Hello Compleat Angler Friends! Good news for our trout anglers, Fall stocking in some of our rivers is underway, and combined with relatively decent summer flows for holdover fish, it should be a good Fall season. In addition, Atlantic Salmon were stocked in the Shetucket River. Local areas to focus on include the Mill and Mianus Rivers, and the Farmington River will be fishing well for all techniques once flows return to normal. Brown Trout will be starting to spawn very soon, so look to fish Streamers as they will ramp up aggression but be cautious and avoid the Redd’s where they will be spawning. October Caddis will be seen with more regularity, so now is the time to stock your boxes. The Delaware hatches have started to improve, especially Blue Winged Olives, so look for rising fish during the afternoon and evenings thanks to good water temperatures. Our Fall saltwater season continues strong, with Albies most recently spotted from Blackrock to Southport. Our wade and boat anglers are reporting good Bass and Bluefish nearshore as well as in coves and salt ponds. Rhode Island has been consistent for catching a mixed bag, while the Eastern End of Long Island is primarily Albies, and we are still waiting on the major arrival of Stripers. Read on for more…

Connecticut

Local Rivers

Flows on our local Rivers have improved in terms of wading and clarity. For instance the Saugatuck river is currently reading 62.2 CFS. Both the Mianus and Mill Rivers have been stocked, and summer conditions were conducive to many of the Spring Stocking fish holding over. Both nymphing and Streamer fishing will be effective in the stocked sections until fish become more educated and start to key in on hatches. One can expect a variety of Caddis in Tan and Olive sizes 16-24, Isonychia in sizes 10-12, Blue Winged Olives in sizes 18-24, as well as Tricos in sizes 20-26. Terrestrials are still around with plenty of ants/flying ants. Nymphing will still be your most effective technique until hatches occur in the afternoons. Stocked fish will be easier to fool with a variety of nymphs from gaudy junk flies (such as mops and squirmies) to smaller Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Perdigones, and Hare’s Ears. Sticking to sizes 14-18 in these patterns will imitate most of your subsurface insect sizes. Both 5x-6x tippet and leader sizes will work well for dries and nymphs. Letting your nymphs swing at the end of your drift will pull additional fish as they look for emerging insects. For Streamers, Wooly Buggers are always a safe bet in drab colors (Olive, Brown, Black), but don’t be afraid to switch things up and throw larger articulated patterns on a full sinking or sink tip line, especially after some rain. You will want a shorter leader when streamer fishing, something around 5-7’. One of our favorite streamer lines for Fall is the Airflo Streamer Max Short,  as well as the Scientific Anglers Sonar Trout. The Short head loads rods well for our smaller rivers when targeting the opposite bank and it helps sink the fly quickly into the strike zone.

Naugatuck River

Flows on the Naugatuck are steadily dropping and are now at more fishable/wadable levels, reading 651 CFS at Beacon Falls. Water temperatures are dropping so look for most of your surface activity during the afternoons. Look to fish similar offerings that we are using on our local streams: Sulphurs, Cahills, Caddis, Tricos, Blue Winged Olives, and Terrestrials. October Caddis should start arriving soon, so bring some Tan Caddis patterns in sizes 14-18. With respect to other insects, having a range of sizes from 12-24 in nymphs/dries will have you covered. Look to fish Isonychia in the evenings in size 12 and focus on the faster water where they will be more active. Overall, the hatch to focus on will be Blue Winged Olives, which are now becoming more prevalent again, as these are ideal temperatures for both afternoon and evening hatches. The Naugatuck is a good alternative for areas with more crowds/pressure. In addition, the Shetucket River was recently stocked with Atlantic Salmon, and for these fish your traditional Atlantic Flies and hairwing streamers will work: Grey Ghosts, Blue Charms and Mickey Finns. Don’t be afraid to throw some larger intruders in Pink, Black, Blue, and Purple, especially after they’ve just finished stocking.

Farmington River

Flows increased recently and are reading 895 CFS on the West Branch, while the Still River is adding 122 CFS. Water temperatures have been fluctuating from the low to mid 60s, and since no rain is expected until Wednesday, water levels will continue to drop. All sections of the Farmington have recently been stocked. Higher flows will mean that the majority of your fishing will likely be subsurface. Streamer fishing is a good option this time of year as trout will become more aggressive during pre-spawn. Nymphing with junk flies (mops, squirmies, ect) will be a productive method in addition to your standard nymphs. Larger Stoneflies (which can be paired with a smaller offering to help get your rig down) as well as Zebra Midges, Pheasant Tails, Perdigones, Caddis Larvae, Hare’s Ears, Waltz Worms, Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs will continue to produce. For hatches look for Blue Winged Olives in sizes 20-24, Sulphurs in sizes 16-18, Tan Caddis in sizes 16-18, as well terrestrials (Ants and Beetles). In terms of rigging, look to use 5x-6x Fluorocarbon when nymphing, and Nylon 5x-7x when dry fly fishing. During normal-low flows, and especially with smaller flies, it pays off to have a stealthy leader in the 10-12’ range which will aid in a delicate presentation. Staying into the evening can result in some good spinner falls. With all the variety of bug activity, swinging wet flies can be a productive option as well. For our Trout Spey Anglers, look to fish larger streamers or intruders paired with a faster sinking tip. Fishing a wet fly swung on a less aggressive sinking tip can pull additional fish. The same can be said for those nymphing with single handers: swinging nymphs at the end of your drift can simulate an emerging insect. Twitching jigged streamers through a run can also be a deadly technique, and good colors to try include olive, black, tan, and white. Your odds will be better with streamers during the morning hours but will improve as Fall progresses. Vary retrieves, starting fast and then slowing down to see what the trout prefer.Remember to not high or low hole anyone. Let’s be respectful to other anglers. Good luck!

