Advantages of fly fishing:

Fly fishing allows angler a wider variety of food imitations. While large lures only imitate a small number of food sources, flies can imitate virtually all sources of bass food, including small organisms like nymphs and even dry flies. Fly fisherman can also cast out mice, frog, and a variety of other food sources for these opportunistic feeders. Many times bass are found in shallow water, hiding under or near logs or snags or in weeds. Fly casters have advantage of more accurate placement, and being able to place their offering quietly without spooking skittish fish.

Bassy Water:

Largemouths usually emerge in early spring albeit a bit sluggish, but nevertheless with a speeding up metabolism, they are seeking food. Most largemouth’s will seek food in shallows, being territorial best hiding places will go to biggest fish. Recognizing a good bass hiding spot is first step in successful bass fishing. Fallen logs or weedy areas will provide cover for wary lunker. Often times bass can be spotted by careful observer, in clear water bass will appear green to pale olive across back and white to pale yellow in belly. In some areas a partner system will be beneficial with one angler standing above water to provide a bird’s eye view. Float tubes can also be helpful allowing an angler to cover a lot of water in shorter amount of time, although you give up some of advantages of sight angling.

When to Fish:

When to go:

Winter fly fishing demands a little timing and planning on your part. One nice thing is, weekends aren’t crowded, so you really don’t need to ask boss for time off, to really get some peace and solitude. But other planning does need to be done. The first thing is checking your local regulations. Many, many places now offer year around trout fly fishing. A good portion of this is probably catch and release, but that only helps in further reducing crowds. Some areas allow only lakes to be fished year round, some only allow rivers, but most places will allow something to be fished year round.

After you have your areas selected, you must really get an idea on weather. Mild winter days, specifically afternoons, can provide some shirtsleeve fishing opportunities. Coastal regions that rarely get snow or ice, need to be checked more for river levels. Three or four days of steady rain can really put a river in at unfishable levels. It is also rarely enjoyable to fish in well below freezing temperatures. Even if you can dress warmly enough, ice on guides make casting nearly impossible, and slickness of entering river is extremely dangerous. Extreme care should be taken when wading in general, one slight misstep, can send you into river, dangerous all year, this is multiplied by cold air temperatures in winter. Also light is much less, making it difficult to see river bottom while wading. So step very cautiously. And always fish with a partner.

OK, enough of warnings, when to go is what we are after. I prefer a nice period of dry weather, with mild afternoons. I rarely fish in early morning, in winter, but if you can get a fogged over morning with nicely rising afternoon temperatures that reach in to 40’s, you have a day to hit water!

What to wear:

A few years ago I switched to breathable waders and I actually have never been more comfortable while winter fishing. I layer underneath with two or three layers of thermal wear, including one layer of fleece pants. I can move much better than in neoprene’s, and there is no clamminess to bring on chills. Socks are also important silk liners with thick winter socks work for me. I have a roomier pair of wading boots specifically for winter to allow for extra bulk. I also don’t cinch my boots down too tight, as that seems to cut off circulation, nothing will ruin a fishing trip quicker than cold feet.