Fly Fishing in December Podcast

Fly Fishing in December on Large Trout Streams

Fly Fishing in December can result in the large trout streams getting colder which cools the trout and decreases their metabolism and need for food. This also slows the nymph growth of the mayflies, stoneflies and caddis larva making this a small food source in the cold water.

However the springs which enter these streams along the banks and in the stream bottom has a wonderful positive affect upon the trout and their food. These springs are much warmer than the actual stream water temperature which prompts the trout to feed. They often produce very large populations of Cress Bugs and Shrimp. It is easy to spot these springs which enter along the stream banks by the rich green weed growth they produce. The springs entering the stream from the bottom are often detected on our legs as we wade the stream.

The cressbug and shrimp populations are heaviest immediately below these springs.  For example, there is a large spring input on Big Stoney Creek in Edinburg where the cress bug and shrimp population may extend downstream several hundred feet.  The Jackson River in the Hidden Valley Area has many springs that come from the stream bottom.  When you are wading this stream and detect the warm water on your legs then fish the area downstream carefully.

My favorite patterns are Cress Bugs size 14 & 16, Murray’s Shrimp size 14 and Shenandoah Sowbug size 14.  In the East the cress bugs are present in larger numbers in most streams than the shrimp. In the Rockies the opposite is true.

Fly Fishing in December for Bass

I have a good friend who takes great pride about catching bass on the rivers in the winter. He recently called me and said he was out fishing for about 8 hours. He only caught one bass but he was very proud that it was over 5 pounds. That’s about the story of winter bass fly fishing–we don’t catch many but have a chance of catching large bass. Typically these serious fishermen float the river for about 5 miles and only fish in the deepest pools. They anchor at the upstream end of each deep pool and use a fast sinking head fly line. I like to use a Sonar Sink 30 Warm Fly Line in 200grain with a 6ft 2X Fluorocarbon Leader.

I like to use big flies such as a Murray’s Madtom Sculpin, black size 4 and Spuddler size 4. I swim these flies right along the stream bottom by stripping them 6 inches every 10 seconds. Another handy thing to have at this time of year is half finger fishing gloves so you keep your hands warm but still have open fingertips to change flies.