Winter Fishing Report with Guide Brett Meany
Howdy folks, as we get deeper into the colder months of winter, I’d like to take a moment to go over a couple
tactics and products I use that help me stay successful on the water during the colder months.
First and foremost, dress for the occasion! I focus on wearing layers that are comfortable, keep
you warm and don’t hinder your mobility on the water. If you are looking for some winter clothing
options, some of my favorites come from Simms, like their cold weather pants and hybrid hoody.
Secondly, downsize tippet. Winter typically brings periods of low clear water, that means pulling
out the dreaded 6.5x or even 7x. Trust me, I hate 7x just as much as the next angler. However,
with the period of low water we have experienced this fall I fell in love with trout hunter tippet.
I’m not selling snake oil here, I’ve been able to land a lot of big trout this fall on light tippet and
as much as I’d like to say it’s because I tie the best knots around, I owe a lot to the strength of
the trout hunter products!
Lastly, a trade secret to fishing in the winter is a product called Mucilin! Mucilin is a unique
floatant and line treatment that stands apart from the competition. Mainly, I use this product as a
fly floatant during the spring, summer and fall. The reason I bring it up for winter fishing deals
with icey guides. Mucilin has a similar consistency to vaseline so I will apply small amounts to
the guides on my fly rod which keeps the ice at bay!
Now I know some of you may read this and say “He’s just promoting things they sell in the
shop”. Yes, it’s true we do carry all these products. However, next time you see me on the river
just take a closer look you’ll notice these brands in action!
Fly Fishing in Brevard North Carolina with a winter brown trout on the fly.