2009 November | Real Spearfish

Nymph Fly Fishing
Best winter nymphs or midges?

what is the best thing to use right now for fly fishing in idaho streams and rivers? I have heard that small nymphs and midges are the best, but which ones? thanks

You might get some general advice here from Y!Aers like me, but ASK THE LOCALs too. Find someone who’s catching fish, ask the fly shop dudes, etc.

I fish in mountain streams all winter and right now I’m using red/silver Zebra Midges,

http://www.riverbum.com/images/products/big/Zebra-Midge-Tungsten-Bead-Red-Silver-side.jpg

Copper Johns,

http://www.riverbum.com/images/products/big/Copper-Nymph-Bead-Head-Red-side.jpg

and Brassies.

http://www.algonkinflyfishers.com/coppermine/albums/userpics/10001/normal_RedBrassie.jpg

Seems like anything with a little red/gold/brass on it is getting hits, and these are all VERY easy to tie. I’m fishing with small flies, #16 and smaller, mostly, and even the tiny ones are pretty simple to tie (the challenge comes in tying them on the tippet when your finger stop working). I use one fly at a time if I’m getting hits but I’ll tie on a dropper if it’s slow. I also fish with very small midge emergers when there is a midge hatch underway, and a few weeks ago I was getting into a lot of fish with Glo-Bug egg patterns, but you can’t count on midges to hatch and the eggs quit producing, so, nymphs are my go-to tactic right now.

I’ve been trying something new this year — stomach pumping. Most fly shops are carrying small eye-dropper type devices that you can use to shoot a little water down the fish’s gullet and then gently extract a sample of the fish’s stomach. I got one for Christmas and have only been fishing a few times since then, but it’s been interesting. Seems like most of the time I just get a palm full of unidentifiable black stuff, but occasionally, I can say, “Yes, there, that is a chironomid” (or whatever) and then try to imitate that bug. Gonna be fun in the spring.

Winter Nymph Fishing – Jeff Wilkins Fly Fishing