Tying the Girdle Bug from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Tying the Parachute Adams from Bill Strickland on Vimeo.

Trout have to eat to survive. While we all stopped fishing because the weather got cold, the fish still have to eat; therefore fishing can be even better in the cold. I enjoy winter fishing probably more than any other time of the year. There are fewer people on the river and the fish I catch are generally larger.

1. This is the clearest water of the year. You will need to approach holes cautiously. Fish will spook easier this time of year than any other time. Watch so that your shadow does not fall over the fish you are fishing for.
2. S L O W down. While most anglers fish just as fast as they do in warm weather, the fish are lethargic and will not run the length of the pool to attack a fly. You may literally have to drift the fly over the fish three times to make him eat it.
3. Know what the fish are feeding on. There are not a lot of insects available to the trout in the cooler water, mainly midges, stoneflies, and a few baitfish or crayfish. There are also some worms available after it rains.
4. Larger flies are the key. Fish either large flies that imitate stoneflies, or fish midge larva and pupa, generally sizes 20 and smaller. I typically fish a size 8 Kevin’s Stonefly, with a #20 chocolate WD 40 trailing the larger stonefly.
5. While it is tempting to fish very small tippet, don’t. There is usually increased water flow, so I typically fish 4x fluorocarbon to my lead fly and 5x to my dropper. This results in fewer lost fish, and fewer lost flies on the bottom.

Beginning Fly Tying  $40 per person   

Dates:  January 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th.  From 6pm- 8pm.  

Join Instructors Bill Strickland & Lou Barlow for our beginners course in fly tying. This class is designed to get you up and started tying basic patterns or you can use this as a refresher course if you have not tied in several years.  The class will cover majority of all the tools used for tying and will teach you basic flies to tie such as the Elk Hair Caddis, San Juan Worms, Egg Patterns, WoolyBuggers, etc.  We will supply all the tools and materials while in the class and also provide each person with a DRO fly tying manual.  If interested please email Bill Strickland at bstrickland@davidsonflyfishing.com.

Bass Flies   $35 per person

Dates: February 10th, 17th.  From 6pm – 8 pm

Join Instructor Walker Parrott as he shows you how to tie basic and advanced flies for catching big bass this summer.  This class is recommended for those individuals who have some fly tying skills.  Flies will include Clouser Minnows, Poppers, Sliders, and various other flies.  For more information please contact Walker at Walker@davidsonflyfishing.com

Southern Appalachian Trout Flies   $40 per person

Dates: January 23rd

Learn to tie local flies with one of the Masters in the Industry. Kevin Howell will teach you how to tie some of the traditional Southern Appalachian Flies such as the Yallar Hammer, Sheepfly, Secret Weapon, as well as a few other mountain trout flies. Previous tying experience is preferred.  Contact Kevin Howell for further information at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

Rod Building  $ 75 per person

Dates: January 5th, 19th, 26th….. February 2nd

This class will teach individuals how to build their own graphite fly rod.  You will cover all aspects of building a rod from selecting materials and handles to wrapping guides and epoxying the rod.  DRO will supply all glues,epoxy,and rod driers.  Student swill need to provide 1″ roll of masking tape, a 1/4″ chain saw file, and a pair of sharp fine point scissors.  You will also receive a  HOW TO  manual for rod building and 15% discount for all material ordered through DRO.  For more information email us at info@davidsonflyfishing.com

As we change into a fall fishing pattern there are several things that fishermen can do to increase there catch through out the day. That may be slightly different than the techniques that they were using for summer time fish.

Fishing is good throughout the day, you do not have to fish early or late. Trout will feed all day as they are trying to feed up for the winter, and for spawning in late November in our part of the country.

Terrestrials are a very good fly to use in the fall. However fishing an ant or beetle or hopper in the early morning when it is cool and they are not as active is probably not going to produce as many fish as if you fished the same fly later in the day.

