SNOWY SEASON SUCCESS

by Landon Mayer

With the hopes of giant-sized snowflakes overcoming the high country, winter angling can bring out the best of both tail water and fly fisher alike. Yes, the warm sneaker days of heat can bring comfortable conditions for anglers, but the cloud covered skies and powder filled days of winter can supply the best conditions for sub success with nymphs and streamers, even if the wind blows.

The shallow waters on any tail water are usually the first section of the river to warm up, causing lethargic trout to migrate there looking for daily meals. While it can be an advantage for anglers in gaining a visual of feeding trout, the flip side is that the fish can also see better, giving them a chance to investigate everything on your rig. The following tips are techniques I live by during the winter months for success with wary trout. Chasing Powder

When people take to the slopes as a low front sets in and heavy clouds produce heavy snowfalls, this is also the productive time to take a trip for some of the best midge action around. Unlike sunny conditions, the thick clouds insulate the air, causing warm temperatures for a majority of the day—not just the afternoon hours.

In addition to the warmth, trout feel more secure, with the cover from clouds and dark water encouraging them to gorge on the heavy hatches. When you hit the right conditions, slow your pace down, knowing that the clouds can make sight fishing a challenge. Even actively rising trout can be difficult to see as the snow falls. The dark clouds can supply great viewing lanes and window to spot trout. Pay attention to the color of the sky and always face the clouds as they move in. This will place dark glare on the surface of the water allowing you easier visibility to find feeding targets. If the clouds are consistently light, your lanes and windows will be reduced, making your viewing lane only 5-10 feet in front of you.

Snow Season Streamers

The traditional method for fishing streamers starts

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with a cast across-stream at the top of the run, letting the fly sink to the trout. Once the fly is deep enough, start a retrieve with the streamer acting like it is escaping away from the fish. While this is an effective way to cover the water in large rivers, it is a problem in winter’s tight quarters or tail waters where you can see the trout. Your presentation is drastically shortened on narrow water, and the fly or flies will line the trout’s back if it is high in the run.To prevent this from happening, cast up- and across stream at a 45-degree angle, similar to how you the start a drift using dry flies or nymphs.

A streamers rig using a weighted fly attached to a 7.5-9 ft Fluorocarbon leader, will have time to sink without spooking or lining the trout in the run. Then, with your rod tip at water level, start a retrieve with your body turning downstream toward the bank you are casting on. Keep your line taut as you retrieve your flies through the run. This angle will expose your fly to the maximum number of fish in the run.

With this method, you have a variety of ways to present the fly. Especially during the winter when trout are lethargic and stage in deep, cold water, a more natural, less aggressive presentation often works. Start by doing slow strips pauses, allowing the fly to move and dead drifting the same retrieve. Or try fast, short strips with short pauses, causing the tail to dance while the eye of the fly lifts and drops like a jig. This is a good retrieve for aggressive trout looking to ambush an injured meal.

Weight Wisdom

Midges possess some of the slimmest profiled bodies when compared to other food supplies in a trout’s diet, so when you buy or tie an imitation, you want to keep it slim. Bead is a favorite way to achieve weight on a fly, but sometimes they take the pattern

over and destroy the slim profile. In addition to the bead, I like using midges with weight supplied with synthetic materials to the body: wire, tubing, epoxy, or weighted dubbing. This is why I tie my Tube Midge (Umpqua Flies) with the addition of wire to the body. Not only is it heavier, it is also extremely durable and can stand the test of catching numerous trout, not just one, before it falls apart. I even go as far as applying Loc Tite Superglue to the thorax or body of my midges to ensure they will last. By using the slim flies without a split shot, matched with a small clear thingamabobber or white indicator, you now have one of the best natural rigs to deliver the fly to the trout. Attention to detail is important when dealing with fine tippets like 6-7 x and extremely small flies. I always encourage anglers to check their rigs every 3 casts, or whenever you think you have touched river bottom. Even a small piece of veg-

etation can cover your imitation, preventing the trout from seeing the next meal. The most common way to clean a rig is lifting the flies out of the water and clearing your rig by hand. Yes, this does work but in cold temps your fingers will become numb fast and it causes unnecessary movement above the water that can cause fish to spook. The fly slap is a more productive way to keep your flies clean. Performed below or above the water where the trout is holding with only one foot of line out past the rod tip, perform fast circular motions with the rod, causing the flies to slap the surface at the end of each rotation. After two or three rotations, you will clean your imitations and move back to presenting to the target. It is amazing how much you can learn during the winter season with midges and streamers in hand at the ready. Not only do you have a better view of the trout, but seeing all the fish’s movement will teach you a lot about the natural behavior of a feeding fish and what is the best way to approach each presentation. As the midge is the only food supply that actively hatches all year, these tips can be used during every season, and the techniques can be applied during different hatches and disciplines year round. Try these tips the next time you are looking at the forecast and wondering what day is best for your trip. About Landon Landon Mayer is a veteran Colorado guide and author of several books. His newest book, Guide Flies: Easy-to-Tie Patterns for Tough Trout, can be purchased on his website at www.landonmayerflyfishing.com. You can follow Landon on Instagram at @landonmayerflyfishing.

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