Cold Weather Trout
But won't the water be frozen?" Somehow my three-year old was able to see the flaw
in my plan long before I could. Until she had asked the question, I had not entertained
the thought of having my first fishing trip of the season called on account of inclement
weather. The plans were made during fifty degree days reminiscent of Spring, when
it had seemed that Summer could only be days away. But here I was, in the snow-covered
access lot of a reservoir, staring across a vast sheet of winter as the early risers
rigged their tip-ups. It was February, after all.
When my long time friend and fishing companion, Angus Macaulay, pulled into the
lot where we had agreed to meet, the look on his face told me that he too had failed
to consider the possibility of a freeze-out. "Now what?" we asked each other. The
hunt was on. We drove past a well-known stretch of club water on the South Branch
of the Raritan River. Off limits to us, but we could see pockets of water bubbling
through the ice. It was an encouraging sign, so we continued upstream. Near a town
park we found open water. "I know they stock here heavily in the spring. There might
be some holdovers," Angus said. We bundled up and made our way across a hundred
yards of knee-deep snow to the stream.
Our plan was to find the holes where any holdover trout would be wintering. We each
rigged up ultra-light spinning gear with our favorite all-purpose spinner, the FishTek
Crystal Spinner. While I have found these spinners to be effective under a variety
of conditions, the heavy glass bead bodies and brilliant hammered blades are perfect
for situations demanding deep, slow fishing. To breathe the fire of competition
into this frigid day, we decided to fish different colors of the same lure. For
me the decision was like electing to drive a Mercedes over a BMW … I knew I couldn't
go wrong. The Crystal Spinner is produced in two colors. I chose the black beaded
model, which sports a black and silver blade, while Angus fished the original, clear
beaded model with an all silver blade.
I was struck by how "alive" this water looked. Many anglers lose sight of the fact
that the ecological cycle of a stream does not grind to a halt when the first snows
cover the banks. Although the air temperature was in the twenties, we were warmed
periodically by cameo appearances from the sun's rays. Other creatures took advantage
of the breaks in the cloud cover too. Angus and I observed numerous stoneflies on
the banks, and midges breaking out of nymphal shucks at the water's edge. The water
was cold, and the air was Arctic, but life went on. Brief flashes of silver could
be seen in some of the pools, movement we understood to be baitfish darting about.
Seeing these flashes reinforced my confidence in the Crystal Spinner. Now all we
had to do was find the big fish who would prey on the little fish.
We started fishing downstream, leapfrogging each other around pockets, and taking
turns probing some of the more promising looking runs. This was not a big stream
by any stretch of the imagination. A trout in any of these holes would be easily
spooked. I liked that we were using different colors of the same lure. Would the
dazzling flash of the silver blade and prismatic sparkle of the clear Crystal Spinner
rouse the interest of a sluggish winter trout? Might they find the dark silhouette
and subtle glimpses of silver flash from the Black Crystal Spinner to be more alluring?
It was as much a study in the Behavioral Psychology of the Trout as it was a friendly
competition to catch fish. With polarized sunglasses, we could observe the way our
spinners behaved in the riffles and pools of this small stream. We did our best
to mimic the behavior of the real minnows darting about. A burst of energy, slow
finning along the bottom through the pool, then an easy swing to turn at the tail
of the run.
We had fished only an hour or so when I felt a "bump." Subtle. Easily dismissed
as a chance encounter with a twig or stone; experience told me, though, that it
was indeed a fish. I reacted too slowly. A slight quiver confirmed the bump was
a fish, and I set the hook on empty water. I can usually count on missing the first
hit of the season (and, I'll admit, maybe a few more here and there as the season
goes on). I hoped there would soon be another chance.
I got my second chance only a short time later: I missed another, identically brief,
hit. Then, only moments later, as we took turns working a flat stretch of water,
the Original Crystal Spinner proved successful. Angus hooked and landed a beautiful
foot-long Brown. He played the fish quickly and then released it, none the worse
for wear.
Fifty yards downstream was a hard horseshoe bend. Although the bend was still narrow,
the water cut deep into the opposing bank, creating an overhung pool about three
feet deep. I cast first, allowing my spinner to swing through the current and retrieving
it slowly, at an angle to the main current. A quick flash behind the spinner let
us know that this hole held fish. I cast again and retrieved in the same manner.
This time the flash became the second brown of the day to fall to the Crystal Spinner.
It was a nice fish, slightly smaller than the one Angus had caught. I chose to keep
this fish for the table. A streamside autopsy revealed a belly full of scuds, stoneflies,
and a two-inch minnow. Almost identical in size to the artificial I had used to
fool him. Early in the afternoon, the wind began to pick up and the skies changed
to a leaden shade. Before retiring to the warmth of the truck, though, we each caught
and released one more trout. It was officially a tie. Not a bad day for the Crystal
Spinner. Just think of what it'll do when the weather warms.
DEALING WITH THE COLD
While I may not have anticipated the frozen streams we encountered, I was prepared
for the cold. Common sense had told me that long underwear was in order. There are
myriad brands and types on the market, so I will not attempt to single any one as
the best. I happened to be wearing a quality medium-weight pair of polyester long-johns.
They kept me comfortable throughout the day and have a wicking capability that make
them desirable for days when you might break a sweat one moment and stand motionless
for the next hour. As with any cold weather activity, layering properly can make
your day of winter fishing more enjoyable.
I strongly recommend any of the various fingerless gloves on the market. I wear
a polar fleece pair made by Simms. Angus prefers neoprene Glacier Gloves. The idea
is the same: a warm glove that leaves the fingertips exposed for tying knots, holding
line to feel for a hit, or digging the keys out of the deepest corner of your pocket
at the end of the day. Insulated waders are an absolute necessity. Angus wore neoprene
waders; I had on heavy-duty insulated canvas hippers. Neither of us experienced
any discomfort.
Aside from the personal battle to retain body heat, there are other pitfalls to
be aware of when fishing the cold. Make certain that your reel is well lubricated
with light oil before venturing into the cold. Reels lubed in thicker grease may
stiffen up in the cold.
The right line is a consideration too. Angus found out the hard way that braided
line is not practical in freezing temperatures. He lost a good deal of time early
on fighting line that froze up on the reel. Droplets of water in the braids of the
line crystallized on the reel, making casts of any reasonable length impossible.
Fortunately, we had a backup rig with traditional monofilament that he was able
to switch to.
Unfortunately, I forgot to bring the cooking spray. A common source of annoyance
to any winter fisherman is the formation of ice in the guides. Applying the average
cooking spray to guides can help alleviate this somewhat. Frequent reapplication
throughout the day may be in order. I have also used aerosol silicone dry fly floatant
to accomplish the same thing. With the right preparations even the coldest day can
be productive.