Trout have to eat to survive. While we all stopped fishing because the weather got cold, the fish still have to eat; therefore fishing can be even better in the cold. I enjoy winter fishing probably more than any other time of the year. There are fewer people on the river and the fish I catch are generally larger.

1. This is the clearest water of the year. You will need to approach holes cautiously. Fish will spook easier this time of year than any other time. Watch so that your shadow does not fall over the fish you are fishing for.
2. S L O W down. While most anglers fish just as fast as they do in warm weather, the fish are lethargic and will not run the length of the pool to attack a fly. You may literally have to drift the fly over the fish three times to make him eat it.
3. Know what the fish are feeding on. There are not a lot of insects available to the trout in the cooler water, mainly midges, stoneflies, and a few baitfish or crayfish. There are also some worms available after it rains.
4. Larger flies are the key. Fish either large flies that imitate stoneflies, or fish midge larva and pupa, generally sizes 20 and smaller. I typically fish a size 8 Kevin’s Stonefly, with a #20 chocolate WD 40 trailing the larger stonefly.
5. While it is tempting to fish very small tippet, don’t. There is usually increased water flow, so I typically fish 4x fluorocarbon to my lead fly and 5x to my dropper. This results in fewer lost fish, and fewer lost flies on the bottom.

Beginner Fly Tying with Lou Barlow
Jan 6, 13, 20, & 27 Cost $25
Feb 3, 10, 17, & 24 Cost $25

Tying Streamers For Trout with Kevin Howell
Sat Jan 8th at 8:30AM to 4PM
Cost $30 with a limit of 10 people

Rod Building with Kevin Howell
Cost $50 You will be required to bring a blank, reel seat, & guides.

Tying Midges & Micro Flies with Landon Lipke
Jan 19, 26 Cost $25
Feb 2, 9 Cost $25

For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com or give us a call at 888.861.0111

How to tie the Improved Yaller Hammer from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Tying the Amex Czech Nymph from scumliner productions on Vimeo.

Come joing us November 6th & 7th for the Western North Carolina Flyfishing Expo. See new products for 2011, discounts on 2010 gear, fly tying demonstrations, fly casting, and more.

http://www.wncflyfishingexpo.com/index.php

Sampler Class    September 24th 2-3 hours   $20 per person

One day Emerger Class    August 21st  $150 per person

Two Day Predator School   September 25-26  $325 per person

FREE BEGINNERS CLASS    August 27th   1 hour   5:30pm – 6:30pm

For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

How to Tie the Near Nuff from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

The decision to hire a guide is sometimes a hard one, but it is also a great way to learn new water or methods. It is also a way to safely navigate new water. However, if you have ever hired many guides I am sure that you have had, what I commonly call, “the trip from Hell, with said guide at the helm. Here are five things that you should look for to ensure a quality guide. In the next edition, I will address five things that you need to do for your guide to ensure that you have a good trip.

1. Does your guide have a reputation? The fly fishing industry is a very small place and you are only a couple of introductions away from anyone that you want to know. Find out if any of your buddies have ever fished with the guide, or has ever heard of him. Chances are if he or she is a good guide then someone you know has fished with them or at least heard of the business they are with.
2. Book your guide well in advance. I am not talking about a week, I am talking about 6 months, it is not uncommon for Walker or I to have clients scheduled anywhere from 6 months to one year in advance. The best guides go first, the longer you wait the less the chance that you are going to get the guide that you want.
3. Never book the cheapest guide in the area. Usually there are several guides in a given area, most of which are close colleagues. Therefore their prices will be similar, the guy with the lowest price, (you know the one with the low ball bid) is probably a fly by night operation. Or is trying to book trips with no thought of long term stability or you returning as a client. It is just like the car dealer with the cheapest parts – you are going to get what you pay for.
4. When looking to book trips in foreign countries find out if you guide speaks English or if you need to have a basic understanding of their language. There is nothing worse than blowing a large fish because you could not communicate with your guide. Some of the best guides in Central America speak little English, but they are the guy’s you want to fish with – so be sure you can speak a little Spanish.
5. If you are going to be fishing in the big blue pond then be sure that the guide’s boat is appropriate for the conditions that you are going out in. For instance a Panga is a great boat for Central America, but I do not want to fish out of Panga off of Hatteras in November for Stripers.