December on the Water: Still Grinding, Still Getting Them
Bryce Tedford
Even though it’s December and the cold has fully settled in, we’re still getting after it out there! Winter fishing definitely isn’t easy, but the fish are still willing if you put in the work. We’ve had guests who are fired up to keep fishing through the cold, and honestly, it’s been a lot of fun. The key right now is dressing warm, lots of Simms gear lately, and layering up. Layers are everything this time of year. Despite the conditions, we’ve been averaging around 10 to 15 fish a day, which is solid for December. The bite has been all about effort and patience. We’re stripping hard, then letting the fly sit with long, deliberate pauses. Those pauses are what’s triggering the eats.
Fly-wise, we’ve been leaning heavily on Steve Adachi–style rattle clousers in 3/0. The surf brown has been a go-to, but you can never go wrong with the classic chartreuse and white. It’s still tough to beat. Strip hard, pause long. That’s the name of the game right now. Most of the fish have been hanging in the shallows, which makes things even more exciting. Along with steady numbers, we’ve been mixing in some quality fish, and every now and then a real big one shows up. We’ve landed a few lately over the 10-pound mark, which is especially fun when you’ve got the water mostly to yourself.
As we head into the holidays, I’m about ready to wrap things up for a bit. Christmas is right around the corner, about ten days out, and I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and happy holidays. I’ll be taking about a month off, then starting in January I’ll begin rebooking dates for 2026. If you’re looking to get on the calendar, reach out early in January and we’ll get some dates locked in, whether you’re interested in spring stripers, summer largemouth and smallmouth, or the fall striper bite.
Thanks to everyone who made it out this season. We’re still grinding, still having fun, and looking forward to what’s ahead. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and see you in the new year.
