Winter has a way of transforming the world into a serene, almost mystical place, and for those who seek both peace and adventure, it offers a captivating allure. As the chill sets in, the archipelago empties of the summer crowds, leaving behind an expansive quiet, where the only sounds are the whisper of the wind and the distant splash of a line hitting the water. For anglers, this peaceful solitude is a rare gift, no peak-season rush, no noise, just a vast, snow-dusted landscape and the thrill of the hunt.
The challenge of braving the elements becomes part of the experience, fewer fish may be active in the colder waters, and the air is sharp with frost, but these obstacles only heighten the excitement. Fish behave differently in the colder temperatures, and us anglers must adapt our tactics, experimenting with new techniques, adjusting bait, and fine-tuning our gear to match the season. Every bite feels like a hard-earned victory, and the satisfaction of success is sweeter for having fought through the chill to achieve it.
Winter fishing isn’t just about the catch; it’s about embracing the challenge, reconnecting with nature (and ourselves), and finding a rare kind of peace in the cold, and quiet beauty of the season.
A successful day feels like an achievement of skill, not luck. So in this blog post, I would like to share my winter experiences and conclusions from over 20 years of avidly both fishing and guiding for our spotted friends!
Unpredictable Fishing Patterns
Winter fishing often calls for experimentation. Fish are cold blooded and as the water temperatures drop, they become less active making it harder to predict where they'll bite. This forces anglers to be more resourceful and creative, but by keeping this in mind and having some knowledge about water temperatures can make all the difference. Which can in turn be deeply satisfying when you crack the code.
Finding the sea trout
At this time of the year finding the fish is the key to success as the sea trout (Salmo trutta) are in tight shoals and you must find them. We have a saying: the car or boat is your best friend, be ready to be on the move. It’s a case of finding where the fish are, when you find them, you can expect to be rewarded with more than just the one.
You may have heard it before but south facing shallow bays with quick access to deeper water, dark or leopard pattern bottoms and especially with an onshore wind. The dark bottoms absorb the available UV rays from the winter sun and the shallow water warms maybe a degree or two which is enough to encourage the fish to be active. The onshore wind pushes the top one or two layers of water which has been warmed into these bays strengthening the warming process. It’s as simple as that!
The further into the fjords or waters with a lower salinity (salt level) will lead often to smaller (upto 1.5kg or 54cm) and more fish though with a higher chance of kelts; fish that have spawned during the Autumn and have not yet managed to fully regain their fine form.
Fishing further out to sea will often reduce your catch rate but you will then be rewarded with both larger and better formed fish often in their prized silver suit.
Let me explain this further.
The muscle mass of the sea trout is responsible for controlling its body’s salt levels and the more muscle mass e.g. bigger the fish is, the higher water salinity it can tolerate. There are two main factors that influence salinity for the sea trout.
Number one, water temperature. Thinking about it from a chemical perspective, the NaCl or salt molecules are further apart the warmer the water temperatures and become closer together as the water cools. Cold water = high salinity, warmer water = lower salinity.
Number two, freshwater inflow. Here in Southern Norway many of our spawning streams and some rivers flow out into a fjord or sheltered water systems. This influx of freshwater naturally influences the salinity.
Now that you know where to look, you must know when to look!
Time of Day
From 1100 and onwards, though sometimes later is best. The cold of the night still holds its grip until the winter sun starts affecting the water temperatures. The more time the sun can warmly kiss the water, the better the fishing normally gets. Often as the winter day draws to a close and the light gradually fades, expect to see sea trout actively rise in these bays. In this intense period, you can catch more fish in 30 minutes than a whole day!
Dinner is served!
So, you’ve done what you can to put yourself in the right place at the right time, but what’s on the menu and how is it to be served?
Through my years on the hunt for sea trout during these colder months, I can note that both my numbers of fish and size have increased. When I reflect of which flies and lures have caught my largest sea trout, it has been the smaller servings on lighter equipment. It seems the gentler presentation and less obtrusive baits lure the sea trout into a false sense of security.
For lure fishing I have recently found the magic of ultralight and casting 4-6g lures. A 7ft (2.10m) rod with a rating of 2-8g coupled with a 1000 or C2000 reel, 0.10mm braid and 0.17mm fluorocarbon leaders. Though if I’m casting heavier lures then a 8-9ft (2.40-2.70m) rod with a rating of upto 20g.
For fly fishing I found myself using a 9’ (2.70m) #5 semi-fast rod with a fast intermediate camo line and again a 0.20mm fluorocarbon tippet. I will go down to a #4 if there’s no wind or up to #7 if it’s very windy.
Let’s be honest, a sea trout very rarely puts up that strong a fight that we need heavy equipment, and lighter equipment is just more fun!
When it comes the business end the colour is most important. Pink, orange and white; it’s as simple as that!
