It’s just past 9 o’clock on a Friday evening, I sit nestled on my leather couch next to a crackling wood stove.
I peer out the window and see small white flakes starting to fall from the sky. The thermometer reads a balmy 15 degrees. At this point in the evening, the only thing that would peel me off the couch is another frosty cold one. My vise sits in front of me and I’m now locked and loaded with a handful of small midges and worms for a full winter day of angling come morning.
Winter fly-fishing does present its challenges and perhaps one of the most common problems is freezing guides! Not only is it frustrating to de-ice between each drift but ice is also detrimental to fly lines.
The solution? Prepare a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows, and take a seat in front of the vise for the remainder of winter. While this would be what some anglers consider the sane and comfortable option, doing such won't catch you any fish until the spring. I happen to love to fly fishing in the winter for a multitude of reasons- no crowds, big fish, and beautiful scenery to name a few.
Although freezing guides between casts can give me a reason to question my sanity, I have found a few ways to help prevent them from freezing or at least slow down the process.
Before your rod even touches the water, spray it down with some PAM cooking spray. Chances are you have some in your pantry and if not you can pick some up for under five dollars at the nearest supermarket. This is a tried and true tactic, that will prevent guides from freezing quickly.
The one thing I never leave home without has major benefits on the water as well, chapstick! Rub a little chapstick on your guides to discourage ice build-up. I prefer either original Burt’s Bee’s or Carmex or any natural based lip balm will do the trick! Loon outdoors makes a non-toxic paste, its safe for the environment as well as your fly line. Just under ten dollars, you can pick up this ice off paste at your local fly shop.