Fly Fishing in the Winter: Embracing Deep Nymphing

Although more of a primer, this post is a serious look at fishing nymphs in the winter. If you want a satirical, pessimistic look at the technique, head over here.

If dry fly fishing is like a pitcher that can gracefully curve or spin the ball, and fishing streamers is akin to someone who can regularly hurl upwards of 100 miles an hour, then nymphing is comparable to a starter who has excellent control. These pitchers might not have as much glitz and glamour about them as the guys who can throw heat or breaking balls, but they routinely get the job done with great consistency.

Nymphing is the Greg Maddux of fly fishing. And that is a good thing.

It is no secret that fishing nymphs can be intimidating, but every fly fisherman also knows that most trout caught are on subsurface patterns. Not being able to see or feel what is happening in the same way as a floating dry or a stripped streamer can make some uneasy, but avoiding the strategy completely really limits the angler.

The winter months, and the typical conditions a fly fisher must contend with during that time, can provide  the circumstances necessary to  nudge the reluctant nymph fisher into honing their skills. The most significant factor is the temperature change. The metabolism of a fish will slow down concurrently with reduced insect activity. While not a hard and fast rule, that means there will be fewer bugs hatching (dries) and less desire to chase them (streamers). Water levels, vegetation, and other environmental variables are, of course, at play as well.

Here are three benefits to exploring, or re-exploring, using nymphs this winter:

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Fly Fishing in the Winter: Enduring Deep Nymphing

As the “humor” tag insinuates, this is a satirical look at the pessimistic perception out there among many about nymph fishing. If you want a more serious perspective, head over here.

It’s wintertime, which means that your trout tactics have to change. Across the country, most fisheries will see a significant decline in hatches as the air and water temperatures decrease. So out with the boxes of dry flies, and in with the nymphs.

Let me be the first one to express my condolences.

But the real wrinkle that gets thrown into your angling plans has to do with where the fish will be. Nymphing in the summertime might include an obligatory dropper under a big, puffy hopper. In the fall, you can send chunky stoneflies tumbling over shallow boulders. Not so in the winter. Come December, you’ve got to get deep.

Real deep.

“How am I even supposed to get a fly down that far?” you ask, incredulously.

Good question. I don’t think that it is possible for mortal fly fishers playing by the rules. However, if you’re not nymphing you’re not trying – or something like that. And deep winter nymphing requires thinking outside of the box to hook up with fish that really aren’t hungry to begin with.

Here are three suggestions for getting your bug deep enough to trick some poor, seasonally depressed trout into eating its feelings:

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Last Cast of the Week, 12/16/2016

Most Fridays on Casting Across are  devoted to other people’s contributions in the fly fishing community. Articles, pictures, social media accounts, videos, podcasts, products, and more will be featured on The Last Cast of the Week.

Today, I’m sharing items from Vedavoo, 2 Guys and a River, & FishFinder.

If you’d like to be featured in the Last Cast of the Week, or have seen something that others might be interested in, use my contact form or shoot me an email (matthew[at]castingacross[dot]com). Also, be sure to subscribe to Casting Across to never miss a post.

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Vedavoo – Christmas Island Pack Setup

I love my Vedavoo gear. The versatility is just one reason why  they have become my go-to storage packs for all types of fishing. In a post on the blog, there is some great advice and examples for loading up a pack for flats fishing. The piece in question, the Tightlines Deluxe, is the same pack that I use for most of my trout fishing. If you’re interested in a sling that can handle mountains and islands, check out this post for some of the ways that you can be flexibile with Vedavoo.

2 Guys and a River – Fly Fishing Proverbs

I’ve weighed in on bad fly fishing sayings before. Steve, one of the two guys from 2 Guys and a River, just penned a piece on some legitimate maxims from fly fishing legends. A proverb can stick in your consciousness in a way that a prolonged discourse will inevitably  leak out and… well, just read the post.


FishFinder – Choosing Trout Flies

If you’ve been fly fishing for a long time, you probably still get stumped from time to time looking at your fly box and wondering what you should use. Imagine what it feels like for a beginner! Over at FishFinder Source, they put up a great synopsis of choosing flies. It  walks a person through some basics, like size, color, and contrast. Give it a read as a refresher, or pass it along to someone who is just getting started.

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Guest Review: Pathfinder Jacket by Outback Trading Co.

Most fly fishers are all about gear. The fly fishing industry has a product for everything – and in a size and color that  you need. But what happens now and again, even for the most gear-focused anglers, is that something that isn’t made explicitly for fly fishing enters the rotation. Sometimes, that thing can even become a favorite.

