The winter months are almost upon us, and depending on where you are located, that may mean that you are in for a cold stretch of months. Often, this means that the fly fishing will slow down or even halt. At the very least, it may be too cold for even the most battle-tested and die-hard anglers. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy fly fishing to the fullest in the offseason. Even when the lines are not tight, there are plenty of opportunities to improve some of your skills related to fly fishing and engage in conservation.

Fly Tying in the Offseason

One of the best activities to do during the offseason is to tie flies. The best part about tying during this time is that you won’t use any of these flies allowing you to restock for the next season. Because you have so much extra time on your hands that would otherwise be spent fishing, you can tie quite a few flies and experiment with different patterns. My favorite flies to tie are streamers, and during the regular fishing season I primarily focus on tying streamers because they are what I need the most. However, during the offseason I have time to tie other flies such as nymphs, different streamer variations, and various topwater bass patterns.

Fly tying can also be social. Many fly shops will offer fly tying events that are often free. Some of these events may cost money depending on if instruction is provided which can be valuable in itself depending on your level of tying skill. These types of events can put you in touch with other fly fishers in your area and provide an opportunity to share fishing tips, stories, and fly tying patterns.

As many of you may know, tying flies can also be very rewarding. There is nothing like being the artist behind putting thread and feathers on a hook in a manner that can fool a fish. I have always felt that fly tying provides me the same “field to table” feeling that hunting does because I am able to see my results from the ground up.

Join a Conservation Group

There are many conservation groups throughout the United States that provide anglers with opportunities to get involved in projects and social events. Trout Unlimited has chapters all over the United States and other organizations such as Back Country Hunters and Anglers are not far behind. These organizations conduct conservation projects in your area and provide a community of like-minded individuals that you can connect with. Additionally, many local conservation groups such as watershed authorities provide similar opportunities, often in a more singularly focused manner. Volunteer board members are the driving force behind these organizations, and volunteering with these organizations or attending their meetings is a great way for an everyday angler to become more fully involved in their local community and their local fishery.

Do Some Research

During the fishing season, it is easy to become swept away in getting on the water as much as possible. There is a lot to be learned on the water including how fish respond to certain techniques, reading water, where fish are at different times of year, etc. However, there is also a lot to be learned by conducting research on fly fishing in the offseason about your favorite fishing techniques and areas. It is important to have this understanding so that you can implement your knowledge in a practical manner on the water and build on what you have researched.

During the offseason I watch a lot of videos, read many magazines and blogs, and listen to various podcasts to learn as much as possible. Even if you can learn one small piece of information from different research avenues, you have accomplished more than most. Doing this research is also a fantastic excuse to watch videos of people catching fish which only serves to feed my excitement for the next season.

Practice Your Craft

Many types of fishing, such as salmon fishing and saltwater fishing require anglers to make long and/or accurate casts. The offseason is a great chance to practice casting in your backyard or in a park. It is easy to get rusty during the offseason and I have experienced the sting of starting off the new season slow because I had to shake my rust off. Practicing in the offseason will stave off the rust and cause you to improve as a caster and subsequently as an angler so that every season is better than the last. Additionally, you can try new cast variations in a controlled environment so that you can build your confidence to try more complicated casts on the water. Casting can build my excitement for a new season even more than research because I feel one step closer to finally getting back on the water.

Fly Fishing in the Offseason

The offseason can be a great time for anglers. There is a lot that can be done and there is a lot of extra time available to do it. While I think any of us would rather be out fishing, there is always a need to do the “behind the scenes” work that builds our fundamentals and allows us to be the best anglers that we can be. Of course, if you ever experience a break in the weather during the winter, try to get out on the water. As I mentioned, fishing may slow down but in many cases, it does not completely shut down. Fish will bite during the cold, and I have never met anyone who caught a fish from their couch.