Fishing with the fly rod in the winter time

[Bill Trussell]

Hi Guys

Got a question---at what water temp does bluegill and bass stop feeding on top? I caught a 3 1/2 lb Kentucky Spot 2  weeks ago using a size 4 popper. He killed that fly and I landed him about 2 minutes later. I have never used the fly rod in the winter and thought this might be something to try. All suggestions are welcome. Thanks Bill

[Jen Nayfly]

Bill--I use my flyrod year round. If memory serves me right the BG here go deep mid November, depending on what the temps have been doing. However there is fast sinking line out there and I'd give it a try if the BG lake you are fishing isn't real deep.
I hunt BG year round with my flyrod

[Greg McWilliams]

Bill, I am with Jen as long as the lake is not froze over just work the fly low and sloe!!!!
If it is froze head to the house and tie flies!!!!

[dave]

i have to agree year round fishing with a fly rod is great as long as the water is open and you can stand the cold. Moving water and small oxbows are great fishing in the cold.

[Charles Singleton]

As long as your water has some depth (to me, this means a minimum of 4-5ft), the gills will still bite. They're not as apt to explode on a dry fly or popper when they're down 4ft, but they won't hesitate to hit a wet fly, nymph or streamer, if you'll just get it down near them & out of that cold surface layer.

[Garry Childress]

I'd say I'd try a small clouser with a small amount of lead wire tied in against those rocks you show, long leader and tippet and a strike indicator. Find some mud bottom and use a small scud (probably catch Redears with that) or a nymph patter. Keeping them in the 12-16 range the big bass might find them too small to pursue and the gill would find them the right size.

[Steve Crowder]

Like all the rest have stated Bill, we all fly fish year round. As far as top water is concered, when the water tempertures get to about 65, the 'gills really start to quit feeding on top. They know when the insect population has decreased. Always watch for bugs. Then it's time to start going deeper, nymphs and wet files. Streamers work  well also, moving them slowly.

[Bill Purmort]

Bill,

Not real sure where you are, but the topwater stuff slows down in the late fall and winter unless you catch a real sunny warm day and then it's probably when the sun is high.  I wouldn't put the fly rod away, but switch to weighted nymphs...a bluegill killer...try hares ears, wooly worms, san juan worms.  Good luck

 

Bill

[Bill Trussell]

Thanks guys for all the info. I am going to put the poppers away in a couple of weeks and go to my nymphs and buggers. I am still landing some nice bass on the Boggle Bug popper even though we have had some cold nights.

[Steve Crowder]

A windy cold front moved through here about 10:00AM Saturday morning, really turning the top water fishing off. My trusty orange foam "beetle fly" was done. Tied on an olive wooly bugger. 10 minutes later, a big 11' coppernose bluegill nailed the bugger. The olive wooly bugger saved the day and kept me fishing all day.  

[gene bethea]

get some teeny 130 line and just go fishing.  This is an easy to cast sink tip line that will get down to where the fish are and light enough to cast on a 3,4, or 5 weight fly rod.  Try it, and you'll be sold-p-

http://www.jimteeny.com/indexMain.html?content=catalog&page=jtC...