Hello Compleat Angler Friends! Still no improvements in the rain forecast for our local rivers, however anglers that have been fishing the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers are finding good success subsurface and on small Blue Winged Olives during the late morning into the afternoon. These rising fish will be very picky in terms of fly size, so the smaller the better. Anglers fishing on our small local rivers and streams are finding fish, however they haven’t been very cooperative with the low water. Small nymphs on a dry/dropper rig will still be your best and most stealthy approach. Water levels have lowered on the Salmon River in New York, which has slowed the numbers of Steelhead entering the system. Steelhead are now spread throughout the entire river, and persistent anglers are finding a few fish each day. On the Delaware River, the West and Mainstem flows have increased so it will be worth bringing some streamers to your next outing. Our local saltwater fishing has been spotty, with some anglers finding short lived blitzes both by boat and along the shorelines. Fish are also starting to stage near the mouth of the Housatonic River this time of year in preparation for winter over. Meanwhile, Rhode Island has seen a quality over quantity scenario for Striper fishing. Along the South Shore of Long Island into New York anglers are finding great Striper action, with blitzes on Sand Eels along the beachfront. An interesting development to note is a late season push of False Albies near Montauk Point to Shinnecock. Anglers are finding Stripers mixed in with them as well. The only tough part of the equation for fishing out East has been the weather window.

Read on for more…

Connecticut

Local Rivers

Flows are extremely low on our local rivers and streams, for instance the Saugatuck River is flowing at 19 CFS (where the average is 90 CFS this time of year) and the consensus is that we need more rain. Low water is making fishing tricky because the Trout are holding in select areas with enough current and depth. They are also very wary, and when you see a fish rising, they will most likely be on small Blue Winged Olive Emergers (sizes 20-24). One of the challenges is finding runs with enough flows to fish effectively. Using a stealthy approach is a must to avoid putting these fish down. And if nymphing, using smaller and lighter flies will help avoid flies getting snagged and effectively lengthening your drift. Strikes will be very subtle in the areas with slower currents if you’re fishing subsurface. Smaller drab-colored nymphs will be working in conjunction with Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Caddis Larvae, Waltz Worms, and Perdigones in sizes 14-20, as well as Zebra Midges in sizes 18-20. Anglers are still finding a few fish willing to cooperate on Egg Flies, Mop Flies, and Squirmies. Finding areas with enough depth is crucial, as most fish that have been stocked have not yet spread out due to low flows. A good low water technique is also a dry/dropper rig, and an Elk Hair Caddis will work well when paired with a small nymph and is stealthier compared to an indicator rig. Streamer fishing has been tricky during the low water since fish are on high alert, so look for an improvement when flows increase. If you decide to try streamers, using small jig files with a slow jigging presentation can entice fish. When dry fly fishing in low and clear flows, it helps to present a dry fly downstream because fish will be seeing the fly before your leader and fly line. Other dry flies to consider include Sulphurs and Light Cahills in 12-18, Tan Caddis in 16-20, and Midges in 18-24. Having a drag free presentation is a must as fish are on their A game.

Naugatuck River

The Naugatuck is also low and holding steady at 90 CFS at the Beacon Falls gauge. With the colder mornings we have been having, look for more trout activity during the early afternoons. The main hatches will be Tan Caddis in sizes 16-18, Blue Winged Olives (especially on overcast days) in sizes 18-26 and Midges in sizes 20-24. Light Cahills are hatching more commonly during the evening hours in sizes 16-18, along with a few Isonychia in size 12. If you see some fish rising in the morning, most likely they are on Blue Winged Olive Emergers. For nymphing the usual suspects will work well, Caddis Larvae, Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Waltz Worms and Perdigones in sizes 16-18. Also consider bringing Zebra Midges in sizes 18-24, Mop Flies, Egg Flies, and Squirmies. Streamer fishing will be good during higher flows, so currently the streamer bite is tricky. If you’re dead set on streamer fishing, the mornings and evenings during low light hours will be best. All sections of the Naugatuck were stocked and there are still some fish left from Spring Stocking. Recently stocked fish have been in the river for a while and are keying in on the natural forage. In addition, both the Shetucket and Naugatuck Rivers received a round of Trout stocking as well as a few Atlantic Salmon stockings. The most recent Atlantic Salmon stocking was on November 5^th on the Naugatuck. With more Atlantics being stocked this year, it’s a great time to fish for them. For targeting Atlantic Salmon, swinging and/or stripping streamers and traditional hairwing flies, Woolly Buggers, and different color intruders will work well. Change flies after swinging through a pool, as sometimes Salmon will be triggered by a particular color or fly that has some added flash. Focus on the midsection of your runs and deeper pools when water levels are low, these areas will provide the safest holding water. The Naugatuck and Shetucket are good alternatives for areas with more crowds/pressure. Be mindful of stream temperatures and keep most of your fishing to the morning hours when water temperatures are at their coolest.

