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Hello Compleat Angler friends! The improvement this week comes in the form of reduced flows, and all our local options are either near or below average. This will make for some easier wading and improved dry fly opportunities, especially during the afternoons when you may see a prolific Small Black Stonefly Hatch. Other hatches to consider are Caddis during the morning and Midges throughout the day. This time of year is all about the Small Black Stoneflies, however, which will only continue to get better in the coming weeks as water temperatures warm a bit, and trout key in on them more often. For this weekend, a variety of techniques will be working, especially with trout recently stocked in some rivers and streams. From small Woolly Buggers to Mop flies and more natural nymphs, you will want to bring a variety with you. The Farmington has ideal clarity and flows for wading. Some anglers are finding good numbers of stocked fish while others are catching some quality holdovers, mainly on small imitative nymphs. Meanwhile, the Housatonic River is still high but shaping up for wading soon. Overall, there are some great options now, and they will only continue to improve with the weather. On the Salmon River in New York, anglers are finding Steelhead in their usually Wintertime haunts, so the slower deeper pools are still fishing well. In the coming weeks Steelhead will start to drop back down river. We can expect flows to be near or above average as there is still a fair amount of snow that has yet to melt. Anglers putting in their time are finding single digit numbers of Steelhead each day spread throughout the entire river, with an occasional Brown Trout. Both nymphing and swinging flies will be working.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Our local river and streams are back in shape in terms of flows and are at a great level for fishing. Currently, the Saugatuck is below average at 188 CFS, which is an ideal level for a variety of techniques. For hatches across Connecticut Rivers, you will see some Small Black Stoneflies in sizes 16-18 during the sunny afternoons and into the evening, as well as some Midges in sizes 18-20, and some Caddis in sizes 18-20 during the morning. Now is the time of year for some great Stonefly hatches, and while trout aren’t rising to them consistently, this will change soon when stocked fish start to key in on them, and when water temperatures continue to warm. For the Stonefly hatch, try dead drifting your fly as well as skating, sometimes skating your fly can entice trout as Stoneflies tend to skitter across the surface of the water. For streamer fishing, you will want to bring a variety of smaller conehead Wooly Buggers, Krystal Buggers, and Rubber Leg Buggers in Olive, Brown, Black, White, and Chartreuse. A variety of streamers will work on stocked trout and try varying the retrieve between faster and slower strips or swing them through the current. Nymphing will also be another effective technique when dry fly activity is slow. For nymphs, a variety of patterns will be working including Mop flies, Squirmies, Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Perdigones, Waltz Worms, Caddis Larvae, and Zebra Midges. Sizes 12-20 will work well in these patterns. Jigged streamers will also be effective as they offer slower and more enticing action if trout are lethargic. With flows dropping back down near average, and rivers being stocked, anglers are finding some good trout fishing on a variety of techniques and rivers across Connecticut.
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River has yet to be stocked, however there are some holdover fish to be found. Flows have dropped back down to 546 CFS, which is below average but comfortable flows for trout as well as wading. Hatches will be like our local rivers: 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. Currently flows will also provide streamer fishing as a viable option. The Naugatuck and Shetucket are good alternatives for areas with more crowds/pressure.
Flows on the West Branch and the Still of the Farmington River are back down from last week, however flows increased on the West Branch a bit and are currently 139 CFS, which is below average. Water temperatures on the West Branch are fluctuating in the mid to high 30s. The Still is also below average, adding 178 CFS downstream of the confluence. Conditions throughout the river are clear and comfortable for wading. At the beginning of this month, the Farmington was stocked from Hogsback to the West Branch TMA, as well as the route 219 to Lower Collinsville TMA. In these sections a variety of streamers and nymphs will be working until trout are acclimated and keying in on the natural forage. Anglers are still finding some nice holdover fish, primarily on smaller more natural nymphs. For hatches, you can expect some Small Black Stoneflies during the afternoon in sizes 16-18, as well as Midges in sizes 18-20, and Caddis during the morning in sizes 16-20. You can expect to see fish rising during these flows, and when water temperatures are at their warmest during the afternoon. For nymphs you will want to bring Mop Flies, Squirmy Worms, 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. For streamers, a lot of options will be working from Small Woolly Buggers to articulated flies fished on sinking lines. You may also want to bring some jig streamers as a slower retrieve or jigging motion can entice the more lethargic fish. This weekend we will have some warmer weather reaching into the low 60s with rain predicted. 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 dropping back down and are shaping up nicely on the Housatonic River. Currently flows are at 1680 CFS at Falls Village, and we can expect more comfortable conditions for wading when the flows drop below 1000 CFS. Air temperatures will be in the high 50s this weekend, with rain predicted for Sunday evening. When flows are good again for wading you may find some prolific numbers of Small Black Stoneflies hatching in sizes 16-18 during the afternoon to evening, 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 colder water conditions a slower retrieve, swing, or jigging action will help entice more lethargic trout. Overall, fishing will start improving as average water temperatures increase, and there are still trout that wintered over from last Fall’s stocking. The Housatonic has yet to be stocked for this Spring.
Flows on the Salmon River increased a bit this past week, and with a fair amount of snow still on the ground, we can expect flows further increasing with warmer temperatures and snow melting on the way. Currently, the Salmon River is flowing at 1100 CFS which is average. Air temperatures this weekend will warm into the low 60s with some rain expected on Sunday and winds increasing into the 20mph range. Some anglers are still finding a few chrome Steelhead in the lower sections of river, with the catch rate being ones or twos each day. On the upper end of the river anglers find a similar catch rate throughout the normal winter holding lies. Steelhead have yet to start dropping back, which will be triggered by more consistent warmer temperatures in the coming weeks. Now they are spread throughout the river and focusing on the slower and deeper sections will be a good approach with water temperatures still being cold. Anglers are also finding some nice Brow Trout. 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. 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.
