Winter Fishing

[Cam]

I feel like I know what I am doing in the summer when it comes to fly fishing but feel a little lost in the winter. Specifically, what time of day have you all found to be best to fish the streams this time of year. Mornings - Afternoon - Evenings ? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
-Cam

[Crosby]

Cam- now this is just my preference- I don't see any reason to be on the water by sunrise------ usually , in the winter I am fishing Idaho- and the quickest place for me is around 50 miles one way for me- I leave the house about 8 am or so.
Some of the places I fish are warmed a little by some warm springs so the midge hatches come off earlier than other places that it takes the warmingof the day to get things active. I can fish right thru until pretty close to sunset.
Can't believe that nymphing a bhpt or a nymph of some sort- even the dreaded San Juan won't pick you up fish throughout the late morning into the afternoon. But the best advise one could give is; do what you are doing---- ask and then do. Trial and error is a slow thing but it usually gets you to an answer.

[Ouzel]

Like Crosby I too don't hit the water until the afternoon. The warmest part of the day is around 3:30pm.
I will fish the deep holes and slow water with large weighted Black/Brown Stones, Hex's and Wooly Buggers as I feel the trout are not going to move much unless the can see a good meal.
That failing I will move to a small double midge set up of a Zebra Midge and a RS2.
When it starts getting dark I typically will put on a large weighted dark streamer again.
Remember the trout's metabolism is down and they won't move far to take a fly.
Fish slow, fish deep and multiple-multiple casts to the same lie.
They're still there.

[Ouzel]

PS: Overdress and stay out of the water as much as possible. Water has the ability to remove body heat 30 times faster then air. And if that water is moving it is even greater.

[1fly]

I have read a number of your reports. I tried asking if you wanted to go fish the Narrows but it was when all the reports were deleted.

Any interest in fishing the Narrows Sunday?

[Cam]

Thanks for the advise and the encouragement. Sometimes I feel like when I go into a fly shop if I don't already know they won't tell me. Maybe I am going to the wrong places. It was nice to recieve some genuine help here! Thanks again.
For the record - I fished the weber this morning for a couple hours and didn't do so hot. I think next time I will try the afternoon hours and see how that goes.
Thanks again ! -Cam

[Jason B]

I have been fishing the lower provo in the morning, about 830-1200 since i have to be at work at 230pm. I have done very well in the mornings. I see no difference in being on the river in the morning or the afternoon. Only thing that i can think of is someone may beat you to the river.
Jason B