Unknownflyman
Well-known member
Cold Nose- Warm Heart- Home river January 24
My first time fishing in January without a ice auger and jiggle sticks.
The new catch and release season allows fly fishing for the first time this year. I thought I'd get out of the house and broaden my outlook.
Short drive to the river, dense clouds and light snow. The forecast was for 34 degrees but it only got up to 24 and at least it was still no wind. I've fished in cold temps and water many times it was cold. After the arctic weather we had I figured there would be shelf ice and bank casting would be easy so wool socks and sorel boots would take the place of waders. I brought my flip gloves but I really dislike wearing gloves doing fine work so I didn't use them, bare handed it all day.
I brought my 3 weight 8'6" CT Redington rod and drift3/4 reel and some 5x tapered leaders, my plan was drifting nymphs, smaller side and light presentations.
The plan worked, I landed 6 nice brown trout and released them lots of hits lost a few and of course had a river monster on that I never seen or landed. Action all day kept it interesting.
Flies used, a Bead head prince nymph on the bigger side like 12-10 cause I was out of them and the small bead head pink squirrel took the most fish like size 16-18
The most interesting thing was the fish only hit at a certain drift speed so casting to the right part of the run keeping the fly out of the fast main flow, too slow and they wouldn't hit either, it had to be just right.
Kept the fish in the river. My iPhone doesn't like cold weather so I only got a few shots.
I had to clean the ice out of the guides every 10 casts, but it didn't bother me too much.
My first time fishing in January without a ice auger and jiggle sticks.
The new catch and release season allows fly fishing for the first time this year. I thought I'd get out of the house and broaden my outlook.
Short drive to the river, dense clouds and light snow. The forecast was for 34 degrees but it only got up to 24 and at least it was still no wind. I've fished in cold temps and water many times it was cold. After the arctic weather we had I figured there would be shelf ice and bank casting would be easy so wool socks and sorel boots would take the place of waders. I brought my flip gloves but I really dislike wearing gloves doing fine work so I didn't use them, bare handed it all day.
I brought my 3 weight 8'6" CT Redington rod and drift3/4 reel and some 5x tapered leaders, my plan was drifting nymphs, smaller side and light presentations.
The plan worked, I landed 6 nice brown trout and released them lots of hits lost a few and of course had a river monster on that I never seen or landed. Action all day kept it interesting.
Flies used, a Bead head prince nymph on the bigger side like 12-10 cause I was out of them and the small bead head pink squirrel took the most fish like size 16-18
The most interesting thing was the fish only hit at a certain drift speed so casting to the right part of the run keeping the fly out of the fast main flow, too slow and they wouldn't hit either, it had to be just right.
Kept the fish in the river. My iPhone doesn't like cold weather so I only got a few shots.
I had to clean the ice out of the guides every 10 casts, but it didn't bother me too much.
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