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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This past week we’ve had a little taste of Spring, and with the moderate temperatures comes snow melt which has local flows above average. The most significant improvement is the arrival of the Small Black Stonefly hatch throughout most of our rivers. You will see them hatching in sizes 16-18 during the sunnier afternoons. Water temperatures are still cold so trout activity on these hatches is spotty, and subsurface will still be the most effective technique. Both jigged streamers and nymphs are catching some nice holdover fish. On the Salmon River, which has below average flows, some anglers are finding a Steelhead each day if they put in the work. Temperatures are still cold, with snow and rain expected in the forecast. Fish will still be in their winter lies until water temperatures improve, so focus on the slower and deeper pools and stretches of river.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Flows on our local rivers and streams are now running above average due to our recent rain and snow melt with the warm temperatures this past week. For example, the Saugatuck River is currently at 121 CFS. These warm temperatures will continue into Saturday, with Sunday being chillier at 30 degrees. We will have some warmer days this upcoming week reaching into the 50s. While the water temperatures are still cold, you may find some Small Black Stoneflies hatching during the late morning and afternoon on sunny days in sizes 18-16. You may also expect Winter Caddis hatching during the morning in sizes 18-24, and Midges in sizes 20-26. However, fish may be rising infrequently, and many anglers have still been successful using subsurface techniques, mainly nymphing and jigged Streamers. We can expect more dry fly activity when temperatures are consistently warmer. Drab-colored nymphs will be working well such as Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Caddis Larvae, Waltz Worms, and Perdigones in sizes 14-20, as well as Zebra Midges in sizes 18-20. You may want to throw some Mops, Squirmies, and more flashy nymphs in your box since water levels are up. In addition, smaller Woolly Buggers will be working well in Black, Olive, Brown, White, and Purple. Vary the retrieve to see what the fish prefer, and sometime a slow swing can entice the more lethargic fish. Jig streamers, either dead drifted or animated with a jigging action from the rod tip will also work well as they offer a slower and enticing motion. Overall, a slower and more methodical approach when fishing through runs will help during winter as trout are less willing to expend energy. Any trout you find will be holdover fish from Fall stocking since the state has yet to stock for Spring. River access is improving as ice on any trails, for instance the Mianus River, is melting. Overall fishing will be slow, but some anglers are finding a few fish each day.
Naugatuck River
Flows on the Naugatuck River are also holding above average and are currently 659 CFS at Beacon Falls. Atlantic Salmon were stocked this winter, and while your best bet will be the deeper pools, they will be far and few since the last stocking occurred in December. 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. Focusing on the entire run and fishing all sections methodically will be a good strategy to hunt them down. You may find them sunning on the brighter and warmer days in the tailouts. If you’re using a floating line, having a few polyleaders will aid in controlling your fly depth in different runs and scenarios, which can make the difference of getting your fly in front of these fish to entice a strike. Morning conditions will be cold so look for an increase in fish activity as the sun warms the water. There are still some trout to be found after this past Fall stocking, and there are still some Midges, and Tan Caddis hatching from late morning into the afternoon, and more recently Small Black Stoneflies. 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. Nymphing will be the most productive method, especially in the morning with trout being more lethargic due to cold water temperatures. The Naugatuck and Shetucket are good alternatives for areas with more crowds/pressure.
Flows were increased a bit on the West Branch of the Farmington, and the Riverton gauge is currently reading 106 CFS with flow still below average. The Still River gauge is back up and operational after being frozen over and is currently reading 117. This bump in flows is most likely due to snow melting. Water temperatures are still cold, fluctuating from the low to high 30s throughout the day. Because of these cold temperatures, there will still be diminished surface activity from trout, so subsurface techniques will be the most effective. Small Black Stoneflies have started hatching in sizes 16-18, along with the typical morning Winter Caddis hatch in sizes 18-20, and Midges in sizes 20-24. You can expect the majority of Small Black Stoneflies to hatch during the sunny late mornings into the afternoon. This break in the cold weather will help melt some of the shelf ice in spots below Riverton, opening some of the slower deeper pools. Overall focusing on these sections, aka winter holding lies, will be the best plan since trout are still concentrated in these areas as opposed to the faster riffles. Look for strikes to be subtle as trout are more lethargic. 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, Black Stoneflies in sizes 12-18, and Zebra Midges in 18-24. In general, smaller subsurface insects will be working best this time of year. However, we recommend bringing some Mops, Squirmies, and attractor nymphs as they will still fool fish. Anglers are finding some nice holdover Rainbow and Brown Trout primarily on nymphs and jig streamers. Even though Brown Trout are finished spawning, Egg Flies will still be working well. Streamers will fool an additional fish or two, namely those that are fished low and slow. Jigging Streamers can be an effective way to streamer fish during Winter because it simulates a slower and more enticing opportunity for lethargic fish. In addition, a slowly swung streamer will work with either single hand or Trout Spey rods. Overall, Winter fishing can prove difficult with trout activity and catch rates slowing down. Persistence and patience in the cold weather can be rewarded if you happen to find the bite window when fish become more active. 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.
Flows are still below average on the Housatonic River for this time of year, but they’re on the high side in terms of comfortable wading. For instance, the Falls Village Gauge is reading 970 CFS from rain and snow melt. You will want to wait until flows subside to start wading, and in many spots shelf ice is still an issue and currently breaking up. Once flows subside you may find some good Small Black Stoneflies hatching in sizes 16-18, Winter Caddis hatching in sizes 18-24 during the morning, along with some Midges in sizes 20-24. Subsurface fishing will be the best tactic still, primarily nymphing with smaller and more imitative patterns from Caddis, Scuds, Pheasant Tails, ect. in sizes 16-20, along with Zebra Midges in sizes 20-24. Egg patterns will still be working well, and with nymphing low and slow will be the name of the game as well as anticipating subtle strikes. Although less consistent, streamer fishing will still be working. During the winter a slower retrieve, swing, or jigging action will help entice more lethargic trout. Overall, winter fishing can be tricky, however there are plenty of fish in the Housatonic from Fall stocking. You may encounter a bite window during the afternoon in which the fishing will pick up when water temperatures are their warmest.
Flows on the Salmon River have increased a bit but are still below average reading 464 CFS at the Pineville Gauge. Air and water temperatures are still cold with snow in the forecast, this weekend will experience a low of 0 degrees with a high of 30. As a result, fishing has been slow in both the upper river and lower (which has reopened). Anglers putting in their time are finding a Steelhead each day. Nymphing has been the most effective technique, and there are plenty of Black Stoneflies hatching during the afternoon which warrants bringing an assortment of imitations. Cold weather will have the fish hunkered down, so focus on fishing the deeper and slower pools. Sometimes, all it takes is a few degrees to improve fishing and create a bite window. In conjunction with Stonefly Nymphs, smaller egg patterns around 8-6mm are working with the current conditions. 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 breakoffs, as well as offer a point where your split shot 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. Where allowed, pegging beads offer a realistic egg imitation in a variety of colors from mottled Tangerine to Chartreuse. 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 a single hand or spey rods in conjunction with a sink tip. During higher flows fishing Skagit heads will be an effective method as you can use more aggressive sink tips. During the current flows both Skagit and Scandi techniques are in play. Even with our current water temperatures, there will still be fish willing to take a swung fly, especially when using a slower swing. Make sure to bring plenty of warm layers if you decide to fish.
