We are fortunate to enjoy great year-round fishing on tailwaters throughout Colorado. We might be tying more flies over the next several months – but we’re definitely not putting away the fly rods. As cold weather takes hold, we will be transitioning to different tactics. One of the most important elements for late season fishing is getting your flies down deep, fast.
From spring through fall, trout spread out throughout the river, occupying a wide variety of depths and water types. But as winter closes its grip, trout begin moving into their winter holding areas in deeper water. In order to find success, anglers need to follow the trout into these zones.
When trout are feeding at the bottom of these deep pools, it’s critical to get your flies down – and to get them down quickly. Here are two ideas to help you achieve that depth and catch more fish over the next several months:
Euro Nymphing
If you’ve never tried Euro nymphing, this winter would be a great opportunity to learn and add a new technique to your fly fishing toolkit. Get out there and have fun with it! Plus, Euro nymphing is a great way to target fish in their winter holding patterns.
In a nutshell, Euro nymphing utilizes a direct connection between the tip of your fly rod and your flies beneath the surface without a strike indicator in between. Using heavy flies, a long, thin leader and brightly colored sections of tippet to watch for strikes, it allows the angler to accurately control the depth of the flies. The thin leader and lack of a floating indicator suspending the rig helps the flies get down more quickly and with less friction – which is especially helpful in complex currents.
Confused or have questions? No sweat! Please don’t hesitate to ask. Come see us at the fly shop or give us a call and we’d be happy to help you get started. It’s a fun way to fish and you’ll have fun learning something new.
To get started, you might take a look at the Umpqua Phantom X Euro Nymph Leaderor the Rio Euro Nymph Leader. These pre-tied Euro nymph leaders are a great way to get started. If you are up for tying your own leaders, you might also take a look at theUmpqua Perform X Indicator Tippet or theRio 2-Tone Indicator Tippet. A section of this high-contrast tippet between your leader and tippet material allows you to see a strike without a floating indicator.
Again, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions! Visit us at the fly shop or give us a call at 303-794-1104.
Modified Indicator Setup
If you’re not ready to take the full plunge into the Euro nymph techniques, we’ve got another idea to help you get your flies down quickly in winter fishing scenarios. To explain, check out this quick video as Davis breaks it down:
Euro nymphing utilizes a long, thin leader to help flies sink quickly into the trout’s feeding zone. And in this modified indicator setup, we’re taking a page out of the Euro nymph playbook. By using a very short butt section followed by a long length of light tippet, with a tippet ring in between, you’re creating a leader that’s more effective for winter fishing – while still being able to use a floating indicator to help you detect strikes.
You can build your own modified leader, as Davis demonstrates in the video, using materials you likely already have in your kit, with the addition of the Umpqua 2mm Tippet Rings. Alternatively, you might take a look at the Rio 10’ Indicator Leaders. With a short tapered butt section and a long, level tippet, this essentially helps you achieve the same end. Another great option is the Umpqua Perform X Hot Pink Power Leader. This is also a 10-foot leader, but uses a high-visibility section for easy-to-see color contrast.
Winter Fishing Opportunities
Don’t miss the chance to get out on the water through the winter months. It’s a great time to fish with much lighter crowds, enjoy a break from all those Zoom calls – and of course, catch a lot of fish. There’s something especially peaceful about being on the river in winter. Plus, try one of these new techniques and you may learn something new!
Give us a call with any questions at 303-794-1104 or come see us at the fly shop in Littleton. We continue to offer free shipping or curbside pickup on all online orders.
