Hello Compleat Angler friends! This upcoming weekend we have a taste of colder weather fishing so now is the time to layer up. If you’re fishing locally this weekend, air temperatures will reach a high in the low 30s, but local options are great in terms of flows and clarity. Anglers are also finding some fish willing to cooperate both subsurface and on emergers. For hatches you can expect some Winter Caddis and small Blue Winged Olives. With flows slightly increased streamer fishing will be a viable option. The most effective technique will be nymphing since water temperatures have caused trout to become more lethargic, especially during the morning. Flows are also ideal on the Farmington River, and anglers are finding some nice holdover trout. Meanwhile the Housatonic River is above average at 1460 CFS, so look for an improvement in wading when flows drop below 1000 CFS. On the Salmon River in New York flows are above average which means that more fish will be pushing in and traveling. With cold weather in the teens this weekend, slush may become an issue in certain sections during the morning. Anglers have been finding a few Steelhead each day with persistence, and fish are spread throughout the entire river.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This past week’s rain has conditions higher than average on most rivers and streams for once. This will help spread out trout that were previously concentrated in the deeper pools. Currently the Housatonic River is too high to fish so look for an improvement in clarity and wading once flows drop below 1000 CFS. On the Farmington River, conditions are ideal, and more water is being retained at the dam which will help keeps flows up for a few weeks. Streamer fishing is currently improved, while nymphing remains the most effective method with trout being more lethargic in the colder weather. Bite windows will be short during the winter, so your best times to fish are generally from the late morning to early evening when water temperatures are at their highest. Anglers are finding some nice holdover Brown Trout and Rainbows. Thanks to the flow increase, we should see improved fishing on our smaller rivers and streams, and if conditions are still off color you may consider larger flashback nymphs or flashier and larger streamers. On the Salmon River in New York, flows have increased enough to trigger more Steelhead and Brown Trout to enter the system, so look for an improvement in numbers of fish. Both swinging streamers and nymphing will work well.

Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week we have slimmed down the report to relevant fisheries for the winter to include Steelhead and Trout fishing. Saltwater anglers locally are still finding some holdover schoolies, namely on the Housatonic River. The South Shore of Long Island and into the beachfronts in New Jersey, anglers are still finding Stripers, however this should continue to taper off. On the freshwater scene chilly weather has reached the Salmon River in New York, with snow in the forecast. Make sure you wear a good layering system and dress warm when deciding to fish. Water has been below average on the Salmon River which has slowed fish entering the estuary and the river, however anglers that are persistent and putting in their time are able to find a few fish trickling into the lower river. In the middle and upper sections of the river Steelhead are holding in the deeper pools, so focus on these sections of water. A variety of techniques are still working, whether your drifting nymphs and egg patterns or swinging flies. The Farmington River flows were increase thanks to the most recent rain and snow, and flows are improved for the weekend. Water temperatures are still good, averaging in the low to high 40s, so you may still see some small Blue Winged Olives hatching during the afternoon. Nymphing will be your most productive option, while streamer fishing is holding up as well. The Housatonic River is still fishing well despite low flows, and techniques/hatches will be of a similar tune. Our smaller local rivers and streams have been tricky because of the below average flows; however, anglers are still finding some Trout from Fall stocking. In addition, Naugatuck was very recently stocked with more Atlantic Salmon.

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