Many of the small trout dry flies and nymphs we use in the winter are most productive if we fish them on fine 7X leaders. This helps assure that we will get a natural presentation. The problem we encounter with cold water and air temperatures in the winter is that we lose the delicate dexterity we need to set the hook on the trouts’ strike without breaking the tippet.
The Slip Strike
Using delicately tipped 2 or 3 weight fly rods is a big help, but I go beyond that. When I get a strike, I set the hook with a Slip Strike. I hold the fly line lightly between my thumb and forefinger of my line hand. Then, when I see a strike on my dry fly or feel it on my nymph I strip the line until I feel resistance between the thumb and forefinger. As I feel the hook penetrating the trout’s jaw, I open my finger and thumb. The trout is solidly hooked and the tippet is protected.
In order to help assure good hook penetration with small hooks
- I mash down the hook barb
- Sharpen the hook
- Bend the hook point off to the side just slightly
Little things go a long way in the winter to help assure good trout fishing. However, landing a large trout on a small fly when snow covers the fields is a very gratifying experience.