Well the first winter storm of the year has hit. Town is blanketed in white this morning, and temps are just barely hovering above zero. Winter has arrived.
The general conception amongst the uninitiated is that fishing grinds to a halt during the winter months. While this sometimes can be the case, winter is just about my favorite season to be on the water. There is no one on the water, the scenery is great, the fishing can be pretty good, and you won’t find a more peaceful spot than standing in a river while snow falls silently all around you.
Winter fishing requires a completely different mindset from the angler. Outings are at once more relaxed and more serious than trips during the summer. You take a little more time, enjoy the surroundings more, build a fire and enjoy a cup of coffee and not feel pressured to be constantly fishing. On the other hand, you know you have to bring the right gear and clothes to stay warm, and even then you will likely be cold and miserable for most of the day. That reality brings a bit of a grim edge to any trip.
Winter hangs around for a long time in Montana. You can only tie so many flies before you need to get out and use them. Cabin fever really starts to set in around mid to late January, which perfectly coincides with the fishing picking up. We don’t’ get many chances to enjoy crowd free rivers these days, so make the most of them.
