WV winter , Fly fishing

[Ghilli_camper]

Has anyone gone fishing in winter in WVA ? If so where ?

 

[hillbillyjake]

i've fished alot in the winter. shavers fork at bowden, dry fork, red creek, north/south fork of the south branch, seneca creek, whites run, the elk river at bergoo, cherry river at richwood. probbaly more that i can't think of right now. i fished most these in january and all in february.

the main reason i like fishing this time of year is no snakes. no poison ivy, no humidity, and no bugs are all tied for second.

 

[Wander]

I would imagine it's much like winter fishing in NC and SW Virginia which is slow. The only time I've had any luck were with weighted droppers and a sunny day. The fish get really inactive in winter so something needs to get them off the bottom and active. If you find a break in the trees where the sun can get to the water and warm it that is a good spot to fish. Very thin tippets and soft presentations, give it a few seconds to let the dropper sink and mend your drift. As for rivers I have to plead ignorance as I've not fished WV very much. The New does flow north and stays warmer so that might be a good place to try. I'd fish downstream in the lower sections as the head waters will be coldest and more likely to have snow/ice.

 

[Ghilli_camper]

What about waiter ? i read a story of guy waiter getting stuck to a rock and guy basically had to swim for it to get to shore . Snowshoes ?

This is great news . Looking to camp at canaan valley and one other place .

 

[hillbillyjake]

if you camp in canaan valley yuo will be in some good territory. then if you wanted you could drive threw dolly sods to get to the seneca rocks area and be in all new water. you could fish fro weeks in that area and not hit the same water.

never heard of guy waiter. link?

i agree with wander on staying sub surface and fishing the sunny spots. good advice.

although i have a favorite elk hair caddis that i will throw every time i go fishing regardless of conditions. you never know

 

[Wander]

Tie a bed head nymph to that elk hair caddis and double your luck!

I've always had trouble getting a trout to take a dry in winter, they get so lazy and semi-hibernate on the bottom. The browns are worse, they find an undercut and use it as their winter cave and will not budge for anything (or anything I've got to offer)

Is it the same up there? The furthest north stream I've finshed in winter is White Top Laural near Abingdon VA.

Another problem we have here is that access to a lot of streams get's closed in winter so we have to stay in lower elevations or take a long hike.

 

[Ghilli_camper]

So on this long hike , how far are we talking ? How do you know if this stream isn't
frozen before i make the long trek ? Since i haven't been to this part of WV during the winter , do i need snow chains ? car vs truck ? (having a debate on my next vehicle )

 

[Wander]

You don't know for sure so I just fished the lower parts of the streams.

If there is a local fly shop nearby ask around, there is always a few guys crazy enough and with enough time to know what's iced up.

 

[hillbillyjake]

i fished the cherry river on valentines day some years ago. it was 6* when we left the house that morning. the streams were not froze over. i had a volleyball size rock freeze to teh bottom of my wading boot. had to get in teh water to get it off.

i'm not saying that it won't happen on soem of the smaller streams, but places like the south branch of the potomac, cherry river, or elk river are very unlikely to freeze over.