FEB/MAR 2018
31
FISHING|
WINTER
BY EDMUND WADESON
Here in Central Oregon, we know winter
all too well and even though this winter is
milder than last year, venturing out onto the
waters to cast a fly line still requires a con-
sidered approach to conditions. The issue
here is keeping the cold at bay while still
doing what draws us out there in the first
place. Winter conditions here are unique in
that there can be snow on the ground, near
zero temperatures and yet we can still ex-
perience gorgeous sunny skies to mark the
experience; a contrast to the typically wet,
overcast conditions found in the Willamette
Valley not too far to the West.
Here with fly rod in hand and a box of the
right kind of flies, we stand a reasonable
chance of connecting with some beautiful
trout in any of several year-round regional
waters. Careful planning and clothing
makes keeping the cold at bay the prime
task if we are to make a day out a positive
memorable experience.
Getting into waders with several extra
layers to manage frigid temperatures can
be an endeavor, especially when it comes
to bending down to lace up wading boots,
climbing banks to and from the water, or
just hiking through snow. Ease of move-
ment takes second place to retaining body
heat, so you just deal with it.
Winter trout can usually be found close to
the bottom except for the brief intervals
during a Blue Winged Olive or Winter Cad-
dis hatch. On the spring creeks that I fre-
quent, this happens roughly from 11:30am
to 1:30pm and the dry fly fishing can be
really good for that window of time.
On a really bright sunny day, this action
can be extended by 30 minutes before and
after, but it really is a mid-day phenomenon.
Before you know it, the hatch is over and
your dry flies float placidly over the places
where only minutes before, you antici-
pated a swirl or a splash as trout rose and
took them with abandon.
Many challenges have to be overcome for
a trout to grab a fly that has been carefully
presented with a 12 foot leader ending in
two feet of 2 ½ lb breaking strength tip-
pet attached to it. Trying circumstances of
wind, temperature, a frozen reel, ice-bound
rod guides, waist deep water, multiple
diverging currents, surface and subsur-
face obstacles, uncertain footing, chilled
fingers, the chance of a good dunking and
hypothermia, are all factors to be reck-
oned with. The additional elements of skill,