How's the fishing? Fishing in the rain?

[wjbrown88]

Headed up to LMF this weekend for the first time in about 8 months.  How's the fishing been the past few days? 

Any tips or information I should know about the river since my last trip?

I'm bringing a few beginners with me and the weather appears like it's not going to cooperate.  How many of you diehards catch fish in the rain in the winter?  How? 

Thanks, 

Weston

[golferjeff]

Nymphing. Not normal winter conditions up there due to bridge construction, valve closures, and access issues. If you are bringing beginners, hit the access points (Bridges). 57 and rain is OK, Sunday 40 and rain will be miserable. Usually helps the fishing if you can stand it though.

[jonbo]

Long as there isn't lightning, it's my experience that it's usually pretty good.

[schrederman]

Cherokee Bill always said... "The fish don't keer if'n it's a-rainin'... I always found that to be true. 8^)

[wjbrown88]

Thanks for the comments guys. I figured I would come back and give yall a report on how we did in honor of the tips and reports others give here.

We came down Friday and got up Saturday morning and headed to the EH area, fishing above and below the bridge and it was really tough for us. I spent alot of time helping a first timer get going and stay going but he caught on pretty quick. I don't get to fish the LMF as much as I'd like, especially being in Houston now, but the EH has always been really tough for me. I guess it's the amount of pressure and me not being technical enough.

We decided to try Zone 2 in the evening, mainly to get away from people and also because last time I was here we crushed them down there. Fishing was still tough but I managed 1 on a RS2 and 1 on a Copper John. The first timer got his first trout ever on the same run. I felt there were several times when I had subtle bites but missed them.

We were down to do some fishing but also celebrate a little on a guys trip, so we admittingly didn't fish as much as we could have. On Sunday we waited until the evening and then bundled up and drove down to Zone 2 again. I've never seen the entire park so empty in my entire life. It was strange to see but nice. We got down there and I have to give my buddies credit for braving it with me. Ice formed inside our guides and interfered with the line as we fished. We managed to catch a few more in the same run as the previous day. We found one run that held almost all of the fish we caught both days and most of those came on a copper john. Most were the normal 11-12" trout but we did get one about 16".

One of the highlights of the trip was on Sunday in the 28 degree air when the first timer, in the middle of a drift, fell victim to one of the slick slate rocks in zone 2, drenched himself, and as he came up realized a trout had decided to take his fly. Says it was worth every aching moment.

[darrelln09]

Good stuff! You’ll have to come to the next Trout Camp. You would fit right in.

It was funny when I slipped on one of those slick rock and fell in ... last summer ... maybe wouldn’t have been so funny for me in the winter. That being said, the minute I got home from that trip I ordered some screw-in cleats for my wading boots. They definitely help.

[BTLowry]

Always funny when it is someone else getting wet 😄

We slept in Sunday because it was so cold, the amateur skill level we have made it an easy decision too

If we had been doing better fishing we would have been out there for a few hours though, no matter the weather

[texanfisherman]

Fishing in a drizzle is perfect. The fish seem to get active and they come up out of their cuts and hidey holes. The disturbance on the surface gives you lots of leeway with bad/splashed casts and sight spooking.

Also, it keeps the fair weather fishermen at home and out of your way.  

[todd13]

Feb 13, 2018 12:02:25 GMT -6 wjbrown88 said:

One of the highlights of the trip was on Sunday in the 28 degree air when the first timer, in the middle of a drift, fell victim to one of the slick slate rocks in zone 2, drenched himself, and as he came up realized a trout had decided to take his fly. Says it was worth every aching moment.

Great story and write up.  As a newby, it was fun to read.  I too had to work through the cold air on Sunday.