Winter fishing tips
- Thread starter afishinado
- Start date
Kyle
Well-known member
nice article. thanks for sharing.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
I liked the part about eggs for breakfast and forsaking the "fotos."
BTW - For newbies to sub zero fishing, the tip about fixed line fishing is a good one AS LONG AS YOU REMEMBER to NOT strip in line to bring in your catch. If you do, your guides will ice up.
Also refrain from strip strikes or pulling back on the line in your line hand as you set the hook.
Take a page out of Tenkara fishing...
Don't just pinch a fixed amount of line beyond the reel with your finger, wrap the line around your index finger in front of the reel to lock it in place.
Cast this your fixed line this way and if you hook a fish, RESIST the urge to strip in line and instead, reach as far back with your rod hand so you can grab your working fly line BEYOND the tip top. Once you grab your line just pull your fly & fish in by hand.
It sounds awkward but it's not that hard once you do it a few times. A long handled net can help too.
BTW - For newbies to sub zero fishing, the tip about fixed line fishing is a good one AS LONG AS YOU REMEMBER to NOT strip in line to bring in your catch. If you do, your guides will ice up.
Also refrain from strip strikes or pulling back on the line in your line hand as you set the hook.
Take a page out of Tenkara fishing...
Don't just pinch a fixed amount of line beyond the reel with your finger, wrap the line around your index finger in front of the reel to lock it in place.
Cast this your fixed line this way and if you hook a fish, RESIST the urge to strip in line and instead, reach as far back with your rod hand so you can grab your working fly line BEYOND the tip top. Once you grab your line just pull your fly & fish in by hand.
It sounds awkward but it's not that hard once you do it a few times. A long handled net can help too.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
Take a look at Grip Studs.
I added some to a pair of Muck Boots I use for fishing at places where I don't get in the water above mid calf and they make a big difference. They have a BUNCH of different styles & lengths; one should work on boot foot waders.
Other options are putting a pair of crampons over the boots or the Korkers Rocktrax.
Both are clunkier options but they grip great.
I added some to a pair of Muck Boots I use for fishing at places where I don't get in the water above mid calf and they make a big difference. They have a BUNCH of different styles & lengths; one should work on boot foot waders.
Other options are putting a pair of crampons over the boots or the Korkers Rocktrax.
Both are clunkier options but they grip great.
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
I have a pair of Cabelas neoprene bootfoot with felt soles that I wear when fishing in cold weather. The felt soles are an issue on snow covered ground though so you have to be careful walking.
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
I can't imagine putting studs in boot foot waders being a good idea at all.
The Korkers rocktrax sound like a great option. Thanks.
I agree. I fished this past week when it was 8 degrees out and the low temperature makes things much more difficult
Bamboozle
Well-known member
Is "sub-zero" mentioned on Post #8 on the Fahrenheit scale or Celsius or does it just mean below freezing...??
I ask because I've had a TON of fantastic days on the water when the sun was shining and the air temps were in the 20's or even the teens. I stayed warm even though I was wading and caught a bunch of fish.
That being said I always wear two pair of socks, both wool with a thin wool sock liner over my bare foot and a MUCH heavier wool sock over that, waders or hippers and my regular wading shoes.
I know boot-foots are warmer but this works for me because my normal wading shoes are 1 to 1-1/2 larger than my street shoes so they easily accommodate the extra socks without being too tight.
I always wear a wool neck muffler, a wool ski cap and ear coverings and a few layers (meaning two insulated sweatshirts) and I am fine. I take gloves, but hate wearing them so I take them off and on all day. I've also carry hand warmers if it's especially cold.
I always have dry clothes and extra cold weather gear back at the car just in case I get wet or need more layers. I also know from experience that fishing much past 3:00 pm is a waste of time so I am back at the car by 3:30.
YMMV
I ask because I've had a TON of fantastic days on the water when the sun was shining and the air temps were in the 20's or even the teens. I stayed warm even though I was wading and caught a bunch of fish.
That being said I always wear two pair of socks, both wool with a thin wool sock liner over my bare foot and a MUCH heavier wool sock over that, waders or hippers and my regular wading shoes.
I know boot-foots are warmer but this works for me because my normal wading shoes are 1 to 1-1/2 larger than my street shoes so they easily accommodate the extra socks without being too tight.
I always wear a wool neck muffler, a wool ski cap and ear coverings and a few layers (meaning two insulated sweatshirts) and I am fine. I take gloves, but hate wearing them so I take them off and on all day. I've also carry hand warmers if it's especially cold.
I always have dry clothes and extra cold weather gear back at the car just in case I get wet or need more layers. I also know from experience that fishing much past 3:00 pm is a waste of time so I am back at the car by 3:30.
YMMV
dudemanspecial
Well-known member
I assumed he meant below freezing. I really hope nobody needs to be told not to go fishing below 0 Fahrenheit.
Kyle
Well-known member
i had one of my best days steelhead fishing when it was -12. i was prepared though, and im lucky because my feet never get cold. my face was feeling it though. still had a great time.
Swattie87
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- Joined
- May 3, 2011
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This is pretty much where I’m at for Winter fishing. Below freezing, I find something else to do. I know it can be done, but I’ve done it enough to know that it’s just not that fun. For me anyway.
Generally a high of at least 40 is what I’m looking for. Though, I will fish between 32 and 40, if I have cabin fever bad enough. A lot of years it seems like the warmups are during the work week, with a cold front coming Friday and knocking temps below freezing for the weekend. If that happens long enough and you catch a Saturday or Sunday above freezing, but below 40, I’ll still go.
I’m not a big tight line nympher, but that style of fishing does tend to have less ice build up issues, if you’re really itching to get out.
I don’t burn vacation days to go fishing after 12/1, and until 5/1 the following Spring. Just not worth it in my experience, and I’d rather save them for better conditions.
wildtrout2
Well-known member
I'm an admitted fair weather trout fisherman, generally May through August. Then, it's archery deer hunting that gets my undivided attention.
redietz
Well-known member
Or simply fish Tenkara when the weather is below freezing.
Back when I still had to burn vacation days, I'd start up again about 3/1 -- March and April were always the most productive months, but then again I fish a tailwater. And I'd always take April 15 off -- it was the height of the Handrickson hatch and I considered it a reward to myself for finishing my taxes on time.
Bamboozle
Well-known member
I do and it is pretty much the only way I fish for trout into the first weeks of trout season...
mt_flyfisher
Well-known member
I have neuropathy in both of my legs and feet, perhaps from doing a lot of winter steelhead fishing for many years. I’m pretty sure I froze my feet a number of times staying outside fishing all day, often in subzero temperatures. So, one of the first things that I would buy if was going to do very much winter fishing today would be to invest in the best available Hotronic foot warmers.
Stay safe and be comfortable, and the several hundred dollars that you’d spend for a pair of them might not be worth their weight in gold…but they’d certainly be worth their weight in steel. 🐟
Stay safe and be comfortable, and the several hundred dollars that you’d spend for a pair of them might not be worth their weight in gold…but they’d certainly be worth their weight in steel. 🐟
Swattie87
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 6,126
Yeah. I’m mostly a small stream guy, and they take a little longer in the Spring to turn on. I’ve taken days off in April before in what I thought would be good conditions, but still struggled more often than not…cold water. I do like fishing Hendricksons on the larger limestoners…fun to catch fish during the daylight hours, as opposed to the later season mayflies which are usually a dusk, or later deal. But, I’m satisfied with doing that on weekends. I want my vacation days for the Summer and Fall. Ideally after a good rain.
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