Hi guys. Belated happy new year to y'all. I took myself out, foolishly, on my first fishing trip of the year yesterday, to be faced with snow, high winds, rain and artic conditions and dark muddy water, michty me. anyway, i thought i'd try it lure fishing as I'm not too experienced in it preferring to usually go with naturals. I popped on a yellow dancer, tried some various retrieves but to no avail. Then I put on what looked like a tadpole with some red and silver in it, nothing again. Now, it could just be down to the weather but reading through trout fisherman magazine this month it would seem that winter fishing is very popular and productive. Equally, with naturals obviously I can "match the hatch" but this isn't really possible with lures (or is it? :S) so has anyone got any tips on what lure to choose in what conditions?

for muddy water try a dark/black lure, this creates a large strong sillohuette of the fly

Personally I keep things simple this time of year.

Black & Green Tadpoles
Green & White Tadpoles (Cats Whisker)
Mckay - a nymph come mini lure (hares ear body & holo gold rib with a black marabou tail)

And the same flies in booby form..

Then it's just a very slow retrieve, weighted flies are fished on a Fast Glass...Boobies on a DI-7....If i don't have a take or two in 30 mins then I move until I find the fish...

It's also worth pointing out that in the winter months the fish are closer in than normal...(first 20yards) so angle your casts along the bank slightly..preferably along a shelf, drop off etc...

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I think there's no 'right answer' that will be true over several visits to the same spot. If it's bright and the water is a bit murky I'd start with black because of the strong outline, other times orange has been best and once white fritz was absolutely nailing them (but not since then). Last time I went the water was very clear, but cold and no ripple, the fish looked lethargic and I tried all sorts of lures with barely a tap but lots of 'follows'. It was a relatively mild day for January and there were midges about so after a couple of hours I swapped for black buzzers fished almost static under a Klinkhammer and I caught three, all on the point buzzer.
My mate who persevered with black lures caught a dozen from the other side of the pond. So my advice would be if it's not working keep changing until you crack it. Try different depths and different speeds. Be flexible, if lures aren't doing it try nymphs. If you want to straddle the bases an Apps bloodworm can be given some movement and a Damsel is part lure part nymph.

SharkeyP

That sounds very useful. Like the sound of Mckay. Does it have a bead at the head.

Like what SharkeyP siad there aint no right lure but its usefull to have hot heads on your lure for a trigger point for the fish. Damsels fritz blobs cats whiskers yellew dancers are all good all round lures but at this time of the year try fishing some of them like the fritz, damsel with a hot head,
Tightlines
Ali

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James,

where were you fishing mate?

this info may help us to help you a bit more.

Robbie

hi guys, sorry I should've mentioned, my usual destination is the Golden loch at near Cupar but just because I felt lazy I was at Kingennie the other day in Dundee. It's usually the lochs/fisheries around this area I'm fishing so also places like Ledcrieff, Ledyatt. Butterstone etc. That's all really useful information so thank you. I'm waitin on my new Cortland blue intermediate to arrive then I'll get out on the water and let you know how I get on!

James

Try a black and gold dancer next time you visit Kingennie

You will be pleasantly surprised

John aka annanman

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I think the problem isn't really the lure colour, but more the depth you fish it. at this time of year if you've got a cold wind the fish can go down, necessitating a sinking line. try black leadheads at this time of year, preferably with a long marabou tail for movement. failing black. white.

Good luck