Cold Weather Fish

Most people consider the dead of winter to be less than prime time for trout fishing on our local streams and rivers. The weather is usually less than optimal, the fish are sometimes pretty lethargic, and more often than not fishing season and winter just seem not to coincide. With postseason football and hunting opportunities, why would someone want to pursue trout under these conditions?

Most importantly, waters this time of year are void of the anglers found each year in the seasons of spring and fall. The limited fishing pressure certainly helps the fish feel more comfortable and can often times increase catch rates. More often than not, fishing this time of year will be in solitude and it can be outstanding.

In the trips I have taken this year, I experienced varying conditions typical to winter weather in South Carolina. While seemingly cold weather should be expected, keep an eye out for those spurts of unseasonably warm conditions that really turn the fish on.

Always keep in mind that these differing conditions will require different strategies to successfully catch fish. The techniques I have been using recently are simple and effective. The most important thing to keep in mind is to fish deep, really deep.Make sure that you can feel the weight “tick” along the bottom. If the fly is not getting snagged every once and a while then it is not getting deep enough.

This time of year the fish are mostly found in slow water, primarily in the deep pools and tailouts. Be sure to cover every spot carefully, making sure to drift past all possible holding areas. The strikes will almost certainly be subtle so be sure to set the hook on anything out of the ordinary.

Lastly, remember that the difficult conditions this time of year are often times negated by the limited fishing pressure.