Recently snowstorm Izzy came through the Blue Ridge Mountains dumping 6 to 15 inches of snow in places. The water temperature on most of the fisheries in western North Carolina is below 40 degrees. The runoff from heavy snowfall and frigid nights causes the water temperature to plummet. Catching fish this time of year is not impossible, but you must change up your method. Catch numbers will be lower because a trout’s metabolism slows in colder water, but quality increases.
This time of year we sight fish to some of the biggest trout on the creek if you can spot them in the crystal clear water. Most of the bigger fish hang out in the slow, deep pools because they do not have to exert much energy. These fish are super spooky but not impossible to catch. The only fly you need to have ties on is a midge. Olive, black, and brown midges are my favorite colors. Tightlining a midge using 6x tippet is the most effective way to catch fish. If the fish do not respond to a dead drift then try lifting your rod as the midge drifts in front of the fish. This slow lift of the rod makes the fly seem as if it’s swimming or emerging which usually triggers a response from the fish. This 18” brown trout was taken on Curtis Creek when there was snow on the ground and the air temperature was 29 degrees. This was one of three fish caught, but catching this fish in the wild water section was a true prize given the conditions.
Fishing around the warmest part of the day will increase your odds of catching fish because this is when the water temperature will be on the rise and will “peak”. Springs along the creek will also add some warmer water to the creek so it’s not a bad idea to plan your trip around these areas. 10am to 2pm is prime time.
Normally in the winter there will be pods of trout in the same hole. It’s not uncommon to see more than one big trout in a hole. When you come up on a pod of fish always target the one in the back and work your way upstream so you don’t spook all the fish going for the biggest one ahead of the others.
The photo below is typical of most mountain creeks in the wintertime. The water is crystal clear and low. The water in the back of the hole is deepest at 3-4 feet. This deeper water is where most fish hangout this time of year then when Spring rolls around those fish will push towards the head of the run.
Anytime there is a warm spell in the winter time and the water temperature rises significantly then it’s best to hit your local creek. This rise in temperature will trigger the fish into feeding more aggressively and you might run into a good Blue Wing Olive hatch. You will never know if you don’t go!
Winter fishing provides solitude and therapy for cabin fever. If you got a good pair of waders then you can fish year round even on the coldest, winter day. January and February provide more shots at trophy trout in the mountain creeks of North Carolina than any other months besides October.
Normally my go to rod this time of year is my 10’6 3wt Redington Strike. My leader setup for these smaller mountain creeks is 24 inches of 2x attached to 18 inches of Rio’s 3x sighter material attached to 60 inches of 6x. Some people will disagree with this setup but it’s easier to cast than the long leader setups most euro nymphers use. Find something that works for you and roll with it. If it catches fish then you are doing something right.