I’ve gotten to know Spencer Durrant through the fly fishing circles that we travel in. He’s had the opportunity to spend some time “getting to know” a neat product from a company that I have been a customer of for years. Enjoy the review, and take a moment to consider what other options might be out there for your fishing arsenal.

-Matthew

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Fishermen – and especially fly fishermen – are creatures of habit. One only needs to visit the Henry’s Fork two years in a row at the commencement of the salmon fly hatch to see the same anglers from the year before, in the same spots, maybe or maybe not catching the same fish.

We love habit because it’s familiar, because it’s dependable, and because venturing into the unknown isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. We stick with the same fly rod manufacturer for years (I’m guilty here – I’ll only fish Winston), the same company for our waders, and there’s always at least one brick-and-mortar fly shop we buy something at every time we drive by.

The problem with habit, though, is that it leaves little room for experiencing – and possibly better – things in the world of fly fishing.

That’s where the Pathfinder Jacket, from Outback Trading Company, enters the conversation. Outback specializes in Western apparel, with a wide range of hats, coats, shirts, and vests from which to choose. What’s interesting is how much crossover exists between the Western apparel market and what fly fishermen choose to wear. Outback’s Baron performance shirts are as comfortable, light, and moisture-wicking as any comparable shirt from Orvis or Simms.

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Looking Wayward for a Custom Fly Rod

When does a fly rod become yours? Is it once you purchase it? After you’ve caught that first fish? Once the cork is stained, the reel seat is scratched, and you’ve been through a few seasons of angling together?

What if a fly rod could be unequivocally yours, even before you make the very first cast?

Fly fishers generally revel in owning multiple fly rods from various manufactures in a whole array of weights, lengths, and flex profiles. And while the off-the-rack fly rod is a totally adequate and enjoyable angling instrument, there is another option. An option where the fly rod can be yours in a way that transcends ownership.

Out behind his house, Steve Christopherson’s shop is filled with tools and storage bins. There are miscellaneous odds and ends lying about. But everything in his shop goes into creating custom fly rods. The shop is where Wayward Angler rods are built from the components on up. For the past twelve years, Christopherson has been building fly rods for himself and individual clients.

“The best part of it is talking to a customer,” Christopherson says, “because they see everything that goes into it and they get addicted to the process.” The talking seems to be an integral part of the building method. “I get to know how they fish, how they cast. I get to know them.”

The experience is a significant part of what sets a custom fly rod apart from a stock product. Whereas even the smaller companies have a team manufacturing rod after rod to identical specifications, an individual builder is invested in one piece from start to finish.

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Last Cast of the Week, 12/9/2016

Most Fridays on Casting Across are  devoted to other people’s contributions in the fly fishing community. Articles, pictures, social media accounts, videos, podcasts, products, and more will be featured on The Last Cast of the Week.

Today, I’m sharing items from Simms, Fly Rod Chronicles, & Angling Trade / TU.

If you’d like to be featured in the Last Cast of the Week, or have seen something that others might be interested in, use my contact form or shoot me an email (matthew[at]castingacross[dot]com). Also, be sure to subscribe to Casting Across to never miss a post.

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Simms – Gift Guide

One of the premier soft goods manufacturers in the industry, Simms has set itself apart in so many facets of clothing, waders, and packs. And while their premium products often carry premium price tags, they have a significant selection of more modestly priced items. Conviniently published in time for the holiday season, they have offered up a “gifts under $50” site. There are some real good things on there (I like the patch fly box, the mesh reel pouch, the dry bag…). It is a simple click and share option for making sure your “wants” are known.

Fly Rod Chronicles – YouTube

Along with the sizzle reel  from the show that the above link will direct you to, Fly Rod Chronicles with Curtis Fleming  has posted three great episodes in the last month.  These free, 20-minute videos on YouTube cover some great fishing content: fishing with Jerry West, hitting the salmon fly hatch, and more. Along with these newer shows, there is an extensive back catalog that will make for some great downtime entertainment or fly tying ambiance.

Angling Trade / TU –  Eastern Fires & Trout

Wildfires are interesting things. This fall has seen plenty across the country, with a number in the southeast. On one hand they are so very natural. On the other, they are destructive and frightening. While we can never lose sight of the effects of these fires on people, fly fishers are understandably concerned about the consequences for trout. This brief article answers some questions, potentially eases some concerns, and also  raises awareness.

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Fly Fishing Books, part 3

On the subject of reading, someone once penned the words, “I can go anywhere /  Friends to know / And ways to grow.”

For the fly fisher,  that is most certainly the case. Whether it be a destination guidebook, an intimate novel, or a technical treatise, books can unlock all sorts of opportunities. Indeed, those lyrics from the theme to “Reading Rainbow” hold a lot of truth for angling.

