Catching brook trout in the cold can be tricky. You’ll need to be prepared from a clothing standpoint but also, you’ll need to change up your fly selections. Gone are the days of throwing a foam hopper, maybe.
What do Brook Trout do in Winter?
The good news about brook trout is that they’re a cold-water fish. So, as long as the stream your fishing isn’t iced over then there’s a good chance you’ll be able to get out there and bring some to your net.
Their behavior patterns aren’t too different. They may slow down some, and congregate more in deeper pools, but they’re still those aggressive little fish that we love to catch.
The biggest difference is that you’ll be nymphing most of the time. Insects are few and far between in winter so trout won’t be looking on the surface much. That being said, brookies have been known to take a dry in winter. So, don’t rule that out completely.
Preparing for Winter Time
The water in those mountain streams is already cold. On top of that, add in that it was 30 degrees last night and the water is now downright frigid. So, before you do anything to your fishing gear you need to make sure you’re dressed properly.
Waders and Clothing
You need to be in waders in winter, doesn’t have to be neoprene, but you need something to keep the water off of your skin. Ideally, it has neoprene booties to keep your feet warm. Underneath your waders, a pair of sweatpants and some good thick socks will be ideal.
Up top, you can pick out whatever is most comfortable for you. For me, it’s usually a long sleeve shirt with a hoodie on top of that. Then the straps on my waders go over the top of the sweatshirt. Paired with gloves and a sock hat.
When it’s really cold I’ll keep some hand warmers in the pocket of my waders. This really helps bring some life back to my fingertips if I need to tie on a knot or grip the fly for a bow and arrow cast.
Where are the Brook Trout?
It’s not too different from spring, summer, and fall fishing. The biggest difference in their location is that they will basically all be in deeper holes as opposed to some of the more shallow runs. A big reason for this is because the winter is normally dry and those areas that were just shallow runs now can’t support the fish.
Look for plunge pools or any deeper pockets of water. If you’re working your way upstream then work the pool from back to front, making sure you keep your fly line and shadow off the water. Depending on the size of the pool I’ll usually make around 5-10 casts. This may be quick for some, but I like to move a little more when it’s cold out.
If you’re having a slow day go ahead and try to throw some flies in those runs. You never know, there could be a couple of fish hanging out in there.
What Flies Should I Use?
You should either hate or love nymphing by the end of the day because that’s what you should be doing. Practice mending, working an indicator, and dead drifting your fly. If you’re feeling frisky then give a wooly bugger a shot. Sometimes a little bit of jigging will help entice a bite when they aren’t in the mood to eat.
All that being said brook trout are incredibly aggressive. So, if you’ve really got the dry fly itch, go ahead and throw on an adams, or a caddis. Even better, drop a nymph off the shank and fish both. You may catch one or two on the dry fly.
Fly Selection
We’ve got five flies that need to be in your fly box this winter. Rotate these to see what the trout are looking for, or start turning over rocks and see what is living in your river. The phrase, match the hatch has been beaten into our heads for a reason, it flat out works.
Zebra Midge
This one shouldn’t come as a surprise. Midges are prevalent in just about every trout river and often times the most popular food for brook trout in the cold. These should be in your box regardless, but add a few extra when hitting the brook trout stream.
Black, red, purple, doesn’t matter you should have all the colors at your fingertips. Sizes 16-22 work best, so be ready to tie some very small knots with extra light tippet. If the pool is really deep then you may need to attach a small weight about a foot above the fly. This will help get it down deep to where the trout are hanging out.
Rainbow Warrior
Another popular midge patter. The rainbow warrior has been watching wintertime trout for years now and should be a mainstay in your wintertime fly selection.
The rainbow warrior also does a great job of being an attractor when throwing other nymphs. I like to use this as the lead fly and drop a zebra midge off the shank. The trout first see the rainbow warrior and then behind it will be the zebra midge.
Using it as an attractor is a great way to entice the fish into eating when the day is slow.
Squirmy Wormy
The squirmy gets some hate from purists because it’s imitating a worm and not a fly. However, it’s hard to debate how effective this fly is. The soft material gives this fly great action and will flop around with any sort of current. This action makes it difficult for trout to stay away.
If you’re having a hard time catching fish and you’re not even sure if there is even fish in this stream then tie on a squirmy. This fly is a great way to figure out if you’re even fishing or just dangling a fly in the water.
Wooly Bugger
If drifting nymphs isn’t your style then a wooly bugger will be the fly or you. Use in a size 6-12, and either in black, white, or olive green. Target the deep pools, working both back to front then side to side. The trout will tell you if they want a back-to-front or side-to-side presentation. Alternate between jigging and slowly stripping.
Parachute Adams
Because why not? Go ahead and keep a dry in our box and see what happens. It can be fun to switch it up in the middle of the day and try something different. I use an adams because it’s the dry I have the most confidence in. So, you should be using your favorite dry.
Final Thoughts
Fishing for brook trout in the cold can be just as much fun as spring or summer. Sure, the weather makes it more uncomfortable, but you can still limit out and help stave off cabin fever. What do you think? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!
