Winter Dry Fly Fishing Tips
Move Slowly
Approach slowly. Fish are so spooky in the winter months. Like REALLY slowly.
Shallow and Slow
Look for fish in shallow-slower moving water. This water warms quicker in the winter and fish are less lethargic here. You often don’t have to be in more than up to your shins in the water!
Get Low
Kneel on your heels while casting or sit on a higher side bank to keep your appearance to minimum. The fish can see you!
Winter Dry Fly Long Leader
9’ 5x with + 2’ of 6x or 9’ 6x + 2-3’ additional 6x tippet. The fly will land softer and you will be further from the fish.
Double Dry Rig
If you can’t see your fly try a double dry rig like you would a dry dropper set up. Bigger dry first followed by your tiny midge pattern.
Cast Downstream
Try and feed the fish from the top down. Cast your fly down stream and feed some line to the rising fish as you kneel or sit on the bank.
Avoid False Casts
Avoid false casts as much as possible.
Stop Rod Tip High
Before you let your line land on the water stop your rod tip high above the water and slowly lowering it down to finish your cast This will cause less disturbance on the surface.
