A Great Opportunity for Some WINTER TIME TROUT FISHING

The warm winter weather that many of us are experiencing this year has given us a great opportunity to get out the fly rod, put on some long johns, down vests, hooded sweatshirts, toboggans and maybe even gloves, and head for the mountains for some wintertime trout fishing.

Even on these bright sunny days, it will be cold standing in the water fly fishing. However, the rewards of catching a few trout at a time of the year when we are usually stuck inside watching the snow blow can make us feel warm within and break the winter doldrums.

Remember to take several layers of clothing as it can be very cold in the morning and evening, but feel warm when the sun is out in the middle of the day.

Although I am a great fan of lightweight breathable waders, this time of year neoprene waders will keep you much warmer. Even though the air may feel warm with a bright sun, the water will remain icy cold until we have many more days of warm sunshine. The main source of water is snow melt from the mountain tops and it will be very cold.

These water conditions will make the trout sluggish, but with a little sun shining on the water they may want to feed occasionally. Because their bodies remain very cold, they don't require much food to sustain them, so very small flies are recommended during these bright sunny days of winter. Fish each section of water slowly and deliberately, since they may not want to move very far to feed. Keep in mind that the water temperature will be much more stable in the deeper pools, but with some bright sunshine the shallow water may warm a few degrees. Any warming of the water this time of year should spark some feeding activity from the trout.

For the outdoors person, this can be another special adventure. Even the scenery at this time of year will be completely different. You will be able to glimpse many things now that are impossible to see when the leaves are on the trees and the flowers are blooming.

Spring is not far away, but now is the perfect time to catch a good day and do a little wintertime fly fishing for the elusive trout.

Choosing the right equipment can be an overwhelming job for the novice fly fisherman. Selecting a Fly Rod is one of the most critical choices you will have to make.

The first thing you'll need to decide when choosing a fly fishing outfit, is to consider where you'll do the majority of your fishing. Do you see yourself standing waist deep in a clear mountain stream; or perhaps you will be landing a trophy class tuna, and posing for the typical group photo.

If fishing is your hobby, then you would be wise to get acquainted with a variety of different rods and reels, and how each should be used. While you can certainly catch fish with a simple cane rod, if you're into sport fishing, the quality of your equipment may determine the success of your outing. The better the rod and reel, the greater your opportunity for catching that trophy fish.

I've found that most anglers feel very strongly about their choice of equipment; but this isn't about them, it's about you. Choose the best quality equipment that you can reasonably afford. Over the past few decades, while the fish may not have changed, the sport certainly has. Certainly the basic framework of a rod and reel has remained the same; however the technology in materials and workmanship has made enormous strides.

While the final decision is a very personal one, there's no reason you shouldn't profit from those who've gone before.