Winter Water Safety

Winter is a season of recovery and preparation.
-Paul Theroux 

(Authors note: this article is written with the casual paddler/angler in mind. Class I/Class II waters. If you are planning on whitewater paddling in the winter, here is a great google search for tips)

At the risk of ruining my own solitude, I am going to tell you this: Winter is a great time to be on the Ozarks Rivers and Streams. 
Just because the mercury drops doesn't have to mean you can't get out on the water. Late Fall, Winter, and early spring offer some superb opportunities to float, fish, and enjoy the abundant wildlife the Ozarks has to offer. And no crowds. 
With proper planning, a winter float down an Ozarks waterway can be one of the most memorable experiences of the year.

Plan ahead, and phone a friend.
Cold floats are best done on familiar waters. Know your route and the areas to avoid or portage. Don't take chances in water that may dump you. The key to warmth is dryness. And discretion is the better part of valor. 
It's also wise to float with a friend, or several of them. And always let someone else know where you are floating. Giving a wife, boy/girlfriend or a buddy your put in and take out points can reduce the time to locate you in the event of an emergency. 

Dress for success.
As I said, the key to warmth is dryness. Dress in layers starting with a thin, moisture wicking base and build from there. Avoid cotton at all costs. Cotton holds water and drys slowly. 
I wear a layer of Capilene from Patagonia as my base. Over that I wear a pair of Simms Fleece Bib wader pants. 
Simms G4 waders are my top layer. I float so I can fish, and having a good set of waders will make your day much more enjoyable. 
If you are not planning on wading, NRS makes a great pair of paddling pants and jacket.
Socks are always Smart Wool. For me they are the most comfortable and moisture wicking sock on the market. 
Footwear is often overlooked, but is an important part of your winter wardrobe. I wear Simms G3 boots fitted with the Hardbite Studs. What good is all of that warm gear if you end up on your arse because of slippery rock?
I always wear a wader belt as well. Besides adding a bit of support, a wader belt will keep water out in the event you go in over the top. 
Pack good rain gear. Our weather can turn on a dime. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. 
Always, and I mean always, wear your PFD. 
Keep a change of clothes in a good dry bag. And keep an extra set in your recovery vehicle. 

Vinny and Bodhi-Consummate explorers 

Gear up!
Survival in the winter starts with being prepared. Dumping on a lake, while still dangerous, is not nearly as perilous as an unplanned entry 2 miles into a 6 mile float. 
Learn how to use and carry a throw rope bag. 
Carry a magnesium fire striker to start a warming fire. 
Own a quality PFD and WEAR IT.
Carry a good waterproof flashlight.
Pack a few hand warmers. They take up little space and can be a god-send when your hands are cold. 
Keep your primary paddle on a leash. 
Carry a spare paddle when possible. I carry half of a paddle under my seat just in case. 
Keep your phone, wallet and keys in a good, floating, dry box. 
Inspect your boat between use for cracks, seal rot etc. 
I plug all of the scuppers in my ATAK except the two under my seat. This keeps the cockpit dry, but will let water out if I do happen to ship some in. 
Carry a packable solar blanket. If you happen to get stranded, this and the magnesium striker could end up saving your life. 

Practice survival tactics. 
One of the first things I did after getting my kayak was to practice deep water reentry. Always practice this with your PFD on and fastened. 
There are several qualified white water survival classes in the Ozarks. Contact the guys at Ozark Mountain Trading Company for more info. 

Final thoughts.
Keep your self hydrated while on the water. Dehydration will accelerate hypothermia and fatigue.
Watch your pace. Don't plan a float you can't handle in one, short winter day. 
Take food. Protein and carbs will help keep your energy level up, and the risk of fatigue down. 
Enjoy the scenery. Winter is the cleansing season. With the leaves gone, you can see deeper into the verge, allowing for some incredible wildlife viewing. 

See you out there!

Get ready for winter River Bronze!

Men and fish are alike. They both get into trouble when they open their mouths. 
~Author Unknown

Winter; cold, snow, ice, Smallmouth? Youbetcha! 

Just because the mercury drops doesn't mean you have to drop the gear and wait until spring to chase our Ozarks rivers Smallies. With a little preparation and some good timing, winter can be a great time for pursuing the Bronze Warrior. 

Here are some tips and tactics I find useful. Enjoy!


Location, location, location
The dead of winter finds the River Smallmouth holed up in deep water haunts with access to three things: food, cover and current. 

Food provides energy
Cover provides protection and stealth
Current can provide both of the above and provides water with a higher O2 saturation
(especially in heavy riffle plunge pools). 

Illustration credit to In-Fisherman magazine 

Fortunately for the fish, river Crawdads look for the same things. And while they are much less active, 'Daddy's do not hibernate or go dormant. Baitfish also become less active and tend to pod up in similar water. 

The cover I seek out in winter is usually big rocks in deep water. Preferably with current close by. Woody cover in deep water will work as well. 

Remember, "deep" is a relative term for our Ozarks rivers. In a majority of the rivers I fish, during the lower flows of winter 10' is a deep hole. During our first trip in Jauary of this year, we were catching fish in 6-8' of water. Surface temp was 46 degrees. (Thanks Jackie Wright for turning on your Finder!)

