Having spent the majority of my life in Florida and Georgia, I hate the cold. But kind of like backpacking, rowing a boat or a good sunburn, I will do anything to catch trout.
Winter is cold and often wet. Having good gear to keep you warm dry is paramount. Gore-Tex and layered clothing are the key. But conditions are tolerable for anglers and fish for at least part of most days. The bottom line is, winter is the time of year guide work slows and my colleagues and I get to spend more days on the water fishing instead of working. For that reason, I love the colder months.
Another upside to fishing in the cold is, with trout, the action tends to be best during the warmer part of the day, which translates into plenty of afternoon and mid-day action. So you can set your alarm clock a little later.
Once my work slows down for the cold months, I always take time to reflect on my year. This habit has become a good way to notice patterns in the fish. Doing so led to my discovery that on Georgia’s Toccoa River tailrace, most of the biggest trout come on float trips between Dec. 1 and March 1. I imagine this is the case on many tailraces around the region. Cold weather trips in the last few years averaged one or two quality trout (over 2 pounds or 16-inches) per trip. I suppose this, more than anything, is why I layer up and pull on the old fingerless gloves in December and January.
My personal best brown trout from the Toccoa, just shy of 9 pounds, was landed New Years Day 2010, in the pouring rain. As I left the house that day, my wife inquired as to why I was going to fish in the cold, ugly rain. Upon arriving at a very public location on the river, I hooked the big brown on the second cast. I did not make a third cast that day.
Simply put, I believe we see more big fish in the winter because the numbers of 9- to 10-inch stocked trout are the lowest. There are simply fewer fish in any given location. So, it’s easier to catch any particular fish if there aren’t others around to get your fly or lure first.
Also, the pre- and postspawn behaviors of both browns and rainbows make the largest of them more inclined to eat. While there are some days I’m left wondering why I put myself through the cold and dreary days this time of year, a fish usually reminds me why I do it.
Be safe, and always have a change of clothes and a towel on hand in case you take a spill. And use them immediately after getting wet.
Joe DiPietro is a full-time guide on the Toccoa River tailrace and select private waters. For more information, call (706) 633-0773 or e-mail FanninTrout@gmail.com.
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