Fishing with Andrew Corpening

Winter Fishing: Maybe

By Andrew Corpening

For most people, fishing does not come to mind when thinking of High Country winters. With the area’s snow sports resorts up and running, what does come to mind is skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating. But if you are an avid fisher, think again; there are some good fishing opportunities during the winter. The winter/spring season in the High Country can be a roller coaster with a nasty day followed by a beautiful one. Even if it is a little chilly, a bright sunny day can be a great day to fish. If you are concerned about “opening day,” remember that most of the area streams are open all year. Only Hatchery Supported streams are closed for one month, from March 1 until the first Saturday in April.

Streams designated Wild Trout are open year-round but are limited to single hook, artificial lures only. Four trout can be kept from these streams with a minimum size of seven inches. Delayed Harvest streams are also open during the closed month and require single hook, artificial lures but all trout must be released. Also remember that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) passed a rule that no scented baits can be used on streams designated single hook, artificial lures.

If you do decide to go fishing during the winter, there are some things you need to keep in mind. If the temperature is well below freezing you might be better off going skiing or curling up with a good book. Fly fishing line is thick and picks up water. If it is below freezing, that water will freeze in the guides on the rod making it difficult, or impossible, to cast.

Another consideration is ice on the streams. Even though High Country rivers seldom freeze over entirely, there will be ice along the edges. This ice can easily cut your leader if a trout swims under the ice.

Also of concern is your safety. River rocks above the water level can become icy from the natural spray coming from the stream. Be very careful when wading on these rocks since a bad fall is possible.

And speaking of falling, don’t get too far from your car or other heat source. Falling in is part of the wading experience. In fact, if you don’t fall in occasionally, you probably are not fishing enough. This is no big deal during the spring, summer, and autumn, but can become life threating during the winter. You need to have a heat source close by because hypothermia can be a real possibility.

If the weather is not cooperating and fishing is out of the question, one good thing to do during the winter months is to purge your fly boxes. Nearly every fly fisher has flies that they have never used or have used just once. This comes from the nearly universal trait of fly fishers who have to buy a few flies whenever they are in a fly shop. As the late Lee Wulff said, “Most flies are tied to catch the fisherman more than the fish.” If you have flies that are not used, why carry them? Get them out of your box and give them to someone just starting to fly fish.

Speaking of purging, when was the last time you purged your vest or pack? As with the flies, most fly fishers are carrying around more “stuff” than they really need. Using the same rule of thumb for cleaning out a closet, get rid of the things you haven’t used in two years. Your neck and shoulders will appreciate the lighter weight of your vest or pack. And who knows, you might find something you can use but forgot you had.

Since you will have emptied your vest to inventory what you need and don’t need, why not give it a wash. If you wash your vest, use a non-scented detergent. Even though fly fishers love aquatic insects, they don’t necessarily like the biting kinds. You are less likely to attract nuisance insects if your vest does not smell like perfume.

Another good winter fishing activity is to check your equipment. Are your reels turning smoothly? If not, apply a little reel lubricant. Next, check out your fly lines. Dirty fly line does not cast as well or float as high as a clean one does. You can clean your line with a little dish detergent in a bath tub full of water. Soak and wipe the line and then rinse it. If this method seems like a lot of trouble, commercial fly line cleaners are available that reduce this multi-step process to one application. Cleaning only works if your fly line is in good shape otherwise. If it is cracked or frayed, buy some new line.

If you are a fly tier, the winter is the perfect time to stock up on your favorite fly patterns. Even though trying a new pattern or just experimenting is part of the appeal of fly tying, it is not particularly productive. If you want to replenish a favorite fly, go ahead and tie one or two dozen. It is much easier to tie multiple flies while you have the appropriate materials at hand. This is the way commercial fly tiers do it.

One last equipment item that needs to be checked are your waders. If you felt like you might have a leak in them the last time you fished, try to find and repair it. If you use stocking foot waders, the easiest way to pin point the leak is to turn them inside out and fill them with water. When you find the leak mark it with a felt tip pen. Then dump the water, turn them right side out, and, after drying, patch the leak. If you use waders with a built-in boot that cannot be turned inside out, you will just have to go over them closely until you think you have found the leak.

If you have gone over your gear three times but the weather is still too brutal outside, it is time to grab a good fly fishing book. A new book recently published is The Unreasonable Virtue of Fly Fishing by awardwinning author Mark Kurlansky. If you have an interest in the history of fly fishing, this book is for you. Kurlansky has done a mindboggling amount of research in writing this book. It is both informative and entertaining, and is sure to become a classic.