Winter is here on our local rivers near Bozeman and Big Sky. Check out a recent blog post on Winter Fly Fishing Tips That Go Beyond Just Dressing Warm and then go fishing! That doesn't mean we have hung up the waders and the rods until March. In fact, many of our rivers can fish quite well in winter...just have to pick wisely and fish at the appropriate times. Rivers like the Yellowstone and Madison can fish well in winter, but the comfort factor of staying warm and functionable in cold conditions often dictates how good the fishing can be--if you are comfortable and can fish through the cold and are prepared for it, you should find some success.
Most local Bozeman fly fishing guides, if not all of them, have stored their boats for the winter and are spending time exploring local waters on foot. Winter is a good time to fish a river a little more intimately. Because trout are going to be in deeper and slower pools, fishing more thoroughly in a long slow run will be the best tactic. Fly fishing in winter isn't meant to be rushed. It is a time to slow down, enjoy the environs, and treat the fish as a bonus. With winter now fully set-in here in Montana nearly all dry fly fishing is over except for the random right-place, right-time midge action. Check out some of our blogs that cover winter fly fishing: Winter Fly Fishing Options Around Bozeman, 5 Tips to Improve Your Fly Fishing with Streamers, and Winter Fly Fishing in Montana: The Only Flies You Will Ever Need.
Overview
Most of our fishing guides have put up the oars for the season but as long as the snow doesn't fall too deep or the temps get too cold, there is still fishing to be had. Most likely you can have the river to yourselves as mostly only local anglers are left on the water and even then a good portion of them are out chasing 4 legged creatures to fill the freezer. By and large the program will be nymphing as well as some streamer action. If you get the right day some dry fly action can be had.
On a mild winter day you might be lucky enough to run into some rising trout feeding on midges. Even freestone streams like the Gallatin will produce some sporadic midge hatches. If the hatch isn’t too strong dries that imitate single midges are more productive such as a palomino pattern. On tailwaters like the Missouri River the midge hatches in the winter can be thick in the late morning and the insects will cluster together so many of the patterns such as the Griffiths gnat that imitate these “rafts” of insects can out produce single insect patterns.
Hatches
Most, if not all, of the hatches are done for the season. As the water temps gradually get colder and colder, expect the intensity of the hatch to dwindle. Midges are going to be the only hatch of the next several months. On most freestone rivers the trout are going to eat subsurface rather than rise to midges. The exception to this is on the Missouri River near Wolf Creek and Craig where the tailwater fishery can produce some excellent midge hatches on a warm December day.
Fly selection
With the onset of winter the fish will take advantage of the still somewhat warmer water temps and feed heavily at times to get that last bit of bulk on before they go into maintenance mode. So fish your largish attractor nymphs like sculpins, rubber legs, worms, leeches, eggs, crayfish, etc. with confidence. But don’t forget about small mayfly nymph patterns or midge larvae and pupa patterns as well. A Zebra midge is a great option for fly fishing the Upper Madison River in May.
Beadhead Little Green Machines in olive or natural in sizes 16 to 22
Firebead or hot bead SJ wormies in sizes 8-12
Beadhead Perdigons in natural, olive, peacock, black, in sizes 16 to 22
Sawyer Pheasant Tails in sizes 16 to 22
Home Invaders in darker/contrasting colors in size 2 - 10
Sculpzillas in black, olive, or brown in size 2- 10
Sparkle Minnows in a variety if colors in size 2 - 10
Your favorite go-to streamer pattern
Reading water
Streamflows can vary by river in winter in the Bozeman and Big Sky areas. Check your water temps via the river reports page as temps can vary from location to location by quite a lot depending on where the water is coming from, ie. the high country, a dam, low elevation spring creek, etc. This can help you determine the most likely place the fish will be holding. A good general rule in winter is that most fish will be holding deeper and slower runs and holes compared to fall or summer. Where the fish are holding, and feeding, is the most important aspect of fishing during the winter months.
Generalities
Winter time water levels are always on the low side and there is a lot of definition to the water. The key to winter fishing is finding slower holding water and fishing in the afternoon when water temperatures are at their peak.
Fly selection
Fly selection is simple in the colder months. If there is a midge hatch choose your favorite midge dry or cluster pattern. Palamino midges and Griffith’s gnats are good enough. For sub surface try a rubber legs, egg or worm pattern on top and a smaller midge larva or baetis nymph on bottom.