Our latest fishing excursion was an unforgettable experience for our group of 10 clients, guided by the expert team at the Northern Fishing School and renowned angling professional Stephan Dombaj.
Despite the cold and overcast weather, spirits were high as we set out in pursuit of large stillwater trout and pike. As the day progressed, conditions favored us, and many anglers achieved personal bests, landing impressive catches that will be remembered for years to come.
The intimate, high-potential fishery boasts fish well into the double digits. Both bank and boat anglers cherish this well-kept location.
The camaraderie and shared excitement on the water were palpable, making this outing not just about the fish, but about the stories and connections forged along the way.
We look forward to more adventures and personal victories in the days to come!
Effective Methods and Techniques:
Cold temperatures, short days, and stained water from snowmelt had wedged most active fish between the thermocline and the layer of dirty water on top. The sweet spot was 3-6 feet. Intermediate lines helped keep the fly in the hot zone as long as possible. Windows of activity emerged throughout the day, with most fish becoming active towards evening, taking advantage of milder temperatures from noon until sunset. A sudden drop in temperature in the evening would almost instantly switch the fish off the feed. Effective flies were lures with enough drawing power to deter a patrolling fish and justify the effort of chasing it down. The usually clear water, now stained, called for more aggressive colours and sizes. Ten-centimeter black and pink snakes did the trick for most rods that day. Boat fishing proved very effective, covering large areas and producing some impressive results, including double-digit fish up to 17 pounds. Throwing large flies in off-coloured water does not require a stealthy approach—strong and heavy leaders up to 20 pounds on our heavy lure rigs sealed the deal without hesitation.
Lure Rod Setup:
Black and Pink Snake BC Barbless flies (10cm) fished on a full clear intermediate line WF7I (Hanak Lake Pro) on a 7 weight, 10-foot Cortland Competition MkII. A bread-and-butter rig for stillwater fishing, powerful enough to handle larger lures, long casts, multi-fly rigs, wind, and big trout.
Items to Enhance Your Winter Fishing Experience:
Selection of Flies:
We've curated a selection of Stephan’s most successful flies for Raygill, giving you the right ammunition for almost every condition. Fifteen flies that will fish through the season, plus extras just in case. Stephan's Winter 30 Fly Selection Pack | NFS-Website selection can be found listed on our website.
7 Weight, 10-Foot All-Purpose Stillwater Rod: These hardworking, longer-than-standard rods lift long rigs, leaders, and heavier lures with ease. Equipped with a reactive tip to detect gentle bites on small nymphs, these rods are the gold standard for stillwater competitions. We would suggest the Vision Stillmaniac II Fly Rod | NFS-Website 10' #7Â
Cassette Reels: Stillwater fishing requires a variety of lines. Covering different water columns is paramount. Most high-end reel manufacturers build reels for extreme situations with spare spools that can be costly. A budget-friendly cassette reel with three extra cassette inlays is more than enough for your stillwater adventures. A budget friendly cassette reel would be the Vision Hero Cassette Reel | NFS-Website or if you would like a higher performing reel we would recommend the Vision XLV Stillmaniac Cassette Reel | NFS-Website.
Long Handle Net: Whether bank or boat fishing, a long handle net assists in landing your next large stillwater trout on a longer leader setup. An extremely versatile and landing net we would suggest is the Mclean R400 Tele Boat Net | NFS-Website.
Boat Cushion: Stephan’s wrap-around cushion for the ramp boat seat is a small detail that makes a long, cold day much more enjoyable.
Hand Warmers and Gloves: Numb hands can ruin the fun. Stephan recommends Patagonia’s Homepool gloves—a fingerless neoprene sleeve that covers the back of your hand without obstructing movement. Thermal pocket warmers are another good alternative.
Specialized Stillwater Lines: The line of the day was a full clear intermediate WF7I from Hanak/Airflo/Rio. A set of stillwater lines ranging from standard floating to clear intermediate to DI3 will suffice for most waters. DI5 and heavier for large and deep fisheries. Long and aggressive tapers help with distance and presentation of longer rigs. A range a stillwater Fly Lines | NFS-Website of different densities can be found on our website from Rio and Vision from floating to heavy sink lines.
Polarized Glasses: We cannot stress the importance of polarized glasses enough. Not only do they shield your eyes from misguided flies in windy conditions, but they also help spot fish below the surface and potential followers. Stephan credits his ability to spot fish in low light to the yellow glasses he wears—never without them. A cost-effective option for Polarized glasses is the Vision range we would suggest the Vision Nymphmaniac Sunglasses | NFS-Website or Vision Jasper Sunglasses | NFS-Website models and don't forget a Floating Neck Cord | NFS-Website for the security of your glasses!
Fresh Tippet: Terminal equipment and lines don’t have to be fancy, but they should be good. Old spools of tippet can doom a good day on the water. Especially when large fish are to be had. Fulling Mill Copolymer Tippet 50m Spools | NFS-Website and Fulling Mill Masterclass Fluorocarbon 50m | NFS-Website, if not stored correctly, will lose their structural integrity.
Waterproof Boat Bag: Muddy banks or leaking boats expose your equipment to the elements. A waterproof container, bag, or boat bag helps keep your equipment organized. Without a shadow of doubt all of our go to bankside bags and gear is YETI, from waterproof backpacks to loadout go boxes they will keep your tackle and equipment organised, dry and safe while on the bank of while in transit, the YETI Panga Waterproof 28Ltr Backpack | NFS-Website and LoadOut® GoBox 30 Gear Case | NFS-Website can be found on our website.
If you need to enhance any of these areas, please get in touch with us, and we’ll be happy to assist.
Our Hosted Trips and Masterclass dates can be found with the following link to register your interest and book your place!
