Winter fly fishing for trout is tough but not impossible. I am talking about the brook trout fishing and not the stocked trout fishing. Even though the aquatic nymphs are not reaching their full spring size yet, they are growing. The trout will start feeding especially toward late February as the streams start to warm. The Epeorus pleuralis mayfly nymph–the first of our mayfly hatch–will move to the lower sections of the riffles. The Mr. Rapidan Bead Head Nymph are excellent matches for this natural nymph.
An effective way to fish this nymph is to stand 15ft downstream from the riffle and cast upstream to the lower part of the riffle. I use a Murray’s Trout Nymph Leader 9ft 5X with indicators pre-installed. Keep a tight line all the way down to the indicator allowing the nymph to drift back down through the pool. Cover the complete lower part of the riffle in this way then move on upstream to the next pool. This is a great way to start the season.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing in the Winter
If you are determined to get out and try the smallmouth in the winter, then I suggest waiting for a warmer day and go out. The only chance you will have of getting a smallmouth is to find the deepest pool, use a sink tip line, with a sinking Fluorocarbon leader and swim your fly right along the bottom. You just might entice a large bass. Listen to the rest of my podcast for more info>>
Learn To Fly Fish–Spring 2023
We still have a few openings in our On The Stream Mountain Trout Schools either in the Shenandoah National Park or George Washington National Forest. These are full day schools with some classroom and on the stream instruction. Fly Rod & Reels are provided for the day.
Not ready for the on the stream school yet? Then join us on February 11, 2023 at Murray’s Fly Shop in Edinburg at 10a.m. Harry Murray will be conducting a classroom discussion on the streams and brook trout fishing in the Shenandoah National Park.
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