Preparing for the Stillwater Season – A Spring Fishing How-to Guide by Tom Johannesen

Winter tests even the most patient stillwater angler

Winter is tough on most avid Stillwater anglers as they patiently wait for the ice to leave our numerous interior lakes. The first big decision to make when planning a trip in the new year is which lake to visit first when the lakes start becoming ice-free. This decision is usually based on a lake’s elevation, as the lower lakes tend to become ice-free much sooner than the higher-elevation lakes. 

May the strong survive

Throughout the winter, a thick covering of ice and snow prevents any photosynthesis from occurring in our interior lakes. Without sunlight penetrating to the lake’s bottom, plant life that flourishes in shallow water during the open-water period dies off and decomposes. Oxygen is used during the decomposition process and as winter progresses there are decreasing amounts available to support fish and other aquatic life forms. As winter starts winding down there is often only a narrow band of oxygenated water directly below the ice. If the ice stays on a lake too long the results can be devastating. Every year we lose many of our favourite fly-fishing lakes to winterkill.

It’s not uncommon to have the whole lake to yourself at the start of stillwater season

The start of turnover

From the time the ice leaves a lake until the start of turnover, fishing can be nothing short of spectacular. This is the time of year that many fly-fishers wait for as they know the biggest fish in a lake can be located feeding on the shoals in just a few feet of water. Once all the ice has left the lake it takes up to two weeks for the spring sun to warm the upper layers of the water to meet the temperature of the lower depths.

Fly section for spring fishing

When you arrive at a lake in the spring the best advice, I can give any angler is to explore the shoreline to see what insects inhabit the body of water you are about to fish. The few minutes spent exploring will help with fly selection once on the water. The key things to observe include the size, shape, and color of the insects in the lake. While viewing those insect characteristics it is also beneficial to watch how they swim as the movement can be imitated once on the water.

Flies worth noting 

Other highly productive flies in the spring include leeches, damsels, and water boatman. Once the feeding frenzy starts slowing down then trout dial in on the smaller more abundant insects such as blood worms, chironomids, and shrimp. If the fish are not dialed in on specific insect imitations, then don’t hesitate to experiment with larger attractor patterns as fish often hit these flies out of anger. Over the past decade or so blobs and boobies have gained popularity amongst Stillwater anglers as they strive to catch fish even when they are not actively feeding. Regardless of what patterns worked well in the past, always carry a good selection of flies with you on the boat as feeding habits change by the hour and from lake to lake.

Be prepared for spring weather conditions… whatever they may be 

When packing your gear for a spring trip, make sure you are properly prepared for any type of weather conditions. It doesn’t matter how good the fishing is, if you are cold and wet all trip, you’re not going to have a good time.

Warm spring weather can change at the drop of a hat

I remember going with a friend one year in early May and he packed shorts and T-shirts as the weather on the Coast had been nice for a long stint. When we arrived in Merritt the weather was also very nice but, in the morning, we woke up to three inches of snow on the ground and the temperature had dropped to -5 C. I lent him what clothes I could spare but my buddy was cold the entire trip as the temperature barely made it above zero for three days. On the bright side, the fishing was good on that trip which made up for the below-average weather temperatures.

Gearing up for spring fishing  

 When it comes to selecting the appropriate fishing gear for a spring trip, success is dependent on the weather which means we must be prepared for all conditions. This might seem odd to some, but I usually hit the water with at least four rods set up and ready to go. My logic is I would much rather simply change rods rather than sit there in the cold changing flies every fifteen minutes. I also find I can cover water a lot quicker while searching for fish.

Add early spring fishing to your must-do list!

If you have never fished a lake shortly after ice-off put it on your must-do list. The fishing pressure from other anglers is generally light and you will have the opportunity to hook some real big fish.  

Tom Johannesen

Tom Johannesen grew up fishing but at the age of 23 he had his first article published in a British Columbia Federation of Fly Fishers (BCFFF) newsletter and something changed.

Since that first article, Tom has been on a mission to master his craft and to share what he has learned with others. With over 200 articles published in magazines like BC Sport Fishing, BC Outdoors, Outdoor Edge, Canadian Fly Fisher, Home Waters, Reel Angler, Western Angler and Island Fisherman, it’s clear that it’s a mission he takes seriously. He also regularly hosts seminars and tutorials at fly clubs and shops in the hopes of lighting that spark in the next generation.