FLY FISHING IN FREEZING WEATHER

HOW TO KEEP WARM FLY FISHING IN FREEZING WEATHER

Written By Deschutes Angler Guide Steve Light

What We Are Talking About

Weather conditions are a popular topic these days with global warming and all. Now that Summer is long behind us, board shorts and flip flops are for the Caribbean now. But, for those of you who ”stay-cation” and pry your home waters for its bounty, definitely understand the virtues of staying warm and dry. The Fly Fishing industry, now, finally realizes the popularity of fishing-specific winter gear as a substitute for the offerings at the local Ski Shop.

The Fly Fishing In Cold Weather Scenario As Presented

Sure your Helly/Hansen works great for keeping out the cold whilst schussing about on the corduroy. However, wading into the Deschutes River in February in anticipation of a hatch of BWO’s can be a bit soggy on the Helly, especially after three hours of drizzle and chest high wading.  And if you wore your down filled parka, outside of your waders, it’s now like a “Bounty” (aka … the quicker picker upper) paper towel soaking up the river. You did, however, notice it in time to stuff it in your waders. Whew! But now, you feel a dampness, no… a stream flowing inside your waders. Now a side channel has formed in your waders because the drizzle never stopped and you gave it permission to fill up your waders via Helly run-off. The best part of it all is that your long undies and socks are made of high thread count “Egyptian Cotton”, again ... Bounty. You dash to your truck to avoid Hypothermia but, with the additional water retention, progress slows to a congressional crawl. You almost succumb to the chafing, but push through the pain. Not a day that you wish to repeat. “Top to bottom warm and dry”. This is your new mantra for Winter Fly Fishing. For those of you who are first timers at this, layering, layering, and more layering? Fickle winter conditions can often dictate your ensemble of warm and dry. So having the ability to skinny it down or fatten it up a bit is paramount to your comfort. And when you are in your comfort zone you are more likely to participate rather than wait for “nicer” weather tomorrow. Believe me, it’s always tomorrow.  Let’s fish today.

Your Fly Fishing Comfort Outline
Your poorly covered head with a well worn PBR trucker hat is cool in town but freezing ass cold on the river. In case you didn’t know this 7-10% of your body heat escapes through your uncovered head. We have a few suggestions on how to keep it in. Our two favorites are from Simms Gore-Tex Extreme Hat and the Patagonia Duckbill Hat. Slap the Simms Gore-Tex Extreme Hat on when it’s gonna rain like hell and you need serious protection. The lighter weight alternative is the Patagonia Duckbill hat. Although not waterproof, it’s very windproof and light weight. Turtle necks were cool in the Eighties along with mullets and gold chains. Not so much anymore, except in remote parts of Canada, eh? Sorry Canadians, but it’s true. It’s not as though your neck doesn't get cold it’s just that “zip neck” is all you get and it’s not enough. Enter … Buff. Not just for sun protection alone. Buffs come in warm Merino Wool. And it can be worn in 150 different ways. Might I suggest around your neck.

Base Layers And Then Some When Out Chasing Winter Steelhead

This is your foundation to build upon. Wool is a time tested classic. There just is no substitute for the warmth to weight or the feel of it on your skin (like Egyptian Cotton). There is a price to pay, however. The alternative, although relatively new, has been around long enough to take the pole position among its competitors…synthetics. Both wool and synthetic garments are hydrophobic. That’s Latin for scared of water. Cotton is hydrophilic (likes water a lot). In order for you to stay dry your gear must move water away from you. Pretty simple. The biggest advantage of synthetic is its “wash and wear” properties. Most can go several outings without getting “the funk”. And I’m not referring to George Clinton.  Wool requires a bit more upkeep and is few dollars more, but the comfort factor may outweigh the cost. Simms and Patagonia provide both types of layers. Simms offers “Down Under” Merino Wool tops and bottoms. Very clean, simple and functional. As well as a less expensive synthetic version called Wader Wick. Patagonia’s Midweight Merino Wool tops and bottoms have been a staple for Patagonia for several decades. They offer a huge selection of sizes and styles for both boys and girls! And when it gets really extreme you can supersize it up to Simms’ Guide Fleece top and bottom. No bulk and lots of warmth.

