Fly Fishing 365 Days A Year: Tips and Tactics for Winter Fishing

While most anglers pack their gear away for the winter, Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited secretary Jeff Yates provides tips and tactics to help you catch fish year-round. This 10-minute video provides strategies on gear and fly selection, as well as fishing methods designed to hook trout in the coldest of temperatures.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Fly
• Fishing
• winter
• norwalk
• river
• wilton
• connecticut
• fly-fishing
• trout
• unlimited
• rod
• reel
• advice
• tips
• underwater

[BCal44]

I've fished the Norwalk a couple of time (probably about 6 times). I started in early November and now it's the end of December. I've had lots of luck with dry caddises, hares ear, black buggers and especially home-tied green caddis nymphs. I've caught about 40 stocked browns and about 10 wild ones. Why no rainbows like in your video?

[jeffyates31]

@BCal44 The rainbows that year (2009) were from a late fall stocking of rainbows the state put in the river. In subsequent years it has been mostly browns being stocked - and particularly this year due to the high water levels throughout the season, there are a ton of wild browns in the river and plenty of holdover browns from the spring stockings that survived when most year's they are caught out by anglers.

[jke2411]

You work in the Orvis store right as the manager i love it there and you helped me multiple times chose flies and a rod

[jeffyates31]

@jke2411

Thanks! I'm actually not the manager, I've just been there for 6 years - and I'm only on-call, typically working Sundays now.

Glad we've been able to help you - how has the fishing been this season?

Jeff

[ATeamAnglers]

Dear Jeff,

To start off, thanks for posting this video. your tactics have really helped me in winter fishing and fishing in general.

Second, i live along the Norwalk River and LOVE trout fishing... I fish for rainbows as most Anglers do on the norwalk river. I do have one question however, i've been catching lots of browns lately do you know why??? it seems that the bows left and the native trout moved in!!!

[jeffyates31]

@ATeamAnglers The state stocked the Norwalk last week with 2,200 6 to 9inch trout - primarily browns. The Norwalk has a strong population of wild spawning browns as well. You'll be able to tell the difference between the wild and stocked fish by the colors - wild are more vibrant, bright orange spots - and the condition of the fins - stocked fish have stumped or damaged fins. Our Trout Unlimited chapter is very active in restoring the Norwalk. Visit us online at mianustu.org

[BCal44]

Thank you for the information.

[georgeously]

Great tips, Jeff.

Thanks

David Williams

[wannafish1]

I was out April 15th which is opening day here in new Brunswick, Canada; my line iced up so bad I couldn't reel it in! Do you have this problem and if so how do you handle it? Thanks!

[natlizval]

Thanks Jeff. I'm a newby to fly fishing and suffering cabin fever up here in New Hampshire.