Cold water tactics

[Brian]

As everyone knows fishing conditions in western Washington have been tough due to the low,cold, clear conditions we have been dealing with. What is your best tip for finding hookups during these tough conditions? What lure, bait?  What type of water? Where on the river,...higher up or lower?

Here are my thoughts:

My experience has told me that during extreme cold weather  later in the day will find the fish a bit more active, so I fish the afternoons. As far as lures go,... for brats I fish jigs, for nates I'll toss some metal. Where on the river?,...anywhere that has water of suffecient depth and cover to provide the fish with a sense of security.

Let's hear from the rest of you about this subject!   

[Fish]

Best tip is get to know as many fishing friends as possible and keep an inner circle for up dates on local watering holes, this cuts out a lot of guess work

Lure: Jig and Prawn or some kind of attractant, But not necessary just preferred.

Time of Day: When the eye's on my rod stop icing up and my reel free spools like its suppose too.

Nate's: I favor the PINK WORM as its still Float fishing, my favorite Technique with Spoons 2nd.

Location: I love Structure.

[Brian]

I thought we agreed not to talk about the PINK WORM ever again. 

[Fish]

Oooooppppps Sorry, I guess I just forgot with all the Babbling I've been doing this morning, waiting for things to thaw out so i can change my oil and do my Honey Do's

[Andrew]

I don't have enough experience with this one to say anything too conclusively as it's not all that often the flow gets low on the G in the winter (and I'm not going to generalize isolated low-water experiences on other streams), but I've found that "moving water" and transitional holes which will produce under normal flows will not produce under low flows. I concentrate all my effort, then, on the prime long-haul holding areas, especially where I've caught fish under such conditions before.

On rivers like mine where fish are moving all the way up, I don't think it matters a whole lot "where" geographically, I just fish wherever the aforementioned holding areas exist (all up and down).

I toss a light jig with a cork float most of the time, and more spinners recently, knowing both hatchery and native fish are hanging around.

The afternoon fishing=warmer water/more active fish thing makes sense, and afternoon sun on the water in winter doesn't bother me as much as summer, but I still like to be stealthy, and sneaking up from the tailout at first light is about the stealthiest approach I know of. I've caught too many fish before sunrise under these conditions to let myself sleep in if I've got the energy to get out of bed. 

I'll be interested to hear some others' input!

Andrew

[chumdog]

You guys are all wrong!  Everyone knows bead jigs for brats, and pink worms and spoons for nates don't work at all!

Cold weather dictates afternoons are more active times for fish, plus I believe you have to cover as much water as possible.

[98043]

With weather like this I splice about a 100' of fluorocarbon on the main line and use clear plastic floats.I look for water that offers cover without the fish having to work to much.I really like the lack of other fisherman.

[steelheader]

I am with Brian on this one. He knows what he is talking about. 

[BirdDog]

If the water temp is 38F or below; I concentrate on very slow, deep water, almost frog water. I also use small but bright and flashy terminal gear and slow the presentation down. I got out breifly on Sunday afternoon and had two hook-ups in a slow section of the river I rarely fish except for silvers. One was on a mylar spin-n-glo back bounced through the water, the other on a 2/5 oz. silver spoon jigged back on the retrieve. Being the great sportsman I am and a beliver in catch and release, I performed two flawless long distance releases. I am getting really good at those this year.

-BirdDog-