THE METHOD
Don’t put away your trout tackle just yet, advises Paul Procter, exciting stillwater sport lies ahead
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT OUR winters have become milder. As a youngster, I remember frosts in October and November that became sharper and more frequent through to February and even March. We expected heavy snow that would remain for days. This weather made the trout “moody” and they stopped feeding for weeks at a time.
Today, we experience milder conditions and more rain. But at least our waters aren’t iced over for long periods. With temperatures climbing to 10 deg C and above, trout and insects can remain active. More than ever, it’s worth keeping your rods handy and visiting your local stillwater fishery, remembering that when you return home, invigorated by a day’s fishing, a warm fire will be waiting for you.
Here's what I recommend you do to make the best of winter sport.
Watch the weather
Keep an eye on forecasts leading up to your trip. Will conditions change from mild to cold, or vice versa? A sharp drop in temperature will knock back any midge hatches and the trout may become lethargic.
If your water is stream-fed, be mindful of heavy rain because this can result in a sudden injection of colder water, which can also put the trout off.
Conversely, a lift in air temperature can have a positive effect, especially if the thermometer has been hovering near freezing for several days. The water temperature won’t increase overnight, but these sudden warm spells can encourage buzzers to hatch. The trout won’t be far behind.
Attention should be paid to wind directions (see overleaf), particularly if visiting a larger body of water where starting at the wrong location could involve an hour’s drive to put things right.
Preparation begins at home
Leaders and knots are easier to tie in the comfort of your home, as opposed to the windswept shore of an upland lake. Therefore, prepare your line and leaders before leaving home, with the emphasis on spare leaders that you can easily loop to loop on to your fl-yline in the event of a tangle.
It may sound obvious, but if you use commercially tied flies, ensure the hook eyes are not blocked with varnish before you leave home — clearing them with chilled hands isn’t fun.
Wrap up warm
It’s surprising how much colder the conditions are when you’re away from built-up areas. Even if it seems mild on your doorstep, take plenty of thin layers with you as you’ll function much better when you ar
