http://www.yellowbreeches.com

http://www.troutbum2.com

http://www.mossycreekflyfishing.com

http://www.mossycreekflyfishing.com

http://www.theeveninghatch.com

Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Magazine - Index

New York’s Salmon River. Yes, it’s worth it.
(717-258-6752; www.yellowbreeches.com). They can also arrange
lodging for all pocketbooks at nearby inns. —by King Montgomery
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Dry-fly fishing in the middle of winter in Utah? Sounds like a dream,
UTAH • Provo River
but it’s not. There are two tailwater sections of the Provo River—the
middle and lower sections—that fish well all winter long. The middle
section offers the potential for finding trout up on the surface for a mid
day midge hatch almost every day in the winter.
By March trout can be found midging or up on top slurping bluewinged
olives in both the middle and lower sections of the Provo. Both
sections offer consistent nymph and streamer fishing throughout the
winter between hatches. The flies that are most productive depend on
the season. For the best advice and fly selection, contact Trout Bum
2 at (877) 878-2862, or visit their website at www.troutbum2.com.
Great winter scenery (or skiing) combined with rising trout—what
could be better? —by Paul B. Downing
13
Mossy Creek, located in the central Shenandoah Valley outside
VIRGINIA • Mossy Creek
Bridgewater, is Virginia’s best spring creek, and it often fishes very well
in winter. Mossy is privately owned over its entire course, but an almost
four mile section is open to the public through a unique agreement
between landowners, the Old Dominion, and the Virginia Council of
TU. Anglers need a free permit from the Virginia Department of Game
and Inland Fisheries (send an SASE to the VDGIF, Verona Office, P. O.
Box 996, Verona, VA 24482).
Some of the private stretches are accessible through Mossy Creek
Fly Fishing, a full-service shop in nearby Harrisonburg owned by Brian
and Colby Trow. Brian lives on the public part of Mossy, so these guys
know the water, and can put you onto browns and rainbows on both
public and private segments. Winter fishing is usually a nymph and
streamer proposition, but on warmer days BWO and midge hatches
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bring fish to the top. For more information, log on to www.mossy
creekflyfishing.com, or call (540) 434-2444. —by King Montgomery
14
What’s better than passing the winter in front of a TV, or day dream-
WASHINGTON • Yakima River
ing of some exotic locale? How about doing the real thing and exploring
Washington State’s Yakima River? This blue-ribbon trout fishery offers
great opportunities for wild rainbows and cutthroat from mid January
through late March. Jason Boitano, owner of The Evening Hatch
Fly Shop and Guide Service, says winter fishing here has some serious
advantages. “The river is at an all-time low during winter months,” he
says “offering anglers easy wading and access to sections you just won’t
see other times of the year. Although we mainly nymph with stoneflies
and egg patterns fished in tandem, there’s also good dry-fly fishing with
Skwalla patterns.” Most fish landed are in the 12- to 14-inch range, but
landing a few 16- to 20-inch fish is not uncommon. For more information
about winter fishing on the Yakima, call Jason at (866) 482-4480,
or go to www.theeveninghatch.com —by Beau Beasley
15
There are two tailwater sections of the North Platte River in central
WYOMING • North Platte River
Wyoming west of Casper that offer exceptional winter fly fishing for
trout that can range up to ten pounds. The Miracle Mile section of
the North Platte offers several miles of excellent walk-and-wade fishing.
While this is mostly nymph fishing with an indicator, watch for
hatches, especially in slower backwater areas.
A few miles downstream another tailwater, Grey Reef, offers some
great drift fishing. The trout, both browns and rainbows, are numerous,
big, and are some of the toughest fighting fish in the West. There are
several areas where you can wade the Grey Reef section, but I find it
best to float this water. For a guided float-fishing trip on the Grey Reef
section, contact the Ugly Bug Fly Shop at (307) 234-6905; E-mail:
uglybugflyshop@qwest.net —by Paul B. Downing
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