Winter Trout Fishing: Slower, Colder, but Absolutely Worth It

As water temperatures drop, a trout’s metabolism slows down. They’re not burning many calories, so they don’t need to eat very often.  That’s the entire challenge of winter fishing right there—not picky fish, just low-frequency feeding.

When a trout does decide it’s time to eat, it still behaves exactly like a trout: it eats what’s easiest, safest, and most available. Your job isn’t to trick a genius—it’s to be there when they’re ready, and to show them something they don’t have to work for.

Follow the Sun: Timing Is Everything

In summer you can catch trout at dawn, noon, or dusk. In winter? Not so much.

The warmest part of the day—roughly 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.—is prime time.
A couple degrees of warming can kick off brief feeding periods where trout shift out of deep, slow water and start snacking on midges, small mayflies, or whatever else wanders by.

If you're only going to fish a few hours, make them the right hours.

Where Trout Hold in Winter

Cold water pushes trout into water that allows them to conserve energy. Look for:

• Soft seams and slow edges

• Deep pools and tailouts

• The slow side of riffles, especially during midday warmups

• Undercut banks and submerged structure where current is minimal

Trout don’t want to burn calories in winter, so if the water’s barely moving, it’s likely holding fish.

*This Henry's Fork brown trout ate a streamer on a blistery February day

The Winter BWO Hatch: Small Bugs, Big Clues

Many anglers are surprised to learn that Blue Wing Olives hatch all winter long on many Western rivers. These are tiny mayflies—usually #18–22—that love cold, cloudy, slightly humid weather. If you see dim light, low ceilings, or even a light drizzle, there’s a good chance BWOs are coming.

How to spot a winter BWO hatch

• Look for tiny gray-olive duns fluttering just above the surface.

• Watch for subtle rises—gentle dimples rather than splashy eats.

• BWOs often hatch in slower edges, tailouts, and soft riffles where trout can feed without fighting current.

• The hatch tends to build late morning into early afternoon, exactly when trout warm up and become more willing to rise.

BWOs are one of the most reliable winter dry-fly opportunities, and even selective trout will eat a well-presented size 18–20 parachute or CDC pattern.

Flies That Shine in Cold Weather

Winter means a shift toward small, natural, and highly available food sources—but some big subsurface meals still play a role.

Go-to winter nymphs

• Midges (#18–22) – the backbone of winter trout diets

• Blue Wing Olive nymphs – RS2s, small Pheasant Tails, Barr's BWO - #16-20

• Zebra Midges – black, red, and olive all produce - #18-22

• Rainbow Warriors – flashier but deadly in cold, clear water #16-20

• Perdigon – fast-sinking, slim, and perfect for winter currents #16

• Brassies – simple and highly effective #18-20

• San Juan Worms – especially after flow bumps or snowmelt spikes #10-16

• Stonefly nymphs – stones live in the river year-round, and even when adults aren’t hatching, they are an important food source most of the year #12-16

Winter dry flies

You can get dry-fly days in winter when conditions line up—typically calm afternoons with emerging midges, while BWOs prefer to hatch on cloudy days, especially after a morning rain.

Keep these handy:

• Griffith’s Gnat #18-20

• CDC Midge Wing Emerger  - #18-22

• Blue Wing Olive Quill (#16–18) or Blue Wing Olive #18-22

A soft midge hatch on a still winter afternoon can produce surprising numbers of risers.

Streamers: slow and deliberate

Trout will still eat streamers in winter, but they rarely want to chase far.
Slow strips, long pauses, and patterns that suggest injured prey are key. 
Small and lightly weighted patterns are typical, but winter is also a great time to use big articulated patterns for monster trout.

*Change flies often and move less than you would in the summer

Presentation Matters More Than Pattern

Because trout feed less frequently, your presentation needs to be that much cleaner.

• Use lighter tippet (5X–7X) for small flies and natural movement.

• Adjust weight often. A tiny change in depth can be the difference between fishing near trout and fishing to trout.

• Make multiple short, controlled drifts instead of one long, sloppy one.

• Fish methodically. Winter is not about covering miles; it’s about fishing high-percentage water thoroughly.  Fish will "pod up" in areas where the water is the right speed.

Staying Comfortable Improves Your Fishing

If you’re freezing, you won’t fish well. Good layers, warm gloves, wool socks, a buff, and hand warmers make a massive difference.

A comfortable angler fishes slower, stays longer, and focuses better—and winter rewards patience more than any other season.

The Winter Payoff

Winter trout fishing isn’t difficult—it’s just slower.
And that slower pace can be a gift: empty rivers, soft light, quiet drifts, and fish that will absolutely eat if you meet them on their terms.

Trout don’t stop feeding in winter—they just feed less.
Time your outings well, fish the soft water, present clean drifts, and bring the right flies. Do that, and winter becomes one of the most underrated seasons in the trout world.