* Trout in streams during winter eat a variety of prey, and in general, all the typical trout presentations can catch fish in the winter. Matching the actual prey the fish are eating is always a good place to start. This means going smaller for trout, with more natural, smaller baits and artificial lures.
* Fly-fishing can be effective during the winter. A variety of bead-head nymphs are especially attractive to trout in streams, but on a warm afternoon, there most likely will be hatches of midges or other small insects and a fly angler can pick up some fish on dry flies or emerger patterns.
* Small crankbaits also can also catch trout in open water during the winter, however, those must be fished quite slowly — usually just enough to get them wobbling. Frequent and extended pauses might also be needed to trigger fish activity.
* Waxworms, salmon eggs, prepared baits, small jigs, or tiny spinners or spoons (silver on sunny days and gold on cloudy days) should not be overlooked for successful winter trout stream fishing.
* The trout in these northern and western Nebraska streams are more apt to take your lure or bait on warm winter days, either sunny or cloudy, when the temperature hovers around or rises above freezing.
* For conservation purposes and heeding those legal stipulations, keep the more abundant smaller fish for a meal, but return the larger trout to the water to swim and spawn another day.
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