Troutbitten

Troutbitten is about the pursuit of fishing tactics. It’s about discovering new techniques and improving our skills. We don’t want to hope something will happen out there. We try to make it happen. And that element of fly fishing, where there’s always something new to try, is what is so attractive to those of us who dedicate much of our lives to the river.But there’s another side to this love of pursuing trout. And I once wrote it down in an article this way:"There are two sides to every fisherman: one that simply enjoys being on the water (hoping to catch a fish), and the other that desperately wants to know how to put more fish in the net. These two parts find an internal balance inside every long-term angler that I know."Among the nearly one-thousand articles published on Troutbitten, I strive to reflect this balance. The Stories category of the website carries the heart and soul of this project. And if I were limited to writing stories or tactical pieces only, I would no doubt hold on to the stories. I love this kind of writing.This episode is a reading of a story that I first published on February 23, 2022, titled, Fish It Anyway . . .ResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Fish It AnywayREAD: Troutbitten | Category | StoriesVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Season Seven will begin on April 10th. But in between seasons, I want to catch you up on a few things that are going on with Troutbitten.Just a few years ago, Troutbitten was the website only. I wrote and published articles three times a week. Now it’s a multi-media company with many branches — there’s the podcast, the videos, the online shop, hosted events and, of course, the guide business.Here's what's going on in the Troutbitten world . . .ResourcesVIDEO: Troutbitten | Mono Rigs and Euro Leaders -- Micro Thin or Standard?SHOP: Troutbitten | The Troutbitten ShopPODCASTS: Troutbitten | Podcast HomeVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Here we are at the end of Season 6 -- the Troutbitten Winter Skills Series. This is episode 8 of the series, and I’m here with a full crew of friends to wrap things up, to hear some stories and dig into a few more tips for fly fishing in the winter months.This is a great conversation with my best fishing friends. And this discussion is a nice endcap on a full season dedicated to fly fishing in the winter months.We Cover the FollowingMore streamer tipsRiggingAccess issuesWinter preparationMore nymphing tipsDry fly expectationsThis winter vs other winters . . . and moreResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterREAD: Troutbitten | Winter Fly Fishing -- Head, Shoulders, Knees and ToesREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- Ice In the GuidesREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- Something Is Always Gonna HurtVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

My good friend, Austin Dando, joins me to address many of the troubles with winter fishing. In this Winter Skills Series, we’ve been through the tactics, with dry flies, streamers and nymphs. We've talked about how to stay warm out there, and we’ve saved this topic for last.There are a host of reasons that anglers stay home in the winter. Some are legitimate -- there's no good solution for the problem, and you learn to deal with it the best you can. We talk about some of those. But other perceived problems really aren’t much of any issue at all, if you have a plan and a solution. We address a few of those too.We Cover the FollowingIce in the guidesAccessVisibilityRegulating heatFalling inFreezing reelsFinding troutStaying versatile . . . and moreResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterREAD: Troutbitten | Winter Fly Fishing -- Head, Shoulders, Knees and ToesREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- Ice In the GuidesREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- Something Is Always Gonna HurtVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

With this Troutbitten skills series on winter fishing. We’ve covered locations and expectations, where to find trout, and their wintertime habits. We did two full podcasts on staying warm from head to toe. We talked about fishing nymphs in these waters, streamers in these waters, and now we’re ready to talk about dry flies.Specifically, this conversation is dedicated to what is different or unique about fishing dry flies in the winter, versus other times of the year.My friend, Austin Dando, joins me for a great conversation about the floaters. This is a fun one. We Cover the FollowingWhere to find rising troutRegional and geographical variationsExpected hatchesSpring waters, tailwaters, freestonersWater types for small fliesHatches and patterns to matchWhy local knowledge is supremeThe dead drift is everythingPresentation specificsLeader adjustmentsFishing two driesFishing dry dropper in the winter . . . and moreResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterREAD: Troutbitten | The George Harvey Leader DesignREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Dry Fly FishingPODCAST: Troutbitten | Hatches and Strategies, S3 Ep3READ: Troutbitten | That's Not a Dead DriftVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

A streamer is not only a great change-up in the winter, it can be the best fly in your box - if you fish it well. There are some changes to make for a wintertime streamer approach, versus the warmer seasons. And those nuances in presentation make all the difference.In this episode my friend, Austin Dando, and I share our best tips for fishing streamers in the winter. We Cover the FollowingWhy, when, where and howGear for winter streamersThe flies and the linesBenefits of fishing streamers in the winterPresentation specificsThe Super-PauseLow and slow?Water types to focus onHow far will a trout move?Stripping, jigging, drifting. . . and moreResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterPODCAST: Troutbitten | S1 Ep 14 --  Winter Fly FishingREAD: Troutbitten | Category | StreamersREAD: Troutbitten | Streamer Presentations -- Quick or Smooth?READ: Troutbitten | Streamer Presentations -- Strips, Jigs and JerksVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