Photo Credit to Smallmouth in Your Soup

Water temp plays a huge role in the daily life of a river Smallie. One benefit to winter is that it's not necessary to be there at sun-up. Winter fish do not have to feed all day, or for several days, as their metabolism is slowed to the point of almost being "off". 
In my opinion, the magic hours are from 10am until an hour or so before sunset. A little later on cloudy days, a bit earlier on sunny days.

I do prefer sunny days over clouds. One or two degrees in water temp change can really make a difference in your success rate. 

It's all in your delivery

Our Ozarks rivers get very clear between rains so presentation becomes just as important as what's being presented. 
Most of my winter fishing is from a kayak, ( if you're wondering, my Yak of choice is the  Wilderness Systems ATAK 120). 
I always approach a potential spot with as much stealth as possible. Try to skirt around the potential lie and approach it with a down-stream to up-stream presentation, if you are fishing soft plastics or the like.
My go-to in the winter is the Ned Rig. Much maligned, but IMHO, hands down the best river bait for Smallies. My preference is the ZMan Finesse TRD.
I fish three or four colors: Coppertruese, Molten Craw (pictured), Green Pumpkin and Orange/Green Pumpkin. I usually use a 1/16th oz Ned Hed from Solid Tackle.1/8th if I am in heavy or especially deep water. 
Line size is critical; I use 4 or 6lb Flocarbon most of the time. Most of my reels have P-Line FloroClear on them. I fish this on either a 6'6" or 7' medium action spinning rod from my buddy Reggie at All Around, and pair them with Ardent CForce 2000 or Bolt 2000 reels.

Molten Craw  Finesse TRD on a 1/8th oz Ned hed

 

Crankbaits are also a go-to in the winter. I fish 1.5's in OSA Craw, Fire Tiger, Blue Craw and Wiggle Warts in Chartreuse and Black, OSA Craw, and Red Craw. The key, in my opinion, is to get to depth and slow down. The more rocks I bump, the better I feel about winter crankbaitn'. And don't forget to pause repeatedly. Many times fish will tail a crank until it stops, and then whack it from behind. These strikes are very subtle, often just a slight bump or your line going slack. Long casts are key to maximizing the time your bait is in the strike zone. 

OSA Craw from 19 Delta baits

Jigs are hard to beat in the winter. I have become very fond of smaller jigs from my buddy Paul Preston and Rock Crawler. I fish 1/8 or 1/4oz jigs almost dead stick. Just crawl them along the bottom. I like Pauls jigs because I don't have to fish a trailer. Paul uses bucktail along the hook shank and they have great action. 
Strikes are usually subtle here as well; sometimes a bump, sometimes just extra weight...Swings are free, so set the hook on any anomaly. 

Rock Crawler!

Don't leave the long Rod at home!!!I approach the river from a different perspective with the fly rod, especially if I am fishing streamers deep on sink-tip. Up to down. I'll stop at the top of a run with deep water below and cast perpendicular to the bank, feeding line to gain depth, and allow the streamer to reach the desired spot. Then start the slow, jerk-jerk-pause retrieve. 
Go-to streamers include the Shuttlecock, SBS Streamer, and Clouser. Use colors to match the forage. All white, white/chartreuse and purple/pink are also productive. Not sure why the purple/pink color combo is so effective, but it continues to surprise me season after season.

Shuttlecock

 One of my favorite techniques is the FnF ( Float and Fly). It can be used with both gear and the flyrod, but I use it exclusively on the flyrod. 
The FnF is a hair jig or jig swimbait fished under a float. It has a popular following in the eastern US and is gaining popularity in the Ozarks. 
I fish 1/8th oz jigs under a float, trying to match the feeding depth of the fish. This is generally presented up-stream to down. Make sure to allow enough slack to let the jig float naturally..This can be particularly deadly after extended cold fronts. 

I choose to use a 9' 7wt rod lined up to 8wt. My go-to rod  is a Redington Predator. with a Lamson Speedster 3. My absolute favorite line is Sharkwave from SA. I rarely use a full sink line for streamers, opting instead for Rio's Versitip solution. 

Swimbait hair jigs

Always be prepared
Winter on the river is not for the faint of heart. Be ready for anything. Have a good PFD if you're in a Yak or other watercraft( oh, and WEAR it). Carry a good dry bag with a change of clothes, and always carry your rain gear ( me and 10 Rod Todd can attest to this). Carry fire making materials  (magnesium striker,water proof matches, etc) in case of an accidental spill. Always tell someone where you are going ( put in and take out ). Carry a good, FLOATING, dry box for your cell, keys and wallet. Make sure you have high-caloric snacks i.e. Clif Bars etc..
Stay hydrated and always, always keep a keen eye for possible hang-ups (we never know where that new strainer will will end up after a good rain). 

In conclusion
Winter on the river is a blessing. I rarely see another angler in late January, February and early March. What I do see is nature; eagles, otters, deer, beavers and the occasional hog-molly Bronzeback. Which is just fine by me....

Oscar, the Finley River brute..