Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 12
Fly Selection for Late Winter Trout
by John Allen
photos by the author
Who doesn't enjoy a day on a trout stream without anyone
around? You have the pick of the best fishing spots. Where
you go is solely up to you. Trout fishing in the late winter
provides the opportunity to cover a lot of water, which is
important. On many stocked trout streams, fish numbers
are low. You need to increase the odds in your favor in
every possible way. Having the right flies in your box can
make all the difference between a successful day or just
coming home with cold hands.
Stream conditions
For many anglers, air temperature of 50 degrees F
and sunny days will bring them to the stream. For me to
venture streamside, I need the minimum temperature to
be 38 degrees F with the sun poking through the clouds.
Obviously, the warmer the weather, the more active the
trout will be, so all of those other anglers do have a point.
If you can find trout and, more importantly, feeding
trout, you can usually coax fish into feeding with a wellpresented fly.
12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2020
A sunny day on the water allows the water to warm
up quicker than a cloudy day. Often, you will see trout
in sunny spots actively feeding as the warmer water has
activated the movements of food sources. Trout tend to
be in shallower water at this time of the year, because
the water is warmer. Consider these factors when
selecting your flies.
Flies
When you fish a stocked trout stream in late winter,
you are most likely fishing over trout that have been
in the stream for at least 7 months. These trout are no
longer used to feeding on fish pellets. At this point, fish
have grown accustomed to the menu of the stream.
In most cases, the most abundant food source will be
nymphs. You can turn over a few rocks if you want to
find out exactly what these fish are eating, or you can
use a variety of generalized patterns. This is where the
Hare's Ear, Pheasant Tail Nymph, Prince Nymph and
Copper John come into play. I carry a range of sizes
(14-18) for each of these patterns. For more specific
patterns, I carry Blue Winged Olive Nymphs (sizes 16
and 18), Stonefly Nymphs (size 14-16) and caddis larvae
(sizes 14-18) as these are usually the first hatches of the
new year and are typically the most active nymphs in
the water.
www.gonefishingpa.com
http://www.gonefishingpa.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 63
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 64
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/201780102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20121112
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com