I had a chance to spend a few hours one day in late November on the Big East Fork of the Pigeon River in late in North Carolina's Shining Rock Wilderness. This beautiful area can be accessed on the upstream end from the Blue Ridge Parkway, and from US 276 in the lower end. The video below documents my time on the stream.
Aside from obvious safety concerns, such as dressing for the elements, being sure your vehicle is in good working order, making sure you don't get stuck when bad weather comes in, taking a friend fishing with you, and not falling in, here are 5 tips for winter fly fishing.
1. Fish deliberately. The fish are moving slowly, and as such, a slower, more deliberate approach is necessary. Don't give up after the first cast to a promising looking spot.
2. Use midges and streamers. They are the most common winter food source.
If you are not a winter fisherman and I can understand if you are not, this tip is for you. Many of you have several lines and need a place to store them. Of course, some may be stored right on the reel, but what about line memory setting in and what about the others?
Store them in a shoebox and they get tangled up and it is tricky trying to determine the weight so here are some tips from December issue of Field & Stream.
Need a gift idea for the fly fisherman or fly tyer on your list? Here are some of the top fly fishing and fly tying Christmas gifts in all price ranges from the Troutu store:
Stocking Stuffers
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