Nov 25, 2025

Winter is here and water temps have dropped into the 30's. Fish have officially moved into their winter grounds. They will be stacked up in deep slow runs. If you find one fish, you will probably find a load of them. Fish conserve energy this time of year but will feed on smaller aquatic bugs such as zebra midge, rainbow warrior, small stoneflys along with eggs and worms. If you're not picking fish up, you're probably not deep enough. Adjust your depth before switching fly's and don't be afraid to use a little split shot.

Chubby droppers is still the proper way to fish the lower, but if the chubby starts to ice up, replace it with a short leash indicator set up.

Winter tips:

• Fish the warmest parts of the day
• Use a wading staff for stability and to check ice thickness
• Winter fishing can be tough on the body, dress in layers and stay warm
• Keep your rod and reel out of the water to eliminate your guides and reel from freezing
• Use a net to land fish, having cold wet hands is the easiest way to end a day of fishing
• Minimize fish handling and land fish quickly.