Winter is Here….

by John Conits

OK y’all, its cold!!! As I sit here looking at when the high will be today. Will the bugs come off? I tend to enjoy the cold days on the water not because the river is fishing well, but how quiet it will be. Blue Wing Olives have arrived and most likely won’t come off, but that won’t stop me from driving up. The cold I will feel on my feet today can best be described with my low vocabulary as painful. We as anglers know it will be, but still go (some of us). I enjoy days like today just to observe the “gin” clear water winter normally produces. It’s a good time to observe the river bottom and structure throughout the watershed. A fish today is only a bonus but the running water and leafless trees surrounding is all I need. Layering up is important for these days. Over- layering clothes can ruin a cold day on the water. Stay close to the car and keep your core temperature up to refrain from getting hypothermia. It is dangerous, and people don’t need to make the same mistakes I have, rushing to the river with the heat blasting hoping for an “awesome day of fishing”. Don’t just jump in the water. Take it all in and take your time. The trout aren’t moving 4 feet to eat your fly. The trout may not even eat. Days like this consist of lukewarm coffee and boogers dripping down your lips. Yea it’s gross but I can’t stay away. I’m a firm believer in studying water and not missing out on something. I always feel like this since I started fishing. I feel if I stay home and tie flies (which I should), that i’m going to miss that one ‘riser’ or “Megalodon” that going to pick this day to eat. After typing that sentence, I’m starting the car and coffee and heading up.