WRITING ON THE FLY,
By GEORGE LISET
I recently had a friend ask me if you can fly fish in the winter. The simple answer is “Yes!” The convoluted answer is much more complicated.
The yes answer reminds me of an experience I had as a freshman in college. I was attending college in the Chicago area and did not have a vehicle. Like most college students in the 70’s, I needed that essential piece of equipment to help me study, a stereo. So I walked downtown to the local electronics store to see what they had available.
Finding a limited selection I asked the salesman if there was another electronics store around. He mentioned there was one down the road. I asked if it was within walking distance and he replied, “Yes.” Three miles later I found the store. You get the idea. Winter fly fishing is a different beast.
The year I retired I tried to fish at least once a week all year. A feat I did accomplish. When winter came around I figured winter fly fishing would be like fishing in the spring, except you just had to put on another sweatshirt. Wrong! On my first real winter outing, the day was cold and overcast. The temperature was below freezing. I rigged up my fly rod and headed to the river and I tied on a wooly bugger. My first cast was a beauty. My next cast was a little more problematic as my line began to ice up and the ferrules started freezing over. Every third cast I was in my truck de-icing my line. I have since learned there is an art to winter fly fishing. An art I am still trying to master.
Dressing appropriately is one key. Just adding an extra sweatshirt won’t do it. Neoprene is your friend. If you are going to fish a lot in the winter, neoprene waders are in order. I have a friend that can be found most often on the Cocheco River. He reminds me of the little kid in the movie “Christmas Story,” he’s all bundled up and can barely move, but he is not cold. I will admit that I have not bought any neoprene waders, but I do a much better job of layering for the short time I am on the water.
Most anglers that winter fly fish are nymphing, especially when the temperatures are below freezing. The fish are pretty inactive and sit on the bottom waiting for food to come down the river. For nymphing, you are not laying out a lot of line which would freeze up. An angler will just keep a certain amount of line out and sling it up river and let the flies drift down on the bottom.
My winter strategy is to wait until the temperatures are above freezing so that I can cast dry flies with the occasional dropper fly. Every once in a while an angler can catch a small hatch on an overcast day and get lucky. I will also nymph, so I will actually have two fly rods rigged up to make it easier to change over.
Finding water to fish and that is not frozen over can be a challenge. The New Hampshire Fish and Game website has a list of rivers that are stocked and open for winter fishing. Last year, with an unusually warm winter, there was plenty of open water. Winnipesaukee didn’t even freeze over. I felt bad for my ice fishing friends and the sporting goods dealers who were sitting on a lot of ice fishing equipment that didn’t sell. This year seems a little colder, although we haven’t had much snow. This does make it easier for fly fishers to access rivers.
Navigating the river can be the real challenge. I have wading boots with studs on the bottom to help with slippage. I also have a wading staff with a stud on the end to help with balance. Even with my cat-like reflexes, I can hit an icy spot. Make sure you stay off the ice shelves on the river’s edge. This is mostly for the young guys who are trying to chase that big trout. That’s one reason to hang the shallows or stay on the river bank if at all possible. I have some favorite spots to fish when I am alone. I don’t want to read about myself in Monday’s Fish and Game report.
The winter is a wonderful time to fly fish, especially if there has been some snow. It can be like a winter wonderland. Most anglers will have the rivers to themselves and it is quiet. The fishing is slower, but when you do catch a fish it is an incredible feeling. I would equate it to winning a medal at the Winter Olympics. Just don’t try and get one in diving.
George Liset of Dover is an award-winning outdoor writer and avid fly fisherman who shares insights of his time on the water exploring New Hampshire streams and rivers as well of those around New England. George is a graduate of Wheaton College, Illinois, and the University of New Hampshire. His column Writing on the Fly has been honored by the New England Press Association and the New Hampshire Press Association.
