S7, Ep 96: The Art of the Dry: Mac Brown's Winter Fishing Insights

In this episode of The Articulate Fly fly fishing podcast, host Marvin Cash connects with Mac Brown from Mac Brown Fly Fish in Bryson City, North Carolina, for another Casting Angles segment exploring an often-overlooked winter fishing strategy: dry fly fishing in cold weather conditions. Mac reveals why winter dry fly fishing deserves more attention, particularly in the Great Smoky Mountains where low, clear water and selective trout make stealth presentations with dries surprisingly effective. The discussion covers critical winter hatches including midges, blue wing olives and October caddis, with Mac emphasizing that BWOs in the Smokies are exceptionally small—requiring size 30 patterns for selective fish rather than the typical size 18 parachutes many anglers default to. Both anglers share insights on dry dropper techniques for precision nymphing in skinny winter water, explaining how light rigs allow far more accurate presentations than indicator setups when targeting specific fish. Mac reflects on how his most memorable catches throughout his guiding career have come on dry flies during fall and winter, challenging the modern trend toward nymph-only approaches. The conversation also touches on late-winter black stonefly hatches and Mac's upcoming 2026 fly fishing show schedule including Boston, Edison, Denver, Bellevue, Pleasanton and Lancaster. Related Content S7, Ep 28 - Warming Waters and Active Fish: A Spring Fishing Update with Mac Brown S6, Ep 130 - Casting in Color: Mac Brown's Fall Fly Fishing Strategies S6, Ep 141 - Mastering Cold Weather Fly Fishing with Mac Brown S6, Ep 145 - Navigating Winter Waters: Unconventional Strategies with Mac Brown All Things Social Media Follow Mac on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Support the Show Shop on Amazon Become a Patreon Patron Subscribe to the Podcast Subscribe to the podcast in the podcatcher of your choice. Advertise on the Podcast Is our community a good fit for your brand? Advertise with us. In the Industry and Need Help Getting Unstuck? Check out our consulting options!