Trout

Flagler-style Little Black Stonefly Nymph Winter stonefly nymphs in sizes 16–20, fished tight to the banks during afternoon warm-ups, produce some of the year's most consistent nymphing from late January through March. While most anglers focus exclusively on midges, early black stoneflies (families Capniidae and Taeniopterygidae) are actively migrating...

When ice locks up northern trout streams, southern tailwaters enter their quiet season—and their most consistent fishing. February offers a rare combination: stable dam-released flows holding between 45 and 55 degrees, active trout feeding through winter, and almost no one on the water. A 10- to 14-day circuit linking five tailwaters from Arkansas to...

Griffith's Gnat Ten patterns cover virtually all winter trout fishing: Zebra Midges, RS2 Emergers, Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Hare's Ear Nymphs, scuds, egg patterns, San Juan Worms, Griffith's Gnats, Parachute BWOs, and Little Black Stoneflies. In sizes 14–24, these flies match the limited food sources trout rely on during cold months—primarily midges, with...

photo by Bradly A 4-weight rod with medium action is the best fly rod for winter trout when fishing tiny midges on fine tippet, while a 6-weight handles wind and heavy nymph rigs more effectively than the standard 5-weight most anglers default to. Winter conditions—size 20–24 flies, 6X tippet, and biting wind on open tailwaters—push the 9-foot...

Successful fly casting in wind requires four fundamental adjustments: use a double haul to generate line speed, form tight loops with a crisp rod stop, cast low to stay beneath the strongest gusts, and shorten your leader to ensure turnover. These techniques work whether you're facing a headwind, tailwind, or crosswind—and they'll keep you fishing...

South Holston Dam, Tennessee | Forrest Neyman photo - The Fly Box (TN) Most trout water slows to a crawl in January. Tennessee tailwaters don’t. Below big dams, bottom-release water stays cold and steady, keeping trout active through winter—often with midges hatching daily and the occasional Blue-Winged Olive (BWO) mayfly showing up on cloudy...

Dead-Drift Techniques for Cold-Water Trout There's a particular kind of quiet that settles over a trout stream in January. Snow dusts the banks, ice rims the slower eddies, and most anglers have long since hung up their rods until spring. But for those willing to brave the cold, winter offers something valuable: the chance to become a genuinely better nymph...

Bead Head Pheasant Tail Nymph Winter fly tying is the quickest way to prep for winter trout fishing. Cold water pushes trout into slow, deep lies, and their diet narrows to what drifts right to them: midges, small mayflies (Blue-Winged Olives/Baetis), the occasional worm, and easy protein like leeches or minnows. Stock these five winter trout flies in the...

Alex Cerveniak photo Frozen guides, stiff fly line, and locked-up reels are the top reasons winter trout fishing days end early. The fix isn’t one miracle product—it’s a simple cold-weather system: keep water from sticking, melt ice the safe way, and stay warm enough to keep fishing (and wading safely) when it’s below freezing. The winter icing...

photo by AJ and Jenny Swentosky January rivers can feel blank: cold water, quiet surface, and zero obvious hatch. That’s when fly selection gets overcomplicated. But winter fly fishing for trout is often simpler than spring and summer because the trout menu is limited. Think of this as your winter trout fly box checklist: simple patterns, smart rigging...