Winter tactics?

birdman · 12-11-2008

If you don't mind sharing, what winter tactics are you most successful with? I personally have a difficult time hooking up in the winter months. I typically run a 3 fly rig with a dry indicator, nymph dropper, and midge trailer. This setup seems appropriate but I don't seem to get much action. I think the key is appropriate weighting?

What's successful for you?

driftlessbamboo · 12-11-2008

Because winters are so cold this far north, I never use a dryfly as an indicator. In fact I seldom use any type of indicator. Wisconsin is closed during the fall/winter months so I fish in Iowa or occasionally in Missouri. Most notably Taneycomo.
I will often fish a heavily wieghted #14 hares ear as point fly and a #16 or #18 PT as trailer. Most fish take the PT. I see the hares ear more as added wieght to get my system as deep as possible. I concentrate my efforts on the slower moving water and deepest holes in the system. I will often fish this rig actively giving occasional very short strips then allow the flies to settle/drift a short distance before once again repeating. The streams I'm fishing though are generally pretty warm in comparison to many other systems across the country due to the fact that they are spring creeks and I think the trout are probably more active.

gulfgreyhound · 12-12-2008

Low and slow works for me.Weighted flies like hares ears and prince nymphs have been good as well as stone flies. If you leave the tag end on your leader and put a split shot on it it will get you on the bottom and if it snags you only lose the shot.

birdman · 12-12-2008

I agree with both of your posts. One question I have is do you constantly change depth of your weight while fishing. And if so, how do you determine what depth? I think depth control is very critical to winter fishing.

gulfgreyhound · 12-12-2008

My old rule of thumb is if your not getting snagged up your fishing to shallow.I use a sink tip line and sinking leaders when it's cold. Cabelas has a poly leader kit which I find works well, I do a lot of fishing in the Lake Ontario tribs.and its a hug the bottom fisheries and I try to avoid weights if I can hence the combination I refered to.

12-11-2008	#1 (permalink)
birdman Administrator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Longmont, Co Posts: 638 Images: 12	Winter tactics? If you don't mind sharing, what winter tactics are you most successful with? I personally have a difficult time hooking up in the winter months. I typically run a 3 fly rig with a dry indicator, nymph dropper, and midge trailer. This setup seems appropriate but I don't seem to get much action. I think the key is appropriate weighting? What's successful for you? __________________ "I don't care how or what you hunt or fish, I'm the outdoor equal opportunist"

12-12-2008	#4 (permalink)
birdman Administrator Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Longmont, Co Posts: 638 Images: 12	I agree with both of your posts. One question I have is do you constantly change depth of your weight while fishing. And if so, how do you determine what depth? I think depth control is very critical to winter fishing. __________________ "I don't care how or what you hunt or fish, I'm the outdoor equal opportunist"

12-12-2008	#5 (permalink)
gulfgreyhound Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: florida Posts: 11	My old rule of thumb is if your not getting snagged up your fishing to shallow.I use a sink tip line and sinking leaders when it's cold. Cabelas has a poly leader kit which I find works well, I do a lot of fishing in the Lake Ontario tribs.and its a hug the bottom fisheries and I try to avoid weights if I can hence the combination I refered to. __________________ The trouble with some people is that when their not drunk their sober. Yeates

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Flathead catfish tactics	oucorry	Catfishing	1	11-21-2010 06:04 PM
Winter bass fishing	oucorry	Bass Fishing	1	12-10-2008 09:10 PM
Winter Tacklebox overhaul	oucorry	General Fishing Discussion	6	11-17-2008 09:24 PM
A good winter time bass bait	oucorry	Bass Fishing	0	02-25-2008 08:23 PM
Winter bass fishing	birdman	Fishing Articles	2	02-07-2008 02:43 PM

12-11-2008	#2 (permalink)
driftlessbamboo The Dude abides Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The driftless area of Wisconsin Posts: 58	Because winters are so cold this far north, I never use a dryfly as an indicator. In fact I seldom use any type of indicator. Wisconsin is closed during the fall/winter months so I fish in Iowa or occasionally in Missouri. Most notably Taneycomo. I will often fish a heavily wieghted #14 hares ear as point fly and a #16 or #18 PT as trailer. Most fish take the PT. I see the hares ear more as added wieght to get my system as deep as possible. I concentrate my efforts on the slower moving water and deepest holes in the system. I will often fish this rig actively giving occasional very short strips then allow the flies to settle/drift a short distance before once again repeating. The streams I'm fishing though are generally pretty warm in comparison to many other systems across the country due to the fact that they are spring creeks and I think the trout are probably more active.

12-12-2008	#3 (permalink)
gulfgreyhound Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: florida Posts: 11	Low and slow works for me.Weighted flies like hares ears and prince nymphs have been good as well as stone flies. If you leave the tag end on your leader and put a split shot on it it will get you on the bottom and if it snags you only lose the shot.