Fishing for Winter Rainbow and SteelHead
Around the New York, Lake Erie Region
By Fred Bader
During this late Fall and early Winter the rivers around my area have been low and very clear with a result not producing very much activity with the Rainbow or Steelhead until I figured out what to do. A lot of people have been fishing egg patterns which is usually good but not this year. With a dry season, the Salmon run was not as big this year and therefore did not spawn. The egg patterns are not working. Also, with the low clear water, fisherman where seen by the fish, which spooked them even more than usual. Now that the cold weather has set in along with the cold water, the fish are not as active, moving and not feeding. So what's the magic ticket with these fish? Well I'll tell you.
The Steelhead and Rainbow group themselves in pods during these conditions waiting to move up stream when the water rises. To get the fish to bite takes only some patients and this little trick. Get along side of the fish or a little bit down stream. Use a nymph or caddis ranging from size 8 to 12. Use a very small weight about twelve inches from the fly so that it will drift right in front of their heads. Cast up stream five to ten feet from them and let the fly drift into the pod. The trick here is that the fish is only mouthing the fly. (its instinct for them to do this) So you really need to watch your fly line. You will see a small quick stop in your fly line. The fish has now struck. SET THE HOOK! You have very little time before the fish decides that it doesn't want it.
What's the best time you ask? Well let me tell you. The best time to catch winter fish is in the afternoon when the temperature is the warmest and right before dark. Its ideal if it had just rained and the water is just coming down and you have overcast conditions.
If the water is very stained and high, fish with a streamer but if it is low, this is the ticket! I have had lots of results with this method, just look at the fish below!
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