Expert Advice From Fly Fishing Guide: John Packer —  Top Fly Patterns for Winter Trout

Winter has arrived, but don’t let that fool you into thinking the trout stop biting. The savvy anglers in Vail Valley know exactly what gear and what flies to bring for successful winter fly fishing.

One benefit of fishing in winter is the limited food supply. This makes trout more opportunistic and can simplify fly selection.

Preparing Your Winter Gear

During the summer months, I carry a variety of flies, often as many as eight different boxes. However, from late fall through early spring, my fly selection is significantly reduced to just two boxes. Fly size is also easier to determine, though it’s important to be mindful of visibility. Finally, color choices are more limited, focusing on what I believe the trout will find appealing.

Of the thousands of fly patterns that populate our fishing world, there are just a handful of patterns that most anglers need during the winter months. The go-to flies that you will find in my box this time of year are going to be very effective on the Rocky Mountain rivers. 

Midges are available year-round to trout and will make up more of a trout’s overall diet during the winter months. Fly fishermen wanting to consistently catch trout during the winter, should make a point to keep a fly box stocked with a nice selection of midge patterns from each stage in the life cycle.

Nine Types of Flies to Consider

Zebra Midge: The Zebra Midge pattern imitates a larva or fly during its emerging pupa stage. This is definitely one of my go-to winter fly patterns. It is most typically tied with or without tungsten beads. Of the colors that are out there, my favorites are Red, Black, and Purple.

Egan’s Rainbow Warrior: Lance Egan’s Rainbow Warrior is an extremely effective fly pattern that we swear by around here year-round.  As a member of team USA fly fishing team and a bronze medal winner at the 2016 World fly fishing championships, Lance popularized this fly and made it a winner. The deadly combination of a rainbow scud dubbing and the red-hot spot behind the tungsten or glass bead give the Warrior it’s meal appeal. The most common colors are red, black, and pearl.

Craven’s Jujubee Midges: Charlie Craven is a very impressive fly-tier from Denver who has been tying flies since the age of 8. The Jujubee Midge was developed to entice the extremely selective trout in Cheeseman Canyon on the South Platte River. If you can catch fish there, you can catch a fish anywhere! As one of the more intricate flies to tie, this pattern involves approximately 15 steps. The detailed segmenting of the body and the sparse touch of flouro-fiber make this fly extremely desirable to trout and serve as a great tail-water fly. Chartreuse, red, black, and blue are some of my favorite colors.

RS-2: When Rim Chung immigrated to America, he unknowingly designed one of the most effective fishing flies for Colorado’s South Platte River. My first encounter with the RS-2 was over 20 years ago while guiding Mr. Chung’s neighbor.

During a mid-October trip, we were fishing well, but my client asked if I had tried the RS-2. I initially thought he was referring to R2-D2. He then showed me a small bag of black flies that didn’t appear particularly special. I tied one on his line, and the rest, as they say, is history.

The RS-2 is a versatile emerger pattern that I fish both deep on the swing and in the surface film. Last fall, the RS-2 outsold all other midge patterns combined.

Eggs: If you’re a purist, you might want to skip this. But for the rest of us, catching fish is the goal.

Trout reproduce, and their eggs are a valuable food source. Brown trout spawn in autumn and winter, filling the river with eggs. Trout love to eat eggs!

I often use an egg pattern as an attractor in front of a smaller midge larva. Chartreuse or pink eggs are particularly effective.

Brassie: I discovered the Brassie years ago from a shop owner near the Frying Pan River. This classic midge pattern remains highly effective. While often considered a tailwater fly, the Brassie works well in various conditions. The peacock herl head/thorax adds a touch of attraction that makes it a productive fly. If it’s effective in the Bend Hole of the Frying Pan, it’s good enough for me.

Miracle Nymph: A fly I discovered as an imitation of a Mysis Shrimp, which is found in several of Colorado’s tail-water rivers. The Mysis was introduced into the reservoirs as a food source for the stocked trout. Few Mysis shrimp survive the turbines of dams intact. The Miracle Nymph imitates a Mysis shrimp that has been damaged by a turbine. This effective midge larva pattern is suitable for various rivers, particularly clear water conditions. The Candy Cane is a variation of the Miracle Nymph.

Griffiths Gnat: Sometimes trout rise to the surface to eat adult midges. As a guide, I tried to avoid drawing my clients’ attention to this behavior, as it could lead to frustration.

Many people attempt to create better adult midge patterns. I’ve tried them all, but I always return to the Griffiths Gnat. Invented by George Griffith, one of the founders of Trout Unlimited and my mentor, the Griffiths Gnat is a versatile imitation of adult midges. I prefer to fish it dry, often behind a small Adams or Royal Wulff, to observe the fish taking it.

Roy’s Special Emerger: The Griffiths Gnat is generally versatile, but there’s an exception. One day, frustrated by rising trout refusing my flies on the Frying Pan River, I visited Frying Pan Anglers.

Roy Palm sensed my frustration and, without saying a word, selected six flies from his bin and gave them to me for free. A week later, I returned to the Frying Pan and tied on one of those flies. After some adjustments, I hooked into a large trout, which unfortunately escaped. However, I caught several more fish before losing all six flies.

That fly was Roy’s Special Emerger. Even 25 years later, I get a thrill from introducing others to the Roy’s Special. I’ve probably told this story over 500 times!

Expand Your Winter Fly Box With Fly Fishing Outfitters

While trout are less active this winter, they are still hungry and willing to bite. Understanding trout behaviors and patterns during the colder months is crucial, and knowing what to throw onto your line is the first step. While midges are a year-round source for many trout, you might be able to increase your odds by expanding your fly box selection.

Get out on the water this winter with Fly Fishing Outfitters. Our Orvis-endorsed fly fishing guides are the experts on fishing Colorado’s legendary waters. Fly Fishing Outfitters is your one-stop shop for guided tours, equipment, and expert fly fishing advice. Whether you need a fly box re-stock, want to take a guided tour with an Orvis-endorsed guide, or simply want more advice on recommended flies, Fly Fishing Outfitters can help! Visit our website or call us at (970) 476-FISH for more information!