For January. 25th thru 31, 2010
By Eugene Shuler

Winter is a great time to go fishing. Don’t believe me? Just look around at what you don’t see this time of year, and that’s other people on the water fishing your favorite spot. While it’s true that fish don’t bite quiet as good as they did in the summer months, they still have to eat. By knowing a few key factors and which flies to use will make all the difference between a successful day, and one where you should have stayed home and watched Andy Griffith reruns.

The most important factor to consider when winter fishing is the water temperature. Thermometers such as the ones used for checking food temperatures are great for checking stream temperatures. Check the water you are fishing periodically and look for temperatures to rise or stay the same. Rising water temperatures will cause the fish to start feeding, almost as good as warmer months. If the temperature of the water drops pack it up and go home to watch Andy and Opie, the fishing will surely become worse. Also, look for areas where sunlight is on the water for an extended period of time, as these types of places tend to be warmer and will yield some great fishing.

Presentation is also an important key in winter fishing. The fish tend to be slower, and will not travel as far to eat a fly. The best presentations are slow and accurate. Fish an area of water slower than normal and make sure to cover the entire section before moving on. If you spot a fish, make sure to place your fly accurately in front of it. Trout will not move very far to chase an ill placed fly in cold weather.

Fishing on the Tuckasiegee and Nantahala Rivers is very good right now, with trout in the 20 inch range being caught daily. Most fish tend to be holding at the tails of the pools and runs. Fish hold deeper when the air temperature drops so keep that in mind when selecting areas to fish and flies to use. You want to use a heavier fly to get down to where the trout are at. Watch for the water to rise on the Tuck usually around noon, check generation schedules before heading out. Wading can get tricky if you get caught out when the water levels come up.

In the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Brown and Brook trout have just about stopped spawning, but good sized fish can still be seen on gravel flats and will hit almost anything that drifts close by them. If you’re planning on fishing the park this time of year, there’s no hurry to get up at the crack of dawn. Take your time and sleep in, or stop by in town and enjoy a nice breakfast first. The streams here are colder and the fish don’t start getting active until around mid morning.

The streams in Cherokee are fantastic right now. The new Fly Fishing Only Section on the Ravens’ Fork in Big Cove is fishing fantastic. If you haven’t been yet, get there! Trout up to 28 inches have been caught and released each week. And that’s no fisherman’s tale! Weekdays are best, as it gets a tad crowded on pretty weekends.

Flies for this time of year tend to be smaller in size than in other months. Suggested Dry Fly patterns are Little Winter Stone Fly #16-20, Blue Wing Olives #14-24, Parachute Adams #16-24, Griffiths Gnat #18-22, and Black Elk Hair Caddis #18-22, Olive Midges #18-24
Suggested Nymph and Streamer patterns are Little Winter Stone Nymph #16-20, Bead Head Pheasant Tail #18-22, Secret Weapon #14-20, Bead Head Prince Nymph #16-20, Tan or Brown Caddis Pupae #18-22, Bead Head Hare’s Ear #14-20, Red or Green Copper Johns in #14-20, Red, Green, or Blue Brassie #16-22, Black or Brown Zebra Midge #18-24, Egg Pattern #12-14, Grey Soft Hackle #14-16, Pink San Juan Worm #12-14, Black, Brown, and Olive Woolly Buggers #6-10, and Muddler Minnow #8-10.

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Eugene Shuler is a Bryson City native and Director of Guide Operations for River’s Edge Outfitters in Cherokee NC, and the Team Captain of the North Carolina Fly Fishing Team. He can be reached at 828-765-FISH or visit the Rivers Edge Outfitters website.