Housatonic River

Flows have been gradually dropping but are still high (currently 1230 CFS) on the Housatonic River. These flows will prove difficult for wading. Therefore, we would advise fishing once the flows drop below at least 1000 CFS. Under normal flows there have been great evening hatches of Blue Winged Olives in size 20 and smaller, with some Isonychia mixed in (sizes 12-14). Other hatches you may encounter include Tan/Olive Caddis in sizes 16-20, and Flying Ants are still prevalent. As we approach Fall, Trout will start to get into their pre-spawn phase, which means that they will be looking for higher calorie meals so bringing some larger streamers should prove useful. If you are fishing articulated neutrally buoyant streamers, you will want to pair these with a sinking line and a short 5’ leader tapered from 20lb to 10lb. Now is also a good time for our Trout Spey anglers to consider throwing larger patterns during the afternoon in combination with swinging wet hackles in the mornings and evenings. Afternoon is still good time to switch over to smallmouth fishing, so bring your Woolly Buggers in a variety of colors, as well as crayfish patterns. When targeting Pike, bite wire or a heavy fluorocarbon section is a must. While floating lines will work, it helps to get subsurface with a full sinking line. A variety of flies will work in 6-10” sizes and in different colors (a flashtail whistler is always a good option). Rods in 8-10wt are ideal for casting large flies and sinking lines. Look for slower sections of river, coves, ledges, and weed beds when hunting for Pike.

Saltwater

Albies have shown up frequently from Norwalk to Bridgeport and the primary bait are Peanut Bunker and Bay Anchovies. Look for quick blitzes of small pods of fish near cove entrances and along reefs. Some areas to focus on are the reefs and beaches off of Westport, Southport, Penfield Reef, Stratford Shoals, the mouth of the Housatonic, and off New London. Larger Bluefish can be found finning in the mornings in and around coves and beaches, as well as blitzing on bait in deep water structure. It is also worth checking near the mouth of Niantic Harbor, as they have been spotted crashing bait along the jetty and shoreline. Some days have been better than others as different sized pods are pushing West. There are also occasional Stripers hanging around the surface during low light conditions. Our anglers have reported some impressive Bluefish being landed around 10lbs, and fishing poppers remains an effective and exciting way to get into the action, especially during first light. We recommend bringing wire leader in 20lb, and knottable wire is easy to work with when adding a section to your leader. Striper activity will remain most prominent during dusk and dawn. Deceivers, Clousers, Half n Halfs, and Gurglers continue to fool Stripers. Now is the time of year to bring smaller patterns, as Bay Anchovies and Silversides will be more prominent and will help fuel blitzes. For your standard Striper leader, we prefer a leader 7’ of 16-20lb, and if using poppers, you may extend your leader by a couple more feet. It will also help to bring some longer full fluorocarbon leaders in 16lb for the chance of encountering Albies. Salt ponds continue to hold resident fish, as well as rocky points near the Norwalk Islands. Some anglers have been seeing blitzes nearshore walking the beach, and it’s all about being at the right place at the right time. Mornings are typically best with a focus on the higher tide stages. Evenings can still be productive this time of year if the tide is moving, especially near the full moon cycle. If you’re wading, some areas to consider are Calf Pasture and the beaches off Westport, Penfield Reef, Holly Pond, and Old Mill.

Hot Flies:
Deceivers in various colors
Clousers
Bay Anchovy Patterns
Peanut Bunker Patterns
Medium Sized Bunker Flies
Epoxy Sardine (Great Albie Fly)
Bob’s Banger (Stripers and Bluefish)

Good Fly Lines For Fall:
SA Full Intermediate
Wulff Monoclear (For picky Albie days)
Rio Outbound Short (Good for big flies and big winds)
Rio Striper (Good all-rounder)

Please report any poaching to the DEEP by calling 800-842-4357.

