Winter Dry Fly

[Paul6.5]

I’ve noticed that on unseasonably warm days following a prolonged cold spell, many streams can produce surprisingly strong midge hatches. This isn’t a groundbreaking observation, but it’s been consistent enough for me.

During these winter midge hatches, I’ll exclusively fish a size 16 Griffith’s Gnat as a spotter with a size 22 Griffith’s Gnat about two feet behind it. That setup has done very well for me.

I’m curious what others are using for winter dry-fly fishing?

 

[jifigz]

In the past when I've found these situations, I either use a small Griffith's gnat (size 22 - 24) or a tiny greased Al's rat. A very small RS2 also will work.

 

[Bamboozle]

I like to fuss less with drying, treating or re-treating flies in the cold so often I use a small 24 - 26 wire bodied midge pupa I make with a glass bead and suspend it 6" - 12" below a minuscule blob of strike putty.

It ain't a dry fly but it is a midge and fishing it is easy peazy, and even the risers will grab it.

 

[dc410]

Maybe try dropping a size 20 or 22 black or red Zebra midge 12-16” below your Griffiths Gnat that way your covering multiple levels of the water column since the fish are obviously working those levels and clearly looking up.

 

[tjsingle]

I like hi-viz midge dry flies, either cream or black. Size 22. They look similar to a klinkhammer. Also like to use a size 18 BWO with a midge dropped off the back either BH or non BH.

 

[Broodstock]

@dryflyguy has been known to fish in the winter, I'd like to know his thoughts on this.

It's rare I have a dry fly rod with me for these winter trips, but when I do I usually like a 18-20 bwo emerger with a 22 midge trailer.

 

[dryflyguy]

I usually hang things up for the year in mid November.
And take about a 3 month break, starting again mid to late February - depending on the conditions
Guess that makes me a late winter fisherman

By then, I'm usually finding BWO's on spring and yellow creek.
At that time of year the water is likely still in the '40's, causing most BWO activity to happen during the warmest part of the day.
Usually from 2 - 4.

Before that time window, and afterward in the evening, is when I find fish midging
And I'll play around with them.
Trying a smaller #22 BWO , which will often work

If they're serious smutters though - and want something even smaller - I'll go down to #24 and even #26.
I have tricos in those sizes, that often do the trick

Sometimes I end up going to what's called a sewer fly.
Just a body of black dubbing, tied around a poly post wing.
And that's it
Very simple pattern.

Usually when fishing stuff that small, I end up on 6 or 7x.
It can make a difference IMO

 

[jayL]

20 to 24. Black thread body. Furl a piece of crystal flash and tie it in with the loop end toward pointed the bend of the hook. Fold the tag ends back into legs and trim. One turn grizzly, finish. Result is an extended crystal flash body.

I was stoned, it made sense. Easy to tie and see, works.

 

[jayL]

Shops sell these silly things too. Not gonna mess with tying em, but the shallow feb sippers on the Madison approve when the clustering starts.

 

[Richbo69]

Interesting looking fly….

 

[dryflyguy]

I’ve tied double trico spinners, but never seen anything with 2 parachute posts like that
And agree it seems like overkill

 

[jeffroey]

Shops sell these silly things too. Not gonna mess with tying em, but the shallow feb sippers on the Madison approve when the clustering starts.

I've tied many of these . . . After enough bourbon to realize I shouldn't be sitting at a desk with sharp objects like bodkins. No two have ever looked the same. I call them an Old Fashioned Emerger – because they're slow, subtle, and dangerous, just like the several I had before tying one of these.