Keeping Your Heart Warm in Cold Months

The wind on the side of the mountain was crisp that day, and I could feel that the wind had left my cheeks, nose and lips a bit chapped. I woke early in the morning and made the decision that the cold hands may not be worth the fish on such a day. Instead, I invited my bird dog to join me in the passenger seat of the truck and, along with a buddy and a few shotguns, we struck out after the elusive ruffed grouse in the rugged southern Appalachian mountains. After my legs had begun to burn a bit from walking around the mountain sides and rhododendron thickets, we saw the dogs point and shortly thereafter I was tucking a beautiful bird into my vest. My heart was warm – not only was I proud of my dog and my shot, but I had also been needing a few fly tying supplies for the Winter. These grouse feathers would fit the bill.

Winter often lends itself to great excuses to stay indoors and close to the warmth of the fire. We often use cold Winter days to think back on the successful, and those that were not so successful, outdoor pursuits of the year. Such days also make great days to sit at a vice and craft flies from feathers and fur to aid the future pursuits. (I personally find that a small glass of bourbon helps to cut the chill on such a day, but that is just a personal aside.) Typically in the warmer months, I do not get much done in the way of fly production aside from a few here and there on the cusp of a trip. With colder weather keeping us indoors, fly tying provides a great avenue to keep my mind in the outdoors while my body enjoys the warmth of the fire. Those grouse feathers come in handy on such a day.

Fly fishing, however, is far from out of the picture. Some of the most memorable days I have had lately have been on cold Winter days. As a guide, the majority of my free time comes when others aren’t as willing to get out. I once had a client book two return trips to the Farm based on a cold December day with an air temperature of around 8 degrees and the ground covered in 3 inches of snow. Hot chocolate was on order to be delivered to the stream that day, but the action of the fishing kept us from making it to the thermos until the time on the stream was done. And when the ice fills the guides and keeps me from the water, there are always the grouse woods!

Winter Fly Fishing Tips:

Go small - Many of the active insects in the Winter are very small. Midges provide great action on Hesse Creek and many of the local streams. Late in the day, when the water warms, a very small dry fly such as a Griffith’s Gnat will draw a fish to the top. Otherwise, fish the pupa form of the insect under the surface. Midges tend to be very small; I look to size 18-22 for Wintertime fly selections.

Big and ugly - Wintertime can also bring periodic high water levels. When the water is high and off color, look to big dark-colored flies to be your top producers. Larger streamers in black or purple are a guide favorite on our stream and local tailwaters. Large stonefly nymphs also produce well throughout the Winter. Get the fly down to the fish as he sits on the bottom conserving energy. I like to add a lot of rubber legs to my Winter flies to draw strikes from fish that need extra coaxing.

Whether it be on the water or in the woods, try to find a way to enjoy the out of doors this Winter. Keeping your heart warm is just as enjoyable as huddling by the fire.

Small fish and big memories…
– Alex Quick, Fly Fishing Manager