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I managed to talk the boss into letting me go fishing this afternoon for a while. I figured I'd try my hand at fly fishing one last time before we move, so I headed up to my favorite winter spot on the Henry's Fork. I kept eyeing the temperature on my way up and I didn't really like what I saw, when I started fishing it was a balmy 11 degrees (but don't worry it eventually wormed up to 14). Until today the coldest weather I had fly fished in was 16, and that was a pretty slow day, so to be honest I expected today to be a bust, but I had to at least try it.
Of course at 11 degrees I had to cast in between the icebergs, which made it interesting. But then I shocked myself and hooked a fish, then another... about half an hour later I had caught 8 beautufully collored little rainbows, then all of a sudden the browns decided they wanted to play. I pulled out an 18 incher, then a 16, then a nice 20 incher.
All in all I ended up with en even dozen fish in an hour and a half on the water, some numb fingers, oh and a broken tip on my Sage [:/]. But it was a great last trip before the move.
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Nice looking fish, sounds like a really cold time. Any tips on the fly patterns if you dont mind....
I use a sinking line wet cell II and fairly new to fly fishing. the river still skunks me time to time. I do well in the still lakes striping in leeches. I was thinking about hitting the snake river here if it clears up. lots of icebergs for sure....
thanks for pics!
match
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Very cool pics! Thanks for the look!
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ya I don't mind sharing patterns, they weren't anything secret, I was just dead drifting a woolly bugger with a midge pupa trailer. since you have the option of waiting, i would wait for the warmer days, that usually triggers the bite, also fish in the warmest part of the day.
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Very good report and pics. I was cold enough on the water without wading in it.
Windriver
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I started reading your post and thinking this is the perfect time for small flies...BUT, also a really good chance to break rods.
I can handle the cold better than my rods can. If I have to de-ice every other cast, I quit.
Glad you didn't however....great fish!
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I thought that must have been it, I caught the 20 incher and my rod was just fine, then I released the next one, a little 12 inch dink, and there was my tip dangling above my indicator [pirate]. I figured it must have just been the cold, sounds like that's what it was from the way you're talking? so just so I know for the future, how cold is safe to fish in without breaking stuff?
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If you keep your guides clean, go for it.
We went last year and I was breaking ice out of the tip top (swishing in the water works to a point)
I looked at my brothers. Had a clump of ice on the tip and he went into the cast. Well, the weight of the line and fly and any added weight (split shot) plus the flipping, I heard a little snap on his forward presentation.....sure enough, the tip snapped, because the line couldn't go through the guides.
Icy weather can produce really nicely, but does require a little more care to me. It is harder on the lines as well.
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excellent pics! I think browns are about the prettiest fish I've ever caught
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I've heard (but haven't tried it) that crisco on you guides will keep it from icing up. Where are you moving to? Did you just get done with school or something?
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Nice report and great fish. I have fished the SF when it was 10 degrees. That is the coldest I have fly fished and the guides icing was bad. I had to dip the rod in the water ever few casts to unthaw the guides. Good thing the water coming out of the damn was warmer than the outside temp. The thought of breaking a rod makes me think I will wait to fly fish until the temps are around freezing.
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