Socks And Gloves For The Winter Fly Fisherman

No doubt the body’s extremities take a beating while fly fishing in freezing temps. Finding the right gloves and socks for this type of outing can be as perplexing as choosing the right fly. While not everyone has issues wearing gloves while fishing, some do. You don’t need a glove with surgical dexterity, but you need to feel the cork in your hands and not feel like you have boxing gloves on. Here are a couple of solutions to this age old problem, Patagonia’s R Series Glove and Simms Windstopper Flex Glove. Both gloves are extremely windproof and designed for a snug fit, but only the Patagonia R glove is truly waterproof due to its closed cell neoprene shell. Either choice is a homerun. Your digits are warm and toasty now...but how 'bout your toes? Obviously you have figured out that cotton kills. Gym socks are for the gym. Like the aforementioned, wool or synthetic are your best socks. The Simms Merino Wool Wading Sock or the Patagonia Expedition Weight Merino Wool Sock come highly recommended from DAFS. However, your choice of sock may depend upon how much room you have in your boots.   If you were thinking ahead, and you bought boots one size larger than your street shoe size, then you have plenty of room to go fat and luxurious. If not…then you must be smart about this. The fastest way to cold feet may not be cold water, but a lack of  room in your boot for blood circulation. Be careful about this. Too fat of a sock can cause restriction and numbness. 

Fly Fishing In A Cloak Or Cape?

There’s no such jacket that does it all in all situations. Agreed? Ideally you should have a light spring/summer foul weather jacket as well as a heavy one for fall/winter extreme weather. If you can only have one jacket, you can smartly layer underneath the Simms Guide Jacket.  Up until recently, it was pretty much unheard of to find a technical fishing jacket that was warm AND waterproof BUT did not scream, “I’m a bright red ski parka!” That is, until the introduction of the Simms Bulkley Jacket. This might be the best fly fishing winter weather jacket available today. It’s hooded, insulated with Primaloft for warmth without weight and cloaked in Gore-Tex to keep it all dry. It’s a little longer than a traditional wading jacket making it awesome for sitting in a boat not freezing your ass off.   

Goin’ To Town Before Or After The River

It's probably acceptable to stroll into the Maupin Market to pick up a breakfast burrito in your base layers or what appears to be “skivvies”, though it's probably not ideal for a beer and gizzards at the “Rainbow Tavern”. Tights might be a bit suggestive and could attract unwanted attention from the locals.  Since there are few changing rooms on the river you are relegated to what you have on under your waders. A practical solution would be to wear garments that are socially acceptable. Assuming you care. Simms and Patagonia have a couple of cool offerings for just such an occasion. It’s not just après fish wear. Simms’ Cold Weather Shirt and Cold Weather Pant are a great solution. Not only do you look like a fly fisher, but you are functioning like one as well. They are at home in your waders or out. We’re seeing this gear popping up all over the place. Raves, barn risings and bum fights. The Patagonia offering looks a bit more technical and is produced from more performance fabrics. It has a more tapered fit than the Simms so it slides in and out of the waders easily. All of these pieces are lightly lined and pure synthetic further adding to their function.

DIFFICULT STONEFLY FISHING HAVE YOU DOWN?

