Hello Compleat Angler Friends! This week saltwater fishing has improved on multiple fronts. The holdover action has picked up as more fish head downriver out to the sound. In addition, there is plenty of bait in coves and off reefs to start up some Striper feeding frenzies. Peanut Bunker and Silversides are on the menu! This means that both boat and wade anglers can have successful days moving forward. While stocking up on Clousers is a must, other considerations are larger Herring Flies and Peanut Bunker, due to large numbers of early baitfish. The majority of the bait is stacked in and around harbors and coves. Our night fishing is also improving, and there is some opportunity to catch a lot of fish during these hours. Our freshwater fishing continues to be good as well, and we are at a transition time where the Stonefly hatches will start to decrease in frequency and numbers, therefore variety in offerings will be important moving forward. All our local rivers are clear, wadable, and stocked with fish so there are plenty of options! Read on for more…

Connecticut

Local Rivers

Stonefly season has started winding down, and while fish will still be rising to them, they will be hatching in fewer numbers. As they wind down, look to fish midges in sizes 16-24 as well as caddis in the same sizes. On certain rivers Blue Winged Olives will also be prevalent. A variety of nymphs will continue to work, one consideration is to try using more imitative and smaller flies since the fish will have become more educated after stocking. The general trend is that flows have dropped in the past week, with the Saugatuck reading 55.9cfs. Water clarity is good for all our local options. When fishing this weekend, start off with nymphs or streamers in the morning, being mindful of trout sipping midge emergers. By the afternoon look for stoneflies skittering on the surface, midges, or caddis. Griffith’s Gnats, CDC Stoneflies, and small Tan and Black Caddis should be options in your box for this upcoming week. You can always pair a nymph with a dry fly for a dry dropper rig when surface activity is sporadic. Our anglers have caught some great fish this season, suggesting larger fish were stocked during some of the second stockings. In addition, all of our rivers will be fishing well, and most were stocked with some receiving a second stocking. Trout Parks are also a great option to take the kids fishing as they have been stocked more recently.

Naugatuck River

All sections of the Naugatuck around the TMAs will be fishing well, and look to fish the similar offerings we are using on our local streams: Stoneflies, Caddis, Midges, and some Blue Winged Olives. A range of sizes from 16-24 in nymphs/dries will have you covered. The Naugatuck is a good alternative for areas with more crowds/pressure. Flows are currently reading 354cfs at Beacon Falls, which suggest easy wading with flows below average and good water clarity. Since stockings occurred a month ago, use more imitative flies as trout have become more acclimated to their natural forage.

Farmington River

The Farmington was most recently stocked in the following areas last week: Lower Collinsville to RT 177, RT 219 to Lower Collinsville, and the West Branch TMA. In these sections, gaudier nymphs and streamers will work until trout become more selective from acclimation and pressure. The West Branch flows are currently 206cfs from flow cuts at the dam, with the Still River adding 126cfs. Currently water levels are below average, making for easy wading and good clarity. The West Branch water temperature is slightly above 42F, with warmer temperatures downriver. These are ideal temperatures for trout and bug activity. During the afternoons look to fish Blue Winged Olives in sizes 16-20, and with the increasing water temperatures Hendricksons will start to hatch any day now. Bringing smaller midges in sizes 18-24, and Winter Caddis in the same sizes should also be considered for morning hatches. Rain showers are expected early next week which will give way to sunnier conditions in the 60s. Warmer temperatures this weekend reaching into the 80s should help increase bug activity. Anglers that are looking to target holdover fish should focus on the more imitative and smaller flies as they are more keyed in on the natural insects. There are also some larger stocked fish being caught suggesting that Survivor Strain Brown Trout were stocked. Fish the main pools methodically as stocked fish will be more concentrated until they spread out. In terms of fishing techniques, look to nymph/streamer fish in the morning before most of the hatches start. Generally, 5-6x leaders and tippet will improve your odds for success. For our Trout Spey Anglers, look to fish larger streamers or intruders paired with a faster sinking tip in the morning. Once the afternoon hatches hit, 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. For fly selection, stocked fish will take a variety of junk flies (Squirmies, Mops, larger nymphs with hotspots). Other considerations should be 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, and Waltz Worms. Look for Blue Winged Olives to be the most prevalent hatch this time of year. For streamer fishing, trout aggression will increase with warmer water temperatures, so try fishing articulated flies paired with sinking lines. Vary retrieves, start fast and then slow down to see what the trout prefer. 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 800-842-4357.

Housatonic River

Flows have dropped to 1350cfs on the Housatonic at Falls Village. This will improve conditions for wading. Bring a variety of small nymphs: