On a crisp February day in North Yorkshire, a group of 10 passionate anglers gathered to navigate the diverse network of stillwater and quarry fisheries across the UK. This event, organized by the Northern Fishing School, featured esteemed international fly angler and destination guide, Stephan Dombaj. Together, they embarked on an exploration of stillwater dynamics and predator behavior, utilizing various techniques such as bank, boat, and bellyboat fishing, as well as cutting-edge technology like forward-facing sonar.
The day began under overcast skies with a mild north-easterly breeze, peaking at 13 km/h. As the morning unfolded, the weather remained calm, with air temperatures rising to 8°C and water surface temperatures lingering around 2.66°C. Despite the chilly waters, four adventurous anglers embraced the challenge of belly boat fishing. There's nothing quite like the immersive experience of a float tube, especially when a large trout tugs on the line from the other end.
This gathering not only provided valuable insights into winter fishing strategies but also fostered a sense of community among keen trout and predator anglers, making it a memorable day on the water.
Delving into Stillwater Trout Dynamics
Under the expert guidance of Stephan Dombaj, our group delved into the fascinating world of Stillwater Trout during the winter months. Known for their geeky precision, the Fly Fishing Nation staff provided in-depth insights into the complex dynamics of lake environments. The 10 enthusiastic anglers explored topics such as lake stratification, oxygen levels, temperature barriers, and the standard metabolic rates of trout. These elements are crucial for understanding how trout behave in colder conditions and how anglers can strategically leverage this knowledge to enhance their fishing success. By mastering these intricate details, participants gained valuable skills to improve their angling techniques in stillwater settings.
Essential Information Recap
For those of you who missed it or need a refresher, we have gathered the most essential information here. This includes the key strategies and insights shared during the event, ensuring that every angler can benefit from the knowledge imparted by our experts.
As winter grips the landscape, anglers face unique challenges with cold temperatures, short days, and snowmelt-stained waters. These conditions often confine fish activity between the thermocline and the surface layer, with the optimal depth ranging from 3 to 6 feet. Intermediate lines are crucial for keeping flies in this "hot zone," while heavier sinkers are effective for navigating deeper water columns.
Throughout the day, activity windows emerge, with cold water temperatures encouraging fish to linger near the thermocline. To entice patrolling fish, flies must be alluring enough to make the chase worthwhile. The typically clear waters, now stained, call for more aggressive colors and sizes, with black and pink snakes at 10 millimeters proving especially successful. Another effective strategy is indicator fishing at a depth of 1.5 to 2.5 meters. This method appeals to slower, more deliberate feeders, who won't refuse a static nymph suspended below an indicator.
Both boat and belly boat fishing have been highly productive, allowing anglers to cover large areas and land impressive catches, including fish in the 8 to 9-pound range. Casting large flies in off-colored water was initially a go-to tactic, though it was met with skepticism by larger fish. However, using a washing line on a fast intermediate tip provided excellent depth coverage. The changing conditions, including shifts in wind direction, seemed to put the pike in a moody state. The team speculated that these trout-eating predators might use the cover of night to hunt otherwise swift trout. Stephan tested this theory by fishing until nearly midnight, achieving 8 bites and landing 6 fish up to 22 pounds.
The power of modern electronics intrigued several anglers, who found themselves daydreaming about large "blobs" trailing lures and flies on their scopes. For some, this day marked their first encounter with a fish or even a personal best—congratulations to all!
Lure Rod Setup: The Black and Pink Snake BC Barbless flies (10mm) were fished on a full clear intermediate line WF7I (Hanak Lake Pro) paired with a 7-weight, 10-foot Cortland Competition MkII rod. This setup is a staple for stillwater fishing, robust enough to handle larger lures, long casts, multi-fly rigs, wind, and big trout. Another rod, rigged with a floating line, for indicator rigs with multiple small flies.
Items to Enhance Your Winter Fishing Experience:
Selection of Flies: We've curated a selection of Stephan’s most successful flies for winter stillwaters, giving you the right ammunition for almost every condition. Fifteen flies that will fish through the season, plus extras just in case.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Nylon and fluorocarbon, 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.
Next Events/Dates:
Stillwater and Predator Day: Sunday 11th May 2025 - this is limited to 8 anglers.
River Trout Masterclass on the River Ure at Swinton: Saturday 19th April 2025
Beat the winter blues and dust off those fly rods!
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