Now I am no longer sponsored by any brand and these lures are based on both my own and other very experienced angler’s results:
Savage Gear Line Through Seeker 18g in fluoro orange copper, pink pearl or white pearl. This lure combined with a fluttering spin stop every so often, here are few other lures that come close - https://www.savagegear.com/products/lt-seeker?variant=46157892190437
Rapala Countdown 3cm 4g in Orange (GFR) for very cold water, Rainbow Trout (RT) for sunny days or Black and Silver (S) for the overcast days - https://www.rapala.com/us_en/countdown?childSku=us-CD03RT
When it comes to flies then my most productive have been:
Pattegris in salmon pink size 8. The pulsating action of the spey hackle fibres are just irresistible.
Jiggy in orange and white size 6. The up and down diving action can really trigger a take.
Kobberbass in size 8-12. The fish can’t seem to get enough of these and smaller sizes for rising fish are a real winner.
Glass eel or krill in small sizes when fish are gently rising and are impossible to get to bite.
It’s as simple as that. You really do not need anything else. Stick to these lures and use your time rather learning when, where and how to fish them than have a box full of kit and changing every 10 minutes.
The red Indian approach
With fewer fish actively feeding, it's not just about having the right equipment—it's about knowing how to adapt your strategy. Winter fishing forces anglers to get creative with techniques.
Sea trout are generally shy and scared creatures, ready to bolt off to deeper water at any sight on imminent danger. The super clear winter water doesn’t help our cause either and it’s no more than ever stealth is a necessity.
It’s one of the first things I teach people wanting to catch a sea trout. I see so many people dashing into the very water where sea trout could be feeding with their waders, because they’ve got their waders on, and they will damn well use them!
You invested your precious time in searching, your well earned money in the best equipment so why throw it all away in a careless manner due to over eagerness?
Here are some of my tips to success, regardless of the time of year but especially winter:
1. Keep low - The trout ‘s well developed sight, prey instincts and the light refraction of water make it essential we keep a low profile.
2. Gentle steps – Sound travels louder and further through solids i.e. the ground and liquids i.e. the water far more than air. Any unnatural vibrations will be picked up by their lateral nerve lines and send them bolting.
3. Cast 2 – 3m away from the water – often sea trout will hunt and feed in water so shallow it barely covers their backs e.g. right by the water’s edge.
4. Fan casts – Cover all the water in front of you with methodical casts.
5. Varying retrieves – Don’t get stuck in old routines, experiment with different retrieves and with pauses every so often. But for winter start slower.
Winter fishing strips things down to basics. You’re immersed in nature and dealing with its harsher side cold winds, icy water, and biting temperatures. It’s a humbling experience that connects you more deeply to the natural world.
It’s cold outside!
Finally, dress warm and try and stay out of the water as much as possible. Here is a rundown of how to dress for these chilling days and my recipe to success:
3-layer principle – a warming inner layer against the skin like thin woolen underwear. Then an insulating layer like thick wool or fleece. Lastly a waterproof and windproof outer layer whether it be waders, goretex or similar jacket/trousers.
Hat – we lose up to 50% of our heat from heads, so make sure to cover it. A woolen beanie with a fleece inner is perfect and if it’s sunny, pull this over a cap to cover your ears and upper neck.
Buff – We need to cover our main arteries and veins to prevent heat loss (neck and wrists), so a woolen buff is a must.
Gloves – My cold hands are my Achilles heel and I’ve tried so many different gloves throughout almost 40 years of winter fishing and only two solutions work. Number one, leece or goretex fingerless mittens. Number two, thin merino wool gloves with surgical latex gloves over. The latter is best if you’re getting your hands often wet e.g. fly fishing.
Socks – One pair of semi-loose fitting thick woolen socks. Tight socks are multiple socks will greatly reduce the blood flow to your feet. Wool has the ability of absorbing up to over 80% moisture whilst keeping in the warm without heat loss.
Boots – waterproof and insulating footwear with good grip!
Finally take time for regular breaks with warm drinks and even better with friends around an open fire. If you’re alone, please tell someone where you will be in case something happens to you and be careful as the water is cold and the rocks slippery.
A Wealth of Knowledge
We never have all of the answers and there is always someone who knows more than us, thankfully! So, glean from these resources and enrich both yourself and your future fishing.
Local Fishing shops:
Arendal, Jakt og Friluft - https://www.jaktogfriluft.no/
Kristiansand, Grønberg Sport - https://www.gronbergsport.no/
Lyngdal, Jaktbutikken - https://jaktbutikken.no/
Mobile phone App, FishBuddy - https://fishbuddy.app/
Break the ice
Well, some of this you may already have known, and some may be new, but I hope through sharing my experiences can lead to an increased desire to brave the winter cool. Braving the cold might be tough, but the reward of solitude, stunning landscapes, and the challenge of the season make every moment worth it.
Grab your gear, face the elements, and make this winter one to remember!
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