This is the third installation of my Fly Fishing Books series. I continue to share books that I have found to be valuable, as I believe that educating angler does a lot more than just lead to more fish in the net. A well crafted book, of any genre, will engage the reader on a number of levels. Personal introspection, appreciation of the resource, and an awareness of the community of fly fishing  can all come from sitting down with a good book.

As I’ve outlined in my previous two entries (the first being here, and the second here), I’m attempting to offer up a book from three stylistic categories:

  • Guide (regional, site specific)
  • Technical (methods, locations, fly tying)
  • Literature (novels, biographies, history)

So whatever it is in fly fishing that you are interested in, go ahead and take a look. It is, after all, in a book.

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When in the Week to Go Fly Fishing

When should you go fly fishing? Well, any time you go is better than the time that you don’t go. That being said, some forethought and discernment can go a long way in getting the most bang for your buck.

Have you ever considered the day of the week and how much of a part that plays in your own enjoyment and the fishing opportunities? You ought to. Every day is not equal, and as your schedule and the seasonality of the year changes, what might work one month could very well be a big zero the next.

So here it is: a brief synopsis of the seven days of the week and how fly fishing fits into each of them.

Saturday Let’s start at the end. This is not the day to go fishing if you want solitude. Maybe if it is raining/snowing/hailing/football playoffs. Otherwise, you’re going to have to get pretty far off the trail before you find some fish for yourself. And even if you do happen upon some spot of water where you can’t see anyone, there is a good chance that those fish have been hammered the last few days. Plus, you have yardwork. And there is college football. And “people.”

Sunday The first day of the week. The day of rest. “Saturday II” for the non-religious crowd. And for that reason, you can basically apply all of the Saturday truths to Sunday. Although, early Sunday morning is a surprisingly quiet time. That isn’t necessarily because all the other fly fishers are at church. Even in our present culture, Sunday still has a “day of rest” feel to it. Whether it is because Saturday night was crazy, or that Monday looms large, many folks take it easy. Easy like Sunday morning, even.

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Last Cast of the Week, 12/2/2016

lcw

Most Fridays on Casting Across are  devoted to other people’s contributions in the fly fishing community. Articles, pictures, social media accounts, videos, podcasts, products, and more will be featured on The Last Cast of the Week.

Today, I’m sharing items from Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo, DoubleHauled, & Cheeky Fishing.

If you’d like to be featured in the Last Cast of the Week, or have seen something that others might be interested in, use my contact form or shoot me an email (matthew[at]castingacross[dot]com). Also, be sure to subscribe to Casting Across to never miss a post.

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Western North Carolina Fly Fishing Expo

December means that winter is right around the corner. And with winter, comes the slate of fly fishing expo shows around the country. If you live in the south or mid  atlantic, the WNC Fly Fishing Expo in Asheville, NC, is the first big event on the calendar. December 2nd & 3rd, there is a full slate of vendors, classes, and exhibitions. If you’re nearby, stop in to do some shopping and some mingling. Plus, learn more about a region that is exploding in the fly fishing world.

DoubleHauled – Saturday Night’s Alright for Biting

If the crowds keep you away from the fall runs of big fish maybe getting at it after everyone else has headed in for the night is the answer. Assuming your state is okay with it, night fishing can be incredibly rewarding. Gabriel from DoubleHauled retells some stories and shares some lessons from a few nights chasing big fish by headlamp.  Consider the challenge that this kind of fly fishing entails, but also think about the opportunities.

Cheeky Fishing – Limitless Launch

The bright and powerfull reels that Cheeky make have made waves in the fly fishing world.  Their newest series, the Limitless, promises to continue that trend. 5 sizes will cover you in situations where you’re chasing trout to big game. Durable construction, a solid drag, and striking aesthetics will put these reels in magazines, awards considerations, and a lot of anglers’ Christmas lists. They come out on December 12th, so look for them soon!

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Fly Fishing, Science, & a Trout Named Steve

I totally understand that fish are just fish.

By that, I mean that I am not the kind of person that ascribes some sort of metaphysical depth to the experience of a bluegill. Fish are great, fish are worth protecting and pursuing – but fish, at the end of the day, are just fish.

But, you have to wonder sometimes.

For example: When two fish are hanging out, all chum-like (salmon pun!), and one gets caught – what do you think the other one is thinking? Again, “thinking” is all relative. Regardless of the cognitive capabilities of a trout, fish A seeing fish B going berserk surely elicits some sort of response.

If you’ve fished enough, you’ve probably seen the three common responses.

  • “Oh crap, what’s happening to Steve!?! I’m out of here!”
  • “Bugs… water… bugs… bye, Steve… bugs…”
  • “Steve! That looks awesome… I’ll do it too! Yee-haw!!!”

Let’s tackle them briefly, one at a time:

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