As winter approaches Truckee, I can’t help but feel excited for the fishing season knocking at the door. With an incredible fall in the rearview mirror, it’s time to shift focus to warm socks, beanies, and big fish.
It’s no surprise that spring, summer, and fall get most of the love from trout anglers across California. And for good reason—big hatches, streamer fishing, great weather, and good numbers of fish are hard to beat. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a midday PMD hatch under sunny, 75-degree skies?
Yet winter trout season is often overlooked. Many “weekend warriors” dismiss it as a time for “die-hards” only or a time to practice their fly tying. I mean, they’re not entirely wrong–or are they?
For a select few, the secret is out. Especially at higher elevations like Truckee, braving the harsh conditions of chasing trout in January can offer big rewards—literally.
But why would anyone want to deal with cold feet,
frozen fingers, and the occasional snowstorm?
Solitude and big fish. That’s why.
For several reasons, the average Truckee River fish is considerably larger in winter than in the summer. That fact alone makes putting up with the weather worthwhile.
After guiding the Truckee for nearly two decades I’ve heard every excuse in the book: “Are there even bugs around that time of year?” “Fish don’t eat dry flies in January.” “Don’t the fish migrate south?” (Yes, someone really asked that.)
The following tips will shed light on this underrated season.
READING THE WATER
If I’ve seen it once I’ve seen it a thousand times. More often than not, anglers are fishing the same types of water that they fish all season, especially in the summer, and wondering why they aren’t getting grabs. In winter, fish aren’t everywhere—they concentrate in specific water types.
Slow, deep runs and pools are a great place to start. If you think about what fish are up against—cold water temps and limited food compared to summer—the last thing they want to do is fight the current and expend energy in fast water. The food conversion rates are simply not worth it.
I’ve always said, “Find one, and you’ll find some; find some, and you might find a ton.” Once water temperatures dip into the mid-40s or lower, trout concentrate in the deepest, slowest runs. It’s that simple.
Avoid faster-than-walking-speed water or turbulent areas like eddies and pocket water. The fish aren’t in the riffles this time of year. Don’t even think about it!
The fish are literally in 10 percent of the water. Keep it simple.
WINTER FOOD
Much like where the fish hold this time of year, we can keep the fly selection simple as well. Colder water and shorter days mean very little nutrient growth, especially in freestone rivers like the Truckee. Fewer nutrients mean fewer bugs, and by large, smaller ones too. If you’ve heard it from me once you’ve heard it a thousand times. Just remember TBS (tiny black stuff). I’ll let you fill in the adult version of that.
Small flies are the norm from December through February. And in many cases, they are dark in color. Browns, blacks, dark greys, and olives are great colors to have on hand when fishing in the winter.
The main bug on the menu is baetis mayflies or Black Winged Olives (BWOs). It is smart to have a full selection of sizes 18-22 and all life stages. Nymphs, emergers, duns and spinners.
The Truckee and other rivers across the state also have abundant winter stones. You’ll hear some anglers refer to them as Black Stones as well. They are typically found in size 16s, with very few exceptions.
A selection of black nymphs and adults is all you need.
Lastly, no winter trip would be complete without a wide range of midges. Although midges are the only insect that hatch every day of the year, they become even more valuable to trout in the winter. With fewer bugs on the menu and prolific hatches possible, they are a “must-have.”
I always carry a range of midge larvae, pupa and adults in sizes 18-24 during winter. Thread midges, zebra midges, and Griffiths gnats are a great place to start.
Like everything, there are no absolutes. Bugs are no exception. It’s never a bad idea to have some bigger bugs on hand. Bigger profile flies are always great to use as an attractor. Trout can be very opportunistic at times and love seeing an occasional cheeseburger after a day of eating appetizers.
It’s also smart to have a few larger attractor flies on hand—eggs, San Juan worms, or rubber-legged stones can be excellent attention-grabbers.
TECHNIQUES
Winter fishing often means cold, low, and clear water. Certain techniques outperform others under these conditions. I’m not saying you can’t throw streamers and dry droppers, but they aren’t at the top of my list.
Nymphing and dry flies are.
If we think about how these cold-water trout are feeding, there’s no doubt nymphing is at the top. There’s no better way to “hit them in the nose” than with a well-presented fly (or two) on the bottom.
Under normal circumstances, there won’t be much bug activity when water temps are in the 40s and 30s. So, presenting your flies on the bottom with a bobber or Euro rig is by far the best way to get winter fish.
Because the fish typically won’t move more than a few inches, maybe a foot, take your time. The last thing you want to do is fish fast. Don’t rush anything. Dissect every inch of the run and make sure you’re ticking the bottom. These fish are keyed in on feeding more horizontally than vertically.
Next would be the unsung hero of the winter game: the dry fly. Fish do in fact eat dry flies in the winter. And damn it’s fun.
The weather can play a big role in the hatching activity of winter bugs. Especially with the BWOs.
Keep an eye on cloudy and rainy or snowy days. These trends can signal some of the best hatches of the entire season, let alone winter.
I have quite a few of my regulars on speed dial to fill last-minute trips when these conditions are present. And boy, it is worth it when we can put anglers on incredible dry fly bites at a moment’s notice.
There are always exceptions to the rule, but sunny days may offer more chances of the midges popping off.
I’m also a big fan of downsizing my tippet. Typically, winter conditions offer some of the lowest and clearest water of the year. These fish are positioned in slow water and have lots of time to decide whether your fly is the real deal. Lighter tippet can give you a big advantage in these conditions, not to mention it’s a bit easier to get through the eye of really small flies.
Hopefully, these tips will inspire you to step outside of your comfort zone this winter. With some patience and preparation, cold-weather fishing can deliver remarkable rewards.
Solitude alone can make it all worthwhile!
If you’re looking to fish the Truckee this winter, contact Matt at mattheronflyfishing.com.
