’re often quite familiar with the fisheries that  are within a two hour drive of our home. From magazine articles and general angling lore, the premier destinations around the globe are also on our radar. But what about that intermediate tier?  Figure out what rivers and streams four to six hours away provide a good winter change of pace. Spend some time on Google maps. Cross reference weather with shop reports with what you’re reasonably able to drive on a three day trip. It might sound like the fly fishing equivalent of the grade school game that involves spinning a globe and stopping it with your finger, wherever your digit lands becoming “where you’ll live.”  Here, it is less fantasy and more a viable quick fishing trip to an exotic land like Tennessee or New Mexico.

These southward winter trips don’t only scratch an itch, but they introduce some exploration. They keep your feet in your waders, and they also broaden your exposure to the vast opportunities around you.

Load up the trunk. Take a Friday off and leave on Thursday after work. Wake up, fish hard, and enjoy the slightly better weather. Spend some money, but not so much that your budget will take a true vacation hit. Catch a few fish, find a good pizza joint, and do all of it with one less layer of fleece than you would be wearing at home.