As we enter the coldest part of the year, there’s still plenty of excitement to be had with a fly rod. Whether you tackle up for trout, grayling, pike or coarse fish, team Turrall have some timely advice to keep catching in the cold.
Winter is a beautiful time to be out- and you won’t catch fish indoors!
Choose your quarry wisely
Not all fish are equal when it comes to tough winter conditions. Hence, smart anglers choose with care, and match their approach to the weather and what the thermometer is doing.
For those who love natural venues and running water, grayling and pike are obvious choices that will still bite even when it’s freezing (and river pike tend to be a much better bet than stillwater predators if it’s bitterly cold). As for the most underrated species, chub are another customer that will still feed when the mercury really drops.
There are few days grayling won’t feed.
Small trout stillwaters are always worth consideration too, especially for rainbows. Look at the home range of these fish, in places such as Alaska to Canada, and it’s no wonder they feel at home in the cold. Should your first choice venue flood or freeze, it’s a real bonus to find stable conditions, easy access and healthy stocks at smaller fisheries. Being spring fed they seldom completely freeze over, either. Take a look at our recent video on Rose Park for some useful tips on fishing streamers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcyX9NgI5LA&t=27s
Beware ice- and stop that line sticking!
Olive oil spray is a cheap way to stop line sticking to rod rings!
One common pain with winter fishing in icy conditions is that the fly line and leader can stick to the rod as the guides literally ice up! Thankfully, it’s an easy one to remedy. Glycerine can cure this, applied with a cotton bud to the rod rings. However, olive oil is another good solution- and the spray style cooking oil is simple to store in your bag or vest, and easy to apply with a quick few pumps.
Timing is key!
Feeding spells for most fish will be limited when it’s really cold, but this can actually be to our advantage if we fish smart. Following any frost, it’s often very hard fishing in the early morning- so you might be better to put the kettle on and get out a little later. In fact, the golden time of day for many species will often shift from early morning to mid afternoon in the coldest months.
Rainbow trout come from much colder places than the UK!
It’s never a bad idea to check the formbook with fellow anglers- or to keep a fishing diary to record productive and blank spells alike. Modern phones are a blessing here, of course, because you can easily check the date and time stamp on old pictures to see when past successes occurred.
Gentle takes and quick strikes!
Another good general rule for most winter fishing is that as cold blooded creatures, fish bite more gently in mid to late winter. Some takes can be remarkably subtle, even from pike, while grayling bites can resemble just a minor check on the line. The message here is simple; if you are in any doubt, strike! You lose nothing by doing so.
Talking of quick strikes, a discipline any angler can practice is a quiet readiness to react. After all, when fishing is tough and bites are hard won, it’s more important than ever to make the most of what might be few chances. Which also leads us to our next point!
Comfort equals focus
With some sensible preparation, winter fishing needn’t feel like an ordeal. We all fish better when we are comfy and not shivering. Extra layers and decent footwear are a must, as is a decent hat. Don’t even think about wading if you have a leak or two- and if you are brave enough to get in the drink, neoprenes offer the best insulation.
Despite the limited daylight hours, regular breaks are also sensible, with a flask of something hot in your bag. Quite often feeding spells are short and sharp, so it pays to be ready and to retain your enthusiasm and keep your hands warm for that late period of activity.
Master the depths
Jig style nymphs are a must for chub and grayling
While fish won’t always retreat to the very deepest parts of a fishery in winter, they cannot always be depended on to move far for a fly when it’s icy cold. No matter which pattern you are using, be prepared to get it down to your quarry. Even pike can be slow on the attack when it’s very chilly.
On rivers, think nothing of getting nymphs right down for chub and grayling. It’s no sin to add a small split shot or two to find the right presentation- which could easily be tripping the gravel. Some days you almost have to slap them in the face, right on the deck! Jig style “point up” flies are just the tools for the job. If you tie your own flies, invest in tungsten beads and jig hooks.
Watch the conditions- and time your visit
A mild spell can quickly lead to improved sport- so keep an eye on that weather app!
Conditions can be absolutely critical for successful winter fishing. If you have a choice of days, this makes life far easier! Certain general rules crop up again and again. Very low temperatures are not necessarily terrible, but if you are getting out in the frost, fishing in the midst of several consistently cold days is much better than a sudden drop. Fishing a day or two before the snap can also produce, as can wetting your line as milder temperatures and overcast weather arrive.
Here’s wishing you an enjoyable end to the season. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our other blog posts and the Turrall Flies Facebook page for more tips, flies and inspiration for year round fishing!
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