For the trout fishing junkie, winter can bring a feeling that rivals the morning after a team of professional soccer fans loses their final game and wakes up to find there is no more soccer for seven or eight. months. In other words, for many trout anglers winter means that trout fishing is over and they have to wait until spring to wet a line. The interesting thing about this phenomenon is that it doesn’t have to be this way.
Although generally not as productive as during warmer seasons, winter trout fishing can be quite productive at times if you follow a few simple rules. In fact, many states in the United States even have winter stocking programs that result in some nice catches even when the weather is less than what would be called “ideal.”
First of all, you need to dress appropriately, which means wearing insulted woolen socks and fisherman boots anytime you’re wading. A wool hat and a pair of fingerless gloves or glove liners are also in order as long as you are fishing for trout in the winter.
And the baits? In the winter I have always found that the saying smaller is better to be true and this fact is true for the size of the hooks that are used as well. Trout feed much less frequently in the winter and often prefer to eat small portions when feeding. Worms and larvae are good ideas for trout baits in the winter, as well as old waiting salmon eggs.
You’ll get trout stings that you might be used to winter trout fishing, and don’t expect the trout to “hammer” your offering. The bites will be very subtle during winter so be sure to watch and / or feel your line at all times and anytime something “out of the ordinary” happens, set the hook. Patience is the most important key to trout fishing during the winter months.
Next, you want to maximize the time you spend in the water, so try to fish during the heat of the day (which is when trout tend to be most active in winter) and try to plan your trout fishing trips according to the rising or setting of the moon. For those who do not know, the moon rises and sets twice a day just like the sun and during these times the fish tend to be much more active. Do an Internet search for the term “moonrise” and you will find the information you need.
The bottom line is that trout fishing doesn’t have to stop during the winter months. It may not be as productive as it is during the more comfortable seasons, but winter trout fishing can be an enjoyable and productive experience.