Week of January 26th 2025: Stay Off the Shelf

This week looks promising for winter fishing.  The Arctic cold is retreating and highs may reach up near 50 on Wednesday!  Fish will become active again and they’ll take advantage of the break in the weather to add a few pounds until the next time temperatures plummet.  I have not heard about anyone fishing in the past week, so this “report” doesn’t have any first hand accounts of fish caught during the cold snap.  I went out this (Sunday) morning to the KLG and flipped an egg and midge around for a bit. The only fish I saw was one holding near the edge of the ice shelf that had formed along the bank.  The rainbow was not spooky - about 16 inches or so and did not move.  I flipped my egg/midge pattern and drifted it by several times and there is no doubt it saw my rig.  Nothing.  Not a flutter of fin nor tail. I also have no doubt the fish saw me, so perhaps lockjaw set in and the fish decided if it didn’t move I would not see it.  Who knows?  Either way, it was interesting to just watch for a while and fun to sight fish.  The reason I was so close is, I was rigging up about fifteen yards ahead (up stream) of where I wanted to fish.  The ice shelf was narrow enough, from my estimation, that I could access the water and wade down to the run I planned to fish.  There was no love in the run so I waded back up and exited the river from the same narrow ledge that I learned would support me. By then, the stationary fish had moved on.  In short - there were few safe looking places where I felt good about getting in to fish a riffle or run. I won’t risk the ice being thick enough to support me, so I find a lane where I can wade into position safely from above. This may not be an issue for much longer; however, the rising temperatures present a new hazard - drift ice and rising water levels.   We NEED water in a big way, so the melting snow and ice is a welcome addition to the water table.  At times, and less so on our smaller rivers, an ice dam can suddenly break and release chunks of ice and other debris that rushes downstream.  Be careful. The flies to fish are plentiful.  Perdigons and other Euronymphs in tandem with small midge or eggs are fine choices.  Classic nymph patterns, such as Copper Johns, Prince, Hare’s Ear, and Pheastant tails in #14 - #16, are well heeled choices for a reason and they’ll prove their worth.  Zebra midges, WD40s, Caddis worm patterns, and chironomids in #18 - #24 are great if your fingers are too frozen to work with miniscule midges.  By mid week, I’d add streamers into the mix just as the sun hits its highest point in the sky. Fly Tying 101 continues on Saturdays here in the shop and, as of this writing, slots are available for February 1st.  We will tie a hare’s ear and pheasant tail nymph while learning about the materials, tools, and how to use them.   A few new products have come in as well - Umpqua ZS2 Series has a wading belt that offers back support, a water (of coffee) holder, net quiver, and removable pack which converts quickly to attach to your chest; next is the Wader ZS2 chest pack (also attaches to your waist) with innovative nipper retractor and a built in tippet cord for multiple spools; finally the Overlook ZS2500 Chest Kit has a removable backpack and net holder and incorporates the nipper slot, hemostat grab tabs, and tippet cord.  Check them out and feel how light they are!   Hopefully you’ve seen the announcement for Trout Fest 2025 and you’ll save the date.  Spring is still a long way off, and there is time and opportunity to fish in between.

See you out there, Roy B.