A Long Winter

We've had snow on the ground in Underhill since Early November, and seen 3 months of pretty darn cold weather.  Rivers in Northern VT are mostly Iced over and lakes should have plenty of Ice.  There is not much fly fishing to be had at this time.  There are some tailwaters scattered around the northeast that could provide some winter fly fishing for people really looking to get out.  

This winter will probably put more stress on our local trout than they have seen in recent years.  My guess is that most if not all the stocked fish will die in the freestone streams.  They do not often hold over in this area but some do.  This year could be an exception with very few making it, which is not the end of the world by any means.  Fish mortality is not commonly considered in the winter but it is very real.  Most trout mortality comes from starvation.  During a long winter a trout  may not be able to intake enough calories, even though the metabolism slows it may not be enough, especially for small fish who do not have the body mass and fat to burn.  Maybe it's worth thinking twice about whether you fish for trout at this time winter, particularly a freestone stream.  I'm not saying it is right or wrong, and would not judge anyone who does get out and fish.  The truth is most of the fish simply are not eating so we are only catching a tiny fraction of the fish in a river, so the impact would be minimal at worst. In any case, they have had to endure a very long winter thus far and have at least a couple more months to go with little food. Fish also die from predators such as otters and mink,  as well as ice dams and jams forming and breaking. 

During our January thaw I did not get out, but saw a caddis fly as well as midges in good numbers in tiny mountain streams and seeps.  I assume there was a small window of feeding to be had.  If you do get out, keep it simple with eggs, worms, mops, streamers, midge larvae and  3-4 of your confidence nymphs.  

A great winter time tactic is to fish an egg, mop or brain fly on the point of a nymph rig with a small PT nymph above it on the tag.  The goal is for that point fly to roll on the bottom and even some to a rest.  It keeps the fly in the strike zone for the longest  window of time and allows lethargic fish the chance  to find and eat the fly.  On a tight line rig inverting your drift and fishing the flies past and downstream of you will produce extra fish. Inverting your drift means that the bow of your sighter is up stream of the flies, imparting zero leading effect on the flies.

Fish will certainly be found in pools, but I have seen, and been schooled in competition, when fish were sitting in shallow, slow flats more so than the deeper pools during the winter.

Lastly if you do get out, Please be safe when wading.