Page 18
Outdoor Guide
March-April 2022
Overflow fly fishing for winter trout
Photo and Text By DON GASAWAY
Warming winter temperatures allow fly fishermen to enjoy fishing in dam tailwaters, a productive fishery that appears when the water level above a dam rises during winter months. Clear, deep lakes often receive a stocking of rainbow trout. The fish immediately scatter until summer temperatures force them to suspend in the deep water. In the winter, water levels rise above the level of spillways and flow into tailwaters. Rainbow trout wash over a dam into a spillway basin and the creek below. They remain there until the late spring, when water temperatures rise to a point that the fish die or become a meal for predators. During February and March, early-season anglers
fish for these trout as they concentrate in the deeper pools. The secret is to fish early in the morning, just at the break of day. The weather is cold, but to the diehard trout angler, it is worth the discomfort. TRY TO BLEND IN It helps to wear clothing that blends with the natural cover. Bright colors tend to spook trout. Warm dry clothing is important for both comfort and safety. Getting wet in cold weather can be life-threatening. Sneaking through the brush covers the angler’s approach. Trout remain elusive and wary even in cold weather. It is important to avoid quick movements. Approach as silently as possible. The clatter of rocks and gravel crunching beneath the angler’s feet alerts trout to danger. Trout tend to face into the current. Therefore, the angler
Grasping a late winter trout from the river is like holding an icicle, but the action of trout fishing below dams is well worth it.
should approach them from downstream if possible. It is important to walk along the bank not through the water. Perhaps a recommended rod and line combination might be a 6½- or 7foot rod with a 3 or 4weight line. The smaller rod works better in
any brushy areas. The short, light rod is fun when stressed by a trout. Some recommended flies might be anything from #16 to #20 with dark bodies and stubby wings and no tails. Any midge, nymph or caddis imitation seems a good bet.
ALL IN THE POOL! Trout in winter tend to pool up in the deeper water. They seek eddies, edges of runs, the creek bank and any place of slow water. Trout feed slowly in quiet water as if to conserve energy. They do not make the spectacular
rises that are common with summer fish. This cold-water trout fishing can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. It has its rewards, but nevertheless, it is vital to remain dry and warm. Frostbite and hypothermia are ever-present dangers. This fishery will never exceed summer trout fishing in popularity or productivity. Still, it is a fun way to spend a winter morning when the “correct” time to fish trout is many long days away. Don Gasaway is an outdoor writer from Marion, IL, who fishes for trout in Missouri on the White River and throughout the Ozarks. He can be found on Facebook at www.facebook. com/#1/DonGasawayWriter and www.facebook.com// DonGasawayfishing/. His blog is www.facebook.com/ donsbankfishing/.
BIG PINEY RIVER
Today 9:24 AM
“Can’t talk. Taking some time to brush up on my skills!”
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE. GET TO PULASKI COUNTY, MO!
Gentle rivers full of twists and turns, spectacular Ozark scenery, and phenomenal fishing make for a fantastic outdoor adventure! But that only scratches the surface of all Pulaski County offers. Fill up on tales as old as time at our historic military and Route 66 stops. Test your skills at archery, golf, indoor shooting, and more. Grab delicious eats and treats at our unique diners. Then do it all again as you work your way through our day-after-day adventures.
Plan your trip at pulaskicountyusa.com.
