Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Winter Fishing



A lot of people have never fished for Trout during the Winter months. The Truckee (Ca), and Little Truckee have been opened year round for three years now. I first seriously started Winter fishing when we move down to Reno about six years ago. The Truckee River in Nevada is a great Winter fishery. I have learned a lot since then and spend most of my fishing time in Winter mostly because I am to busy in the Summer and because I love the solitude. Be prepared to get skunked at first, but the fish you do catch in Winter are usually much bigger than the ones in Summer. Here's five simple rules.

#1 Do not fish the same type water you would in the Summer. Winter fish are lethargic, they will not move far to chase a fly.
#2 Do not start at the break of dawn. Water temps are cold in the morning and fish will not get active until the sun penetrates the water and warms the temp some. Winter fish like areas with little current. Look for current that moves like a slow walking pace.
#3 Patience is key. It might take a ton of drifts to get that fish to move on your fly. Instead of changing your flies all the time, work on getting good drifts. Same rule actually applies in the Summer also.
#4 Have a midge box. Winter trout eat midges, period.
#5 Fish during warm fronts. The Sierras are blessed with bright sunny days and high pressure even in Winter. Fish on days that are the warmest and get out a few days after a big storm when the water clears.


14 comments:

Lazy Lopez said...

Good tips!

Idaho Fisherman 29 said...

Thanks for the fishing update!!! I tell my wife who cares nothing about fishing: Dear, Gilligan says to drift a midge in the frog water and look out for whiteys and getting skunked. She now thinks I have lost my mind... ha ha.

Chris Scott said...

What's your tip on preventing ice in your guides? My tip would be wait to fish until it is above 32 degrees. By the way it was -1 here this morning. Has the artic blast hit you guys yet? Any fish caught in December yet?

Matt "Gilligan" Koles said...

What's up Chris. I've heard Vasoline works, but it sure ain't is cold here as it is Montana. I guess we are gonna get a big blast next week with snow, stoked. I've caught a few nice fish this Dec, but nothing to big...

Mickey Cutler said...

Matt'
Thanks for sharing the techniques and tips on Winter fishing. If it is storming outside, are there any techs that can catch fish during those times?

Matt "Gilligan" Koles said...

It just depends how nasty it is. Sometimes it's good. When it's storming like early Spring then the BWO's start pop'n.In Winter you might just want to wait it out.

Crazy Uncle Larry said...

Dear Matt,
Now that it's cold enough to keep the beers in proper condition streamside, I want to drink more of them. But it's so bothersome taking off your gear to wiz. how do I go about taking a leak without taking off my waders and with out making a mess?

Matt "Gilligan" Koles said...

Well Larry, I would recommend zippered waders. Though I have gotten good at shaking of the lilly so that I do not dribble down frontside of my waders. Do realise I have been performing this technique for years and is not something one learns the first couple of times.

Idaho Fisherman 29 said...

I caught all whitefish today... you said it

Unknown said...

Hi guys, very useful tips, thanks!

I'm going there this month and was thinking to try out Truckee River.

Is it worth trying anything on Truckee river along highway 89 (Truckee to Tahoe City area)?

And is it legal?

Thanks a lot!
Alex.

Matt "Gilligan" Koles said...

Truckee is closed along 89. It is open from below the town of Truckee to the Stateline in Ca. Stop in Mountain Hardware in Truckee get a map some fies and info.

Unknown said...

Thanks Matt!

Mickey Cutler said...

Does the LT clear sooner than the BT after these big storms?

Matt "Gilligan" Koles said...

The L.T. will stay clear no matter what type of storm, it's all regulated by the damn outflow. You need a sled to get there now, or it's a long x county ski.


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