Fishing Report: June 20th

Greetings Compleat Anglers!  Here is your fishing report for June 20th.

Overview

Here we are one day from the longest day of the year and summer conditions prevail everywhere!  If you're out on a trout stream now is the time to linger into dark. Many of the summer hatches, such as Sulphurs, some Caddis, Cahills and Stoneflies hatch at dark and later so if you leave too early you'll be missing some great action. This proved true for us on Monday on the Delaware East Branch, but we'll get to that a little bit later. In both Connecticut and New York, most trout rivers are low and are warming up, so keep an eye on water temperatures. Remember, as water temperatures approach 70 degrees, the trout become stressed and its best to give them a rest. As well, at this time of year many trout are holding in faster, more oxygenated water in depths of no more that 1-2 feet. In such water, look for the little seams of softer water or the small depressions in the river bottom - that's where you'll find some great fish holding. It seems like overnight we're solidly into the summer hatches - Sulphurs, Olives, Cahills, and Isos, so be sure to have these flies in your box along with a selection of spinners such as Rusty spinners, Cahill & Sulphur spinners and Iso spinners. And finally, on those days that the bugs seem to be hiding, don't hesitate to swing some wets and soft hackles or drift a nymph - there's always some neat stuff going on underneath the surface!

(photo below): Sometimes, its the lovely parrs that indicate the health of the river, as the baby brown trout from the Delaware West Branch illustrates. (See you in a few years!)

Connecticut Rivers

In Connecticut, rivers are low and in full summer mode. The Farmington River is running low but it's tailwater water temperatures have been ideal - in the mid-40's in the Riverton area and in the mid-50's through the TMA. There have been Sulphurs (#16), Caddis (olive and tan) (#16) , Vitreus (#14-#16), Olives #20-#24), and some March Brown spinners on the water, as well as some Light Cahills (#12-14) on the lower stretches. Remember to stay late! There have been some great flushes of Sulphurs after dark. And when the surface action is slow, try working a nymph such as a Caddis Pupa (#14-#16), Pheasant Tail (#14-#18), Frenchie (#18-#20), Zebra (#18-#22), Sulphur, Olive or Stonefly., along with traditional wets and soft hackles. As I mentioned above, try targeting some of the stretches of faster, more oxygenated water and look for those little seams of soft water and slight depressions in the river bed to target.

Rob Nicholas, from Housatonic Anglers  housangler@yahoo.com reports that the Housatonic has been low and warm. Great for wading but too low to float. Trout fishing has been good in the early AM and late afternoons and evening. Water temperatures are now approaching the 70's and Rob cautions that at this point it may be best to give the river a rest and let the Bass and Pike fishermen have their day. If we get some cooling rain or lower air temperatures, then certainly give the trout a shot - there have been Cahills (#14-#16), Sulphurs (#14-#18), Stoneflies (#6-#12), and tan Caddis (#16-#18) on the water. 

As well, the smaller streams are low and warming. The Saugatuck, Norwalk and Mill Rivers are very low and it's best to fish them in the early morning or late afternoon/evenings. Best bets are small dries such as a bushy Caddis fished with a small nymph dropper such as a Copper John, Zebra or Frenchie in sizes #18-#22). Also, ants and beetles are beginning to be very effective. Underneath, small Caddis Larva, Scuds and other bottom-dwellers take some nice fish as well. 

Connecticut river flows are as follows:

Farmington West Branch at Riverton:   268cfs at mid-40's;

Still River at Robertsville:  41cfs;

WB Farmington through the TMA:  309cfs in the mid-50's;

Housatonic at Falls Village:  423cfs at high 60's-low-70's;

Saugatuck at Ford's Road, Westport:  5cfs;

Norwalk River in Wilton:  17cfs;