Go big or go home, large trout especially browns like to make a good meal out of eating smaller fish this is especially true in the fall a large trout is capable of eating another trout half his size. So fish large streamers yes even in clear water for larger browns and rainbows.

Fishing dark colored mayfly nymphs and caddis pupas in the morning are a good choice. Then transition to the dries as the day warms up.

Do not be afraid to impair action to your fly until the water gets below 50 degrees. Fall trout tend to more aggressive, so skating flies, stripping flies, or adding some type of movement to your fly may result in more aggressive strikes.

Hook: Tiemko 200R #6
Eyes: Extra small lead dumbell
Tail: Red Fox Tail
Body: Red Fox Tail w/ crystal flash

To order these materials, go to www.davidsonflyfishing.com!

Tip #1: Be aware of your lighting and shadows.

Lighting and shadows are the most important elements to control when taking a quality picture. Obviously, catching that trophy fish cannot always happen during the most optimal times of daylight. Avoid shooting directly into the sun because this can cause a harsh shadow along the subject’s face and body. One way you can prevent shadows on sunny days is to use your flash, which will fill in the dark spots of your subject and prevent the person from being completely in silhouette while the rest of the image is bright. Make sure that your subject removes his/her sunglasses and raises his/her hat up to avoid shadows. Try taking pictures with and without flash on overcast days. These days, most digital cameras have a cloudy day option.

Tip #2: Use a tripod.

Of course there are many times you don’t feel like carrying around a tripod with you.  However, this handy tool is important for preventing photos that are out of focus. When taking pictures of fish, most people cannot hold the camera still long enough for the fish to stop flopping around. This makes for a very blurry photograph. Most tripods are less than $60, which makes it a smart investment.

Tip #3: Get close to what you are photographing.

Make sure to fill the picture area with the subject you are photographing. This helps to show more color and details of the fish in your photograph. Spawning colors of a Rainbow Trout or defined spots and a hook jaw of a male Brown Trout are distinguishing characteristics that should be captured in a quality photograph. Be conscious not only of what you are intending to photograph but what may be behind the scene of the picture. When people are admiring your trophy fishing photo, you want them to stay focused on you and your catch. Be aware of objects like an old rusty wash machine in the river, old corn cans laying on the bank, or “No Trespassing” signs in the background, which can negatively affect the quality of the experience, even when you have permission to fish private waters.

Tip #4: Show the fish, not your fingers.

This photograph is the moment of truth. The worst thing you can do is catch a trophy fish and have a photograph of nothing but the head of the fish and all your fingers. The best advice here is to put the net in between your legs, wet your hands, and gently reach in to grab the fish. Place one thumb long the top of the head and the other thumb just above where the tail begins. Wrap your fingertips along the bottom of the gill plates to the belly and along the end of the belly toward the tail. After you have control of the fish, extend your arms to whoever is taking the photograph. If the fish gets jumpy, you can just lower the fish back into the net, and repeat the previous steps.

Tip #5: Take more than one picture.

Once the fish is secured in the net, take a few shots of the angler holding the fish. Make sure you get several pictures from different angles that include the angler and some that are just of the fish. Some of these shots can include capturing the angler just before he/she releases the fish back into the water or a macro shot of the fly hanging out of the fish’s mouth. The goal here is to get a variety of different pictures to use in just case some are not as quality as others. Usually, the best pictures are the ones that are not staged so try taking some when the subject is not aware that they are being photographed.

Remember that we are practicing “Catch & Release” so use good judgment when handling the fish, and try to keep them in the water as much as possible.

To enter your trophy photo in our “Fish of the Month Challenge,” email us at bstrickland@davidsonflyfishing.com!

To tie your own Estaz Zonker, use the following materials:

Hook: Tiemco Bass 8089 #2
Eyes: Small lead dumbbell
Tail: Olive zonker
Body: Root beer estaz

To Order These Materials Online Go To, DavidsonFlyFishing.com!