It’s that time of year when the days are shorter, the nights are longer, and the mercury has dropped to below freezing temps, while the sky is letting some snow fall to the ground. With the transition from Fall like weather to the now winter weather, many anglers on the MO are transitioning from traditional single handed rods, to two-handed rods, swinging streamers for trout looking for some meat to keep them going as the water temps continues to drop. Try swinging Kreelex patterns of various colors and simple patterns like a Woolly Bugger, the Thin Mint color pattern has been doing very well.

If you’re looking to nymph, be sure to put on hot bead patterns and pink patterns; Rainbow Czech nymphs and Pink Lightning Bugs are a couple of our favorites. The fish are still eating, so be sure to get out and enjoy the river during these colder months, you’ll still catch fish, you’re going to see less people, but you may freeze your fingers, so be sure to wear some gloves or mittens while on the river and keep those fish wet so their gills don’t freeze!

If you’re looking to get in on the two-handed swinging action, be sure to stop by our Helena shop to ask about upcoming spey clinics this winter, and to check out our spey and switch rod selection!