In this episode, we dive deep into winter nymphing strategies. Specifically, we highlight what is different and what is unique about nymphing in the winter versus other seasons. With fewer hatches and with trout that are less willing to move for a fly, presenting a nymph to winter fish is often our best strategy. But having success requires a refined approach, and winter nymphing can seem like the toughest of the year. However, with a great presentation and a good understanding of where fish feed in colder water, trout can be caught. In fact, with these skills, winter nymphing may sometimes provide the fastest fishing of the year.We Cover the FollowingWhy nymphing is our favorite winter tacticTrout behaviors in cold waterMore predictable water types, methods and fly selectionLow and slow?Trout grouping and trout spreading outFavorite rigs, tight line and indyFavorite fliesFly pairings and placementLong drifts vs short driftsBobber holesResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterPODCAST: Troutbitten | S1 Ep 14 --  Winter Fly FishingREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- The Go-To Nymphing RigREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- The Secondary Nymphing RigVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Here's a full podcast dedicated to staying warm, from head to toe. Because sometimes, staying warm and functional in the winter is far more important than the tactics. The cold becomes our biggest challenge.This episode is about keeping the cold out, the heat in and fishing hard — all day long, in even the roughest weather. More specifically, it's about regulating your body heat while on the river.In This Episode, We Cover the FollowingHow to regulate heat with layers and zippersStaying mobile with flexible layers that hold in heat and let it goBest materials for each zone, each layerHats, buffs, balaclavas, hoodsDark colors and UV raysBase layers, insulating layers, outer layersWinters waders, winter bootsSocksHeat packsBattery solutions. . . moreResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterPODCAST: Troutbitten | S1 Ep 14 --  Winter Fly FishingREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- Head, Shoulder, Knees and ToesREAD: Troutbitten | Winter -- Something Is Always Going to HurtVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Cold. That is what defines winter fishing. We acknowledged in the last podcast that the cold — or really the inability to deal with it — is one of the main reasons anglers stay home.So that’s why I think any in-depth discussion about winter fishing really has to start with how to stay warm. If you’re so cold that you can’t function normally, you just won’t fish well.In next week’s podcast, we’re going to get deep into all of it — keeping your whole body warm, from head to toe. And not just warm, but ready for fishing, walking, wading and hiking a little. But in this episode, we’re starting with your hands — just your hands. Because there’s a lot to this. And maybe nothing is more important.  We need warm hands -- working hands -- to fish in the coldest weather we encounter and stay out there, catching fish and meeting the challenges that winter fishing can bring.In This Episode, We Cover the FollowingWhy fly anglers need two handsThe benefit of body heatSomething is still going to hurtKeep your hands dryDoes everyone need gloves?Types of glovesWool, fleece, nitrileHeat packs (Hot Hands)Using your pocketsWrist bandsResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterPODCAST: Troutbitten | S1, Ep 14 --  Winter Fly FishingREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- Your HandsREAD: Troutbitten | Winter -- Something Is Always Going to HurtREAD: Troutbitten | Winter Pregarme VisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/

Season Six of the Troutbitten podcast begins. This is an eight part Skill Series about fly fishing in the winter months, and episode one is an overview of the series, along with details about where to find trout and in what water type we should expect them to eat. This episode is about our approach, with advice on time of day, fly strategy, covering water to suite the river and reading what the trout want for the moment.I'm joined this season by my co-host, Austin Dando.This Skills Series format is designed with less conversation and more detail.Here Are the Winter Skills Series Episode Titles:The System / The PlanYour HandsHead, Shoulders, Knees and ToesNymphing in the WinterStreamer Fishing in the WinterDry Flies, Midges, Emergers and MoreWinter Problems, Winter SolutionsRoundtable ReviewIn This Episode, We Cover the FollowingWhat does winter meanAir temperatures and water temperaturesEnjoying the struggleCracking the winter codeWinter predictabilityWhere to expect troutRiver types and water typesFinding feeding fishMove and fishNymphing, streamers dry fliesWhy don't more anglers fish in the winter?The experienceResourcesREAD: Troutbitten | Category | Fly Fishing in the WinterPODCAST: Troutbitten | S1 Ep 14 --  Winter Fly FishingREAD: Troutbitten | Winter -- Something Is Always Going to HurtREAD: Troutbitten | Fly Fishing in the Winter -- The SystemREAD: Troutbitten | Winter Welcome HomeVisitTroutbitten WebsiteTroutbitten InstagramTroutbitten YouTubeTroutbitten FacebookThanks to TroutRoutes:Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership athttps://maps.troutroutes.com Thanks to SkwalaUse the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order athttps://skwalafishing.com/