Farmington River

Flows on the Farmington River are still at improved levels when compared to early Fall. Currently flows on the West Branch are 134 CFS at Riverton, while the Still River is adding 22.8 CFS. Water temperatures on the West Branch have been fluctuating in the low to mid 50s. As a result, most of the insect activity is going to occur from the late morning to afternoon. Blue Winged Olives in sizes 20-24 and Tan Caddis in 18-20 make up most of the hatches, while there are still a few Isonychia in sizes 12-14 into the evening hours. The most productive technique is going to be nymphing when there are no hatches occurring. Smaller nymphs have been working well in conjunction with egg patterns now that most of the Brown Trout have completed spawning. For nymphs we recommend Pheasant Tails and Prince Nymphs in sizes 12-20, Caddis Larva 14-18, Perdigones 12-20, Hare’s Ears 14-18, Waltz Worms in 14-18, Golden Stoneflies in sizes 8-10, and Zebra Midges in 18-24. Make sure to avoid the actively spawning Brown Trout and stay clear of their spawning beds (Redds). Actively feeding fish will hold below the spawning beds in deeper water waiting for eggs to become dislodged. The holdover and wild trout will be very selective this time of year, so it helps to bring a variety of sizes and offerings. During reduced and normal flows with good clarity, we recommend using long leaders in 5x-7x for dry flies (12’ or longer). Swinging wet flies, such as a Caddis Pupae, or soft hackle Hare’s Ear, can be an effective technique when Caddis hatch in the mornings and afternoons. In terms of rigging, look to use 5x-6x Fluorocarbon when nymphing. Smaller nymphs in sizes 18-20 will pair well on a dry/dropper rig. For Streamer fishing you’ll want to bring some Woolly Buggers and jig style streamers in sizes 8-10 in a variety of colors: Olive, Black, White, Brown, and Yellow. Fishing articulated flies on a sinking/sink tip line can be another useful tool to include in your arsenal since flows were raised a bit. Weighted Sculpin patterns are another consideration and can be fished on a floating line. Despite the low flows the streamer bite has been good, especially during the morning and evening hours with Brown Trout being more active. Now is a good time for our Trout Spey anglers to use Scandi heads and polyleaders during these lower flows when swinging soft hackles. Try swinging some wet flies on less aggressive sinking tips, as insects will become more active during morning to early afternoon. Fishing larger streamers on a Skagit head will also work during the morning and evenings. Leaves have been an issue as of recent, however they should be cleared up in the next few weeks. Remember to not high or low hole anyone. Let’s be respectful to other anglers. Good luck! Keep in mind: Please report any suspicious activity and poaching to DEEP by calling 1-860-424-4357.