I think the general angling public is missing a few things when it comes to successful stonefly fishing on the Deschutes River.  More than 75% (very conservative) of the anglers entering the shop in the last two weeks said the same thing...."Yep, the big bugs are everywhere but the fish aren't keyed on them." This is where I give them the "Really?" look. "I just guided two beginners in to a pile of rainbows on adult stone imitations yesterday. From my account, they were doing back flips to eat them." Why such a disparity in the two fishing reports? Sure, having a guide for the day on your shoulder accounts for some success as well as choosing the right fly. But, it's where my clients fished that produced eager rainbows all day long. I don't have a secret key or fly, for that matter, that unlocks the gate to the best spots. These are all of the spots that you looked at from the road and said " that looks rugged" or you said, "seriously". I row past lots of anglers fishing in good water....for the Caddis hatch. Those spots are easy to get to, no Poison Sumac, no ticks, no rattle snakes, no risk of sudden swim attacks. If it was easy for you it was easy for the other 700 anglers as well. We say this over and over to beaten down anglers...."Jungle Water". If you want them you got to go get them!  How you ask? It's not done with a 9 foot 5X leader unless your goal is to support the fly tying industry. It gets done with a 7 1/2 foot 3X leader. This is required in order to turn over a size 6 dry fly under an Alder branch just 2 feet off of the surface. If you are fishing in the "right" places, you will be sending your fly into the trees, grass, blackberries, Sumac, rose bushes,...it never ends. Rrrrrrrrrip here comes your 3X and your fly back for another round. "But I'm not seeing fish feeding on the surface". So?  Don't wait to see fish feeding to encourage fishing on the surface. These are giant insects that even the fattest trout may only eat three or four of in a day. Be one of those that gets eaten. The worst violation is sending in a "scout". We all either have done it or watched a buddy do it. You know, grab a salmon fly off of the bank and send it on its way so that a wary trout may give up their position. Should you not send your fly instead? Seems pretty damn obvious.

What fly is working?  They all will work given the conditions you're fishing the fly in. Believe me, the fish will decide for you. This is where the shop is invaluable. Don't run out of ammo! Go to the river with a good selection and practice rotating a few around in the line-up. This hatch demands aggressive fishing techniques from top to bottom, so leave your "lead boots" at home. If a fish didn't eat the first pass through, maybe the second with a little twitch, it's definitely not eating the twelfth pass through. KEEP MOVING! Have a plan. Prospect with intention. Six casts and three or four steps up river. Move the length of your leader and work the fly from the bank out. Devour the water like you mean it. Another popular question is, "When should I fish a dropper?  I'm a fan of droppers when my intention is to imitate an emerger or a cripple in the surface film that might be difficult to see or needs the aid of a large dry as an indicator fly. However, the conditions must allow for another fly to turn over without hanging up in the trees or the bank. It's not a "well, if the fish didn't eat the big bug then maybe they'll eat the dropper." Here's my theory, eat the big bug, don't eat the big bug....I'm fishing the big bug. It's only a few weeks out of the year so get after it! Amy's analogy says it all. It goes something like this. " You went all of the way to Jackson Hole (the Deschutes River) and you awoke to find 30 inches of  fresh powder (Stone Fly hatch). Your buddies brag at the end of the day boasting 20,000 vertical feet (dozens of trout) on polished groomers (nymphing) and you only got 12,000 (10 trout) of the most epic powder (dry fly fishing) of the season. You remember every turn like it was your last (explosive takes). Your buddies recall epic high speed crashes (20 minutes on the bank untangling two flies, four split shot, and a strike indicator). How do you want to remember it?

Tim Rajeff of Rajeff Sports with a native Redband Trout

OUTSTANDING TROUT FISHING ON THE DESCHUTES

Deschutes River Trout Fishing At Its Best

The Deschutes River is in great shape. It's flowing out of Pelton Dam at 5600 cfs and dropping. The water temps are suggesting Salmon Fly action. Yesterday was a great example of Stonefly Nymphs on the move. I guided some fellas up on the Deschutes Club property yesterday and pretty much laid waste to em'. With nobody floating down from Trout Creek and nobody on the Deschutes Club property we pretty much had the run of the place. It felt like my own private river. 

Peter With A Gorgeous Deschutes River Redside Trout

Tom With A Beautiful Specimen

Eli Getting A Lesson From A Hot Deschutes Redside Trout

About as predictable as the setting sun, the stones are making their push to the bank.  Size 6 "Jimmy Legs" with assorted droppers produced a ton of action. We found fish along every edge of  fast heavy structured water. CAUTION - lots of smolt in the way. This is the time of the season where you need to pay attention to pushing down barbs...especially on the big flies. We need these little "wanna-bees" to get on down river safe and sound. We encountered a few adult stones, but they didn't make a showing that was worthy of roping on a dry. There was a hatch of BWO's and and a smattering of March Browns, but the wind....shit! Anyway, we landed a lot of fish and had a blast. Thanks for the great day Tom, Peter, and Eli!

Eli's Native Redside Trout