New York

Salmon River

A combination Kings and Steelhead have been staging in pools as well as moving upriver thanks to flows being above average at 710 CFS. Water clarity has improved from the past few days as runoff settles. The occasional Coho has been landed, but the consensus is that more Steelhead are entering the system. Each day there have been more Kings and Cohos moving up through the system, however the action hasn’t been lights out in the lower section of the river. In the middle and upper stretches, anglers are steadily picking away at Salmon, and now is a good time to check the tributaries because Salmon have moved their way into most.  It’s all a matter of finding pods of fish that are staging and that will cooperate. During these above average flows fish are going to be less wary so you will not have to worry about downsizing leaders and tippet. The most popular flies for Kings have been dead drifting egg sucking leeches and Woolly Buggers in various colors, and some anglers are having success fishing large brightintruders in Pink, Black, Purple, and Blue/Chartreuse swinging the lower parts of the estuary. Larger Glow Bugs andbeads in different colors will also take fish, so switching up flies/colors and techniques will be the key to success. As a bonus, these flies will also work on Brown Trout and Steelhead, in addition to smaller Glow Bugs, and Chartreuse/Mottled Tangerine beads. Having amicro barrel swivel incorporated into your leader will help avoid splitshot sliding down your leader, as well as aid in quicker rerigging during breakoffs and snags.

Catskills

The Mainstem at Lordville on the Delaware River is currently 1810 CFS, while the West Branch at Hale Eddy is flowing at 310 CFS and Flows at Fish’s Eddy on the East are 1180 CFS. Conditions and clarity are good for wading. Hatches have improved for Blue Winged Olives in sizes 18-22, and look for fish rising for them during the afternoon. Water temperatures have been cooling, and are currently fluctuating between the low to mid 50s, which means searching for rising fish during the afternoon is effective again. Staying into the evening, you may also encounter Isonychia in sizes 12-14, Cahill in size 16, Hebes in sizes 18-20, and October Caddis in sizes 12-18. Having a leader of at least12’ of 5x-6x will help when looking for a stealthier approach for dry flies. During the mornings nymphing or using a dry/dropper rig will be effective techniques. Streamer fishing is also a viable method when flows increase because Brown Trout are approaching their pre-spawn. Stoneflies, Pheasant Tails, Hare’s Ears, Caddis Pupa, Caddis Larvae, Waltz Worms, and jig style flies (like Perdigones) are all good considerations when going subsurface. Bring some small sized Pheasant Tails (18-22) to imitate Blue Winged Olives. Don’t overlook swinging wet flies and nymphs, such as an Isonychia, at the end of your drift to simulate emerging insects. For the Neversink, Willowemoc, and Beaverkill rivers bring similar patterns and add Light Cahills to your box. Dropping temperatures and rain for next week will produce some good Fall fishing and will jump start the Streamer bite.

Saltwater

Albie fishing continues to be consistent, with some days being more cooperative than others. Some hotspots are the rips around Montauk, off Mattituck, Plum Gut, and Port Jefferson. Montauk has been a hit or miss, though the outgoing tide has been most productive. The numbers and school size for Hardtails hasn’t been off the charts. Most anglers are catching in the single digits. Overall, it seems like the best concentration of fish is along the Northshore, Watch Hill, and Fisher’s.  There are some Bluefish mixed in, and you may encounter them blitzing around some of the jetties and beaches. The primary baitfish will include Peanut Bunker and Bay Anchovies. Wade fishing has been a hit or miss, with some anglers finding an occasional Striper or Bluefish, and finding the birds working bait has been the key to success. When fishing by boat, focus on structure around the bays and look for birds/baitfish as Stripers, Albies, or Bluefish will be blitzing. This tends to be a low light scenario. Bringing some poppers, like a Bob’s Banger, will result in some Blue and Striper action during dusk and dawn. Night fishing has held steady for Stripers, especially around docks and lights, and anglers fishing from shore are finding large Stripers off the beaches. Looking for fish pushing bait to the surface in the rips will result in some fish 30lbs and over. Tide movement is crucial when looking for fish, as this will stack bait into the rips which will make for an easy meal. If there is no surface action, you can use an aggressive sinking line paired with a larger Clouser to get deeper. The back bays on the Northshore are still seeing plenty of Bluefish, and some Albies are starting to filter in, especially near Wading River. With the abundance of bait and different species you will encounter, we recommend bringing some Deceivers, Clousers, Sand Eel patterns, and Popovic’s Surf Candies to imitate Bay Anchovies.

Rhode Island

Rhode Island is seeing the most Albie and Bonito action so far, with Bass and Bluefish mixed in. Hot spots include Watch Hill, Point Judith, Charlestown Breachway, and the West Wall. Covering ground is the name of the game as some anglers are finding Albies in deeper water as well as along the beaches. Striper rafts have been mixed in nearshore which has been helpful for shorebound anglers. Everyday has been different, so cover ground and look for signs of bait on the surface. There have been really small Bay Anchovies in the 1.5” range so having some smaller Tan/White Clousers and Surf Candies will imitate these effectively if the fish are picky. The ledges off Block Island are still fishing well, with large Stripers and Bluefish on Sand Eels in the rips. Look for fish on top during tide movements at dusk. Some of the flats are seeing slot size and over fish cruising in shallow, with the most effective patterns being crab flies. If you are struggling to find hard tails, the consistent Bluefish action on topwater can save the day, as they are still nearshore in bays and salt ponds. With big Striper rafts, Bluefish to play with, and consistency in Albies/Bonito, the Fall run is on!