Hi,

I started this year fishing the dry fly more and more, you just cant beat watching the fish come to the surface to take the fly but will the fish still take a dry fly during the winter months when it is cold and not much natural fly life around if any, does this matter with stocked fish at fisheries or will they still rise to the dry fly during the colder months.



Kevin

I was just wondering the same myself Chuckie.

I only recently discovered that rainbows are a coldwater fish and as such perk up when the water temp drops; (at least that's what I understood it to mean). Whether that means they'll more readily take a dry or not when there's less activity from naturals I don't know

I'm sure somebody more experienced can put us in the picture.

Mike

come on, 23 people viewed but only 1 reply!!

Hi', Chuckie and Mjc. Check out Dry Fly Drought Broken on Trout and Grayling section. I should add to that the fact that, on rivers, Large Dark Olives have been recorded in every month of the year, sedges peter out in mid to late late autumn, but small stonefly may be seen at odd times during the autumn and winter, while some midge species are about as hardy as you can get, but they will tend to be rather wee. Cheers, TerryC

Interesting question. I've never caught on a dry fly ( I'm quite new to fly fishing ). I know on the course fishing side the fishing does slow down in the winter but there are species that come " alive " in the winter. It would be interesting to find out if the dry fly still works in the winter.

I dont think they would work but i am also quite new to fly fishing.I think the only joy i am going to get at my local stillwater will be using, Lures or fishing bloodworm static.

Colder weather means less fly life, and therefore the fish don't tend to look upwards to the surface too much...

Although i should add that I don't fish winter as our season has already ended..

cheers
JJ

When the cold weather sets in you'll find most trout will move down into deeper water. On our 7½ acre reservoir just north of Sheffield. I always start to search around the 10ft mark although they may often be deeper on colder days and shallower and more active on the milder days.

I have seen the odd fish rise in the more sheltered areas on the milder days, where there may be a small hatch of buzzers taking place, but I wouldn't think it warranted setting your stall out to fish dries.

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wrong ........they do work i caught nearly as many grayling on dry last winter on the wharfe as i did using grubs shrimps etc...

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I fish dry flies right through until the end of November on my local reservoir (Clywedog). This is a relatively high altitude lake and the air temperature can be very low at this time of year but the fish will still rise freely to very small midge patterns, in fact it is my favourite time for this method.
A skimpy black pattern, thin short body with a whiff of white for the wing and tied on 16's and 18's will do the trick. Small suspender buzzers can also work.
The most important factor is to locate the fish as they tend to shoal at this time - it's no good just choosing a spot and hoping the fish will find you. You will not see many splashy rises, they mostly sip the hatching fly from the surface so look for 'nervous water' and flat spots in a good ripple/wave or dimples in calmer water.


Dave.