Uncategorized
Winter: It can be your favorite season
Published
8 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersGet more out of your winter fishing
By Patrick Straub EBS Fishing Columnist
Snow. It’s an essential reality in our mountain town. Whether we ski on it, need its water in summer, or move it around in plow trucks, snow on the ground translates to happy people. As the snow keeps piling up in parking lots and in your driveway, keep your eye on the prize: snow now means stream flows come summer.
But just because it’s snowing and your brain is on fresh powder doesn’t mean you can’t—and shouldn’t—go fishing. Quite the contrary, now is a great time to fish. Here’s some insight to get more enjoyment out of your winter fishing.
Adjust your mindset. This is a biggie. Winter fly fishing is a process. Grabbing a pair of sandals, a four weight, and a few dry flies won’t get it done. Most winter fishing in our area is walk-and-wade fishing, which may mean a personal gear audit and improvement. Simplicity is the exception—double nymph rigs, shelf ice, safety and access all play a role in the complexity of fly fishing in winter. It’s not mysterious, it just requires more effort. The silver lining is less people are willing to put on five layers of clothes and that translates to having most of the best holes to yourself.
There are important gear requirements. Dressing in layers and wearing quality waders and wading boots is essential. Hats, gloves and outerwear will work best if they are windproof and water-resistant. And this list doesn’t include tackle …
Overhaul your tackle. If want to stand a chance of catching fish in winter, you must fish subsurface. Fishing weighted flies or adding weight to your leader will help, but there’s another part of the equation to consider: how much weight and how deep you fish. In order to fish a cumbersome weighted two-fly rig you’ll need a longer or heavier weight rod, stouter leader and tippet material to include fluorocarbon in sizes 4X and 5X, and a different set of skills …
Learn the water-haul cast. Known also as the tension cast, this simple cast is effective for fishing clunkier rigs like a two-fly weighted nymph rig, and when you have obstructions limiting a normal backcast. At the end of your drift, allow the fly line to straighten out downstream of you. Raise your rod hand about head-weight, ensuring your submerged flies rise to the surface or slightly under the surface. When that happens, turn your wrist so your palm is parallel to the water’s surface. At that point make a normal forward casting motion, stopping it abruptly as you normally would. As you stop, be sure not to rotate your wrist any further forward and keep your thumbnail pointed up, not forward.
Simplify your fly selection. I’m telling you to invest in gear, buy some fluorocarbon tippet, and learn a new cast, but at least you can carry fewer flies. On the Gallatin River your winter fly selection should include some size 10 or 12 coffee and black Pat’s Rubberlegs, some size 18 black and red beadhead Zebra midges, some size 16 or 18 firebead sowbugs or Czech nymphs, and your favorite size 18 mayfly nymph. Dry flies in winter are rare, but you still want to be prepared—like a baby boomer with Viagra in his wallet—so always have floatant and a few adult midge patterns in your box. A Griffith’s Gnat is the best performer, but any adult midge pattern in size 18 or 20 could entice the rare rising trout. Dry flies are fun to dream about in winter, but most of your fishing will be subsurface.
Is it wrong to think about fishing on a powder day? While guiding on the Upper Madison in high summer, I often tune out from watching a client make one bad cast after another to gaze at Lone Peak and pick the lines I’ll ski in six months. So, no, it’s not wrong to think about fishing on a powder day.
Because if you’re like my last client, you can do both on the same day. Get after it the next few months. We are in the dream season now.
Pat Straub is the author of six books, including “The Frugal Fly Fisher,” “Montana on the Fly,” and “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Fly Fishing.” He and his wife own Gallatin River Guides in Big Sky.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
Upcoming Events
september, 2024
Event Type :
All
All
Arts
Education
Music
Other
Sports
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
July 15 (Monday) 6:00 pm - September 23 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description
Event Details
Hike Big Sky is a FREE guided hike for our community and visitors alike. A different trail will be featured each Monday at 9 a.m. Visit BSCO.org for trail description information. Please wear layers, bring water and snacks. Bear spray recommended.
Time
July 22 (Monday) 9:00 am - September 23 (Monday) 12:00 pm
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by
Event Details
Bike Big Sky is a FREE community mountain biking group with BSCO and Gallatin Alpine Sports. Meet at posted locations at 6 p.m. Monday evenings. Visit BSCO.org or swing by GAS for ride information.
Time
July 22 (Monday) 6:00 pm - September 30 (Monday) 6:00 pm
Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be
more
Event Details
Join Santosha, BASE and Gourmet Gals to bring you a donation based all levels community yoga lunch break class every Wednesday throughout the summer. It will be taught by a variety of teachers from Santosha and BASE. This summer all proceeds will go to Big Sky Band-Aid, aside from the first one on the 26th that is happening during Pride week- all funds donated for that class will go to Big Sky OUT. A delicious lunch will also be served by Gourmet Gals following our practice each Wednesday (included in donation). You are welcome to donate with cash at the event or you can Venmo @Santoshabigsky and make a note for Community Yoga. Hope to see you in the Park!
Time
July 24 (Wednesday) 12:00 pm - September 23 (Monday) 1:00 pm
Location
Len Hill Park