Winter Curious - someone who is interested in winter fly fishing but looking for assistance.

There are two types of anglers when it comes to winter fishing, those that embrace the cold and frigid temperatures and those that don't. It truly is that simple. If you happen to be one of the people who has not decided what camp you wish to be in, let's call you "Winter-Curious." Let's cut to the chase, are you cut out for winter angling? Winter fishing is going to be cold, it can at times be a little bit miserable, and there will be times when your fingers are so cold two packets of hot hands won't be able to save you. If that doesn't sound that great to you, well...can we interest you in some of our Fly Tying classes? So, if cold fingers, shorter days, and a slower pace of fishing sound good to you, then...my friend, you are "Winter-Curious."

If your curiosity is piqued, you're in luck. Today, we are going over, "How To Fill You Fly Box For Winter." If you are a seasoned fly-fishing fanatic, then many of these patterns will seem like a no-brainer. If you are new to the sport, know that many of these patterns can be productive all year round. However, the wintertime is when they really shine. Without further ado, let's go over, "How To Fill Your Fly Box for Winter."

During the wintertime, it is best practice to size down your fly selection. The best option? Midges. Often mistaken for mosquitos, non-biting midges are an excellent life cycle pattern to keep in your fly box during the winter. With a life cycle typically lasting about 3 weeks from start to finish, midges are an excellent option and can be found in EVERY tailwater section of Colorado. That being the case, let's go over a few must-have patterns when using midges this winter.

I read once that when it comes to fishing nymphs in the wintertime, often an angler can be confused between what is "ideal" and "practical" when it comes to fly choice options.

Sure, it would be ideal to have every color, weight variation, and size of a nymph in my fly box during the wintertime, but that wouldn't necessarily be practical. While the word Nymph in the context of fly fishing is typically used to encompass a viable option of subsurface flies, it originally was used to describe a specific type of fly called the "Wet Fly." These flies typically will not have wings and come in either weighted or non-weighted varieties, which help them reach specific sections of the water columns. Even though there are many options when it comes to picking out nymphs, there are a few staples that always get the job done. Below are a few that resemble what a "practical" nymph selection should look like for wintertime fly fishing.

If you want to have a successful day on the water, you should know by now that fishing subsurface flies in the game's name. However, when the forecast calls for warm days opting for small dry flies may be the ticket to success. While it is best to use this tactic when you can actively locate rising fish, you can get away with dead drifting a small dry every now and again. The specific pattern of choice? Midges & sometimes, if you're extra lucky, Blue-Winged Olives. Although widespread as far as species go, the most popular pattern this time of year will be variants of the Midge. If you are wanting to fish dry flies this winter it is important to remember that the temperature range for these to hatch will be when the average air temperature is above 30 degrees.

Before we wrap this up, I thought I would offer up a few tips and tricks to take with you before you head out to the river. The first is pretty simple; remember to layer up. I know you may not want to hear this but, one day, you will slip and take a spill into the river, and when that time comes, you are going to be very thankful that you have an extra change of clothes waiting for you back at the trailhead, especially during the winter. Also, while on clothing, remember to dress in layers. If you are unsure how to layer appropriately, check out our Layering For Winter blog post.

The next piece of advice - I would give is to lower your expectations for winter fly fishing. Winter fly fishing is tough, and many fish caught will not come quickly. Fishing during the wintertime often will require you to change the depth of your fly or change flies more than you are used to. When fly fishing in the winter, it pays to have patience and be perfectly okay with walking away with zero fish days.

Lastly, lighten up and take your time. Fly fishing in the wintertime means low flows and potentially spooky trout. One of the best ways to fool a trout during the winter is by sizing down your tippet (opt for a size 5X or 6X) and being deliberate with your casts. It will sometimes be necessary to ditch the thingamabobber or NZ Strike Indicator. While these are perfectly capable strike indicators all year round during the winter, the sound of these plopping onto the water could be enough to put a vise grip on the jaws of a trout.

However, sometimes half the battle of fly fishing during the wintertime is just going. Too often, people get intimidated by fly fishing in the wintertime. Even though fly fishing in the winter brings some challenges, the rewards for those who throw on an extra layer can be huge.

So, if you are thinking about fly fishing, this winter just go. More often than not, you will be happy you did.

For those of you that are "Winter Curious," I hope this blog post points you in the right direction when it comes to fly choice for the wintertime. As I mentioned before, many of these patterns should be in your box year-round but, winter is the time when these flies genuinely shine. You may have noticed that a couple of the flies mentioned were taken from this month's more recent Five Flies For January. If you would like an even more in-depth reason why some of these patterns are so successful during the winter, watch the video below! If you are looking for more questions answered, please swing by the shop. We are always here to help.