Winter doesn’t mean an end to trout fishing. Thanks to warmer waters from spring-fed rivers and tailwaters, you can enjoy your favorite hobby 365 days a year. Even in winter, trout remain active, and with the right flies, you can catch trout on every trip.
In some parts of the world, like the tailwaters of the Frying Pan River in Colorado, winter fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout is not only possible but also quite rewarding.
To make your winter trout fishing successful, you need the best winter trout flies. In this guide, we introduce you to the essential fly patterns to carry in your winter fly box and the best tactics to fish them. We’ll kick off with the winter flies and then explore the tactics you can use for a successful winter fishing.
The Best Winter Trout Flies
The best flies for winter trout revolve around the natural imitation of two aquatic invertebrates and insects: midge patterns and blue-winged olive dry fly. There are also a few other natural-looking patterns you should have in your fly box.
Remember, in winter, most of the fly patterns you need are going to be in sizes 18-22. As for the color, black flies are the best, but having a bright fly pattern or two can also be useful.
Zebra Midge
The zebra midge is a classic winter trout fly that keeps on giving. It effectively imitates midge larvae which form the main part of the trout’s diet during winter. You should have these fishing trout flies in your box in sizes 18-22, in colors such as black, copper, and red. It’s also a good idea to have a few bead head options and tungsten bead head flies to reach the feeding trout sitting in deep pools.
Craven’s Jujubee Midge
Charlie Craven, a renowned fly tyer, created the Jujubee Midge nymph, a fly that is potent during winter. This detailed fly fools even the wisest trout in the USA, notably those in Cheesman Canyon of the South Platte. Be sure to get a few of these in blue, black, red, and chartreuse in sizes 18-22.
Pheasant Tail
The pheasant tail nymph is another excellent pattern to have for winter fishing. Ideally, you want it in sizes 18-22 as it imitates the tiny midges that are common after the snow-melt. It is also advisable to have these flies in a range of colors and weights to fish in low water runs and deeper areas.
Rainbow Warrior
The rainbow warrior fly is great for winter fishing when the water is a little dirty or high. This is because of its flashy appearance that can be easily spotted by the fish. You’ll need a few of these flies in sizes 18-22 and various weighted heads to match the water depth you’re fly fishing in.
Egg Pattern
Egg patterns work well anytime between September and April. This is because it’s the spawning season when fish have laid eggs into the gravel. Some of the eggs then get washed downstream and fish love to feed on them. Thus, an egg fly will consistently catch fish.
San Juan Worm
Another fly pattern that works all year round is the San Juan worm fly or other worm flies such as the Squirmy Wormy. The reason these work so well is that worms are always in the river system, and in winter, they are particularly tempting for trout.
Woolly Bugger
If there is one large fly to have in your box during winter, it’s a wooly bugger in olive and black in sizes 2-8. The great thing about this fly is its versatility. You can strip it through a pool like a streamer to tempt a winter fish into grabbing a huge protein dose, or you can dead drift it with a nymph as it looks like a large stonefly nymph.
Brooks Sprout Midge
Dry fly fishing in winter can be effective, and when you see fish rising while snow is falling, you’ll believe me. One of the best dry flies for these occasions is the Brooks sprout. This fly, in black and sizes 18-24, is an