I was recently on one of my favorite fly fishing forums, and someone was mentioning how much trouble they were having with winter fly fishing.
Not only did they have a great deal of personal discomfort, but they were also dealing with things like line freeze, and ice on their guides.
Here are three super basic tips that will help you avoid some, if not most of that, while you hit the river in these super cold temperatures.
1. Get The Right Gear
Look, there isn’t a whole lot you can do about things being super cold, so you have to be able to exist within it. Having the right gear won’t necessarily make it enjoyable, but it sure will make it suck much less.
Protection from the cold comes down to having great gear underneath your waders (I always use Under Armor for both upper body, and lower body protection), and then protecting your hands, feet, and head.
For the hands, I suggest Simms Windstopper Gloves.
For your feet, I suggest Under Armor Cold Gear Socks.
For your head and face, get a face mask.
Great gear won’t make the sun come out and shine, but it will make it just a little bit nicer on the inside.
2. Get The Heck Out Of Dodge
So, it’s cold you say?
Why not get on a plane and get somewhere it isn’t cold? No, really…Jump on Expedia right now and check for some last minute deals.
Not sure where to go? I hear the Florida Keys are nice right now, but anywhere tropical should be fine.
3. Try Tenkara
Still want to get out on the river when the snow is on the ground? OK then, give Tenkara a try.
Tenkara offers several advantages over Western fly fishing methods, especially in the winter months. Here are a few:
- No guides to freeze. Since there are no guides, they won’t freeze over.
- No line to strip. No need to get your hands wet and freezing with a Tenkara rod.
- Less line freeze. While any line can freeze, since there is less to worry about on a Tenkara set up, you won’t have to worry about casting a plank as often.
- Stay on shore. Since Tenkara rods are very long, you can often do your fishing from the shore on smaller streams and rivers, and still do very well.
Don’t Let Cold Weather Stop You!
This is what we love to do!
Cold weather, wind, snow—none of that is going to stop me. How about you?
Will I see you on the water…?