Housatonic River

The Housatonic River flows have been holding steady and are currently low in Falls Village, reading 262 CFS. In a positive light, these flows have provided easier wading conditions for anglers. Fish that were stocked have yet to spread out during these flows, therefore the deepest of pools will be holding the most fish. Despite the flows anglers have been catching good numbers of fish on a variety of techniques. For dry fly fishing, small Blue Winged Olives in sizes 18-24 will be most prevalent during the mornings and afternoons, and you may find fish rising on them, especially down by the Meadows. These fish have been very tricky, so having a long leader, small fly, and drag free drift are all musts. You may also encounter some Isonychia in sizes 12-14 during the evening hours. You may still find some Tan Caddis at any given time, so it will be worth bringing these flies in sizes 16-20. During these low flows a longer leader in 5x-7x is ideal. Nymphing will be an effective method when you don’t see any hatch activity or fish rising. Good nymphs to include in your rotation this time of year include Caddis and Scud patterns, Waltz Worms, Perdigones, Prince Nymphs, and Pheasant Tails all in sizes 14-18. In addition, bring some Golden Stoneflies in sizes 8-12, as well as some Zebra Midges in sizes 18-20. Having a double nymph rig will give the fish multiple options, and well as cover different areas in the water column. The streamer bite has been picking up now that Brown Trout are more aggressive during pre-spawn. Bringing some smaller conehead Woolly Buggers will work during these low flows, as well as larger articulated streamers on sink tip lines. Egg patterns will also be working as fish hold below spawning beds looking for easy calories. Make sure to avoid fish that are actively spawning and avoid stepping on Redds.

Saltwater

Striper fishing has started to slow down a bit and is inconsistent compared to last week. Anglers are still finding some blitzing on Peanut Bunker and Silversides, however some of the feeds have been short lived. Keep an eye on your weather as we are in for some high winds this weekend. If you decide to fish soon your best option will be covering ground and running the shoreline until you see fish materialize or birds working on bait. Some anglers are still finding Bluefish in the deeper water structure; however, their numbers are slowing down.  For the Wade angler good spots to try include Compo beach, Calf Pasture, the mouth of the Housatonic, and Penfield Reef. During the morning hours you can find Stripers blitzing on Peanut Bunker around 3” in length, and in some instances, they will be pushing them into the surf. A variety of fly patterns will be working during these scenarios, which include Clousers, Poppers, Deceivers, Hollow Flies, and EP Peanut Butter Flies. If fishing by boat, some areas to focus on include the Norwalk Islands, and running the shoreline from Westport the Greenwich if focusing on the Western Sound. Further East you will want to focus on the mouth of the Connecticut River, as well as the shoreline along Old Saybrook to Stonington. For our saltwater fishery we recommend using a 9 or 10wt rod paired with an intermediate sinking line. For your leader a shorter 7.5ft section of 20-30lb will turn over easily when paired with a Clouser or other larger wind resistant flies. For colors consider bringing Olive and White on clear sunny days. If the water is stained, bringing brighter colors such as Chartreuse and White will help stand out in dirty water. If there’s no surface activity, marking fish with sonar and using full sinking lines will also work on deeper water ledges. For this fishing we recommend a 4-6” Deceiver in Olive/White and an aggressive full sinking line.

Hot Flies:

Deceivers in various colors

Clousers

Peanut Bunker Patterns

Custom Tied Baby Bunker (Super Realistic!)

Medium Sized Bunker Flies

Bob’s Banger (Stripers and Bluefish)

Larger Herring Flies

Good Fly Lines For Fall:

SA Full Intermediate

Rio Outbound Short (Good for big flies and big winds)

Rio Striper (Good all-rounder)

Airflo Universal Cold Salt

Leaders:

Rio Striped Bass Leader

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

New York

Salmon River

Flows on the Salmon River have dropped this past week and are currently reading 264 CFS in Pineville. With this low water, we can expect a slow trickle of Steelhead entering the system and joining the fish that are currently holding throughout all sections of the river. As a result, anglers that are putting in their time are being rewarded with a few Steelhead and Brown Trout in the lower sections of the river. Using low water tactics: stepping down on leader and tippet diameter, and using smaller flies are both good approaches. Anglers are also getting into a few Steelhead in the middle and upper portions of the river, and the general consensus is that the fishing has been more challenging since flows have lowered. Nymphing is the most effective technique now, and smaller egg patterns around 6mm are working with the low clear water. Using fluorocarbon leaders will aid in abrasion resistance and strength in smaller diameters. We recommend using 9’ leaders in 1-3X, and having a barrel swivel connecting your leader to tippet will help for faster rerigging during break-offs, as well as offer a point where your splitshot can’t slide down to your fly. Popular Egg colors include Chartreuse, Orange, Pink, Cheese, and Blue. Estaz Eggs, Glo-Bugs, Sucker Spawn, Stoneflies, and Squirmy Worms are all flies to consider bringing. Anglers swinging flies can opt for Woolly Buggers in a variety of colors, Egg Sucking Leeches, or PNW style Intruder Flies. These can be swung with single hand or spey rods in conjunction with a sink tip. During these low flows both Skagit and Scandi techniques are applicable. Some anglers are finding some nice Brown Trout and Steelhead in the tributaries as well.

Catskills

Flows on the Mainstem of the Delaware River have recently raised to 1630 CFS at the Lordville Gauge along with the West Branch which is flowing at 1580 CFS at Hale Eddy. The East Branch is down to a trickle flowing at 180 CFS. Water temperatures are fluctuating in the mid to high 40s, so most of your insect activity will be from the early morning until late afternoon. The primary hatch is Blue Winged Olives in sizes 20-26, with a few Midges in sizes 18-24. Long and light leaders will help when presenting these small dry flies, and we recommend a leader that is 12’ and over in length. Since flows are up on the Mainstem and West Branch, and Brown Trout are finishing their spawn, it will be worth fishing large streamers. Fishing articulated flies on a sinking line will work well during this scenario, targeting the banks and stripping the fly off ledges and around holding structure. Make sure to avoid fishing to any actively spawning trout and avoid stepping on their Redds. This also means that egg patterns will be working in conjunction with your standard assortment of nymphs which should include Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Caddis Larvae, Perdigones, Waltz Worms, etc... In sizes #12-#20. Nymphing during the mornings has been the most productive. Trout will also be staging below spawning fish and Redds looking for an easy meal when eggs get dislodged from their spawning beds. Overall Trout have been picky and wary, but now is a good time to be fishing as post-spawn Brown Trout look to replenish the calories they’ve spent spawning.

New York Saltwater

Striper fishing has been holding strong with great topwater action from Montauk Point to the South Shore along Fire Island. Overall, the South shore has been great with large migratory fish being caught by surf and boat anglers. Anglers are finding good action patrolling the beaches by foot and are finding birds giving up the location of Stripers blitzing on Sand Eels. The predominant bait consists of Bunker from 4-6”, Sand Eels, and Bay Anchovies. The inlets and coves are also seeing activity with Stripers blitzing on smaller bait, with fish still patrolling the harbors and salt ponds. Good flies to use in these scenarios include Clousers and Deceivers. The best bet for any topwater action is the morning hours, however blitzes have been lasting well into the afternoon with plenty of action to be had. A big surprise was the late arrival of False Albacore in larger numbers, especially in Montauk around the rips. Stripers are also mixed in with the action. The North Shore has been slower, with anglers finding some Schoolies moving through the area, however the action has been spotty. Jamaica Bay is seeing some great blitzes with fish keying in on Peanut Bunker. The toughest part of the equation this Fall has been the weather window to fish, and anglers that are able to go out on nice days are being rewarded. Keep an eye on the weather this weekend as higher winds are instore.

Rhode Island Saltwater

This week the quantity of Stripers has slowed; however, anglers are finding good quality fish when they’re hooking up. There is great topwater action near Providence and Narragansett, with larger fishing actively chasing schools of Bunker. Other areas that are fishing well include the bays, coves, in the mouths of rivers, and the salt ponds. Fisher’s Island is also seeing good Striper activity. In addition to Bunker, the prevalent bait is Sand Eels and Bay Anchovies. Now is a good time to be checking and patrolling the beachfronts, and while short lived there have been fish blitzing in the surf. Overall, the Stripers are on the move and starting to migrate, so we should expect good fishing for the next of weeks before numbers of fish really start to drop off. Surprisingly some anglers are finding a few Bonito left over in the blitzes along the beachfront. If fishing by boat covering ground along the beaches, coves, and the mouths of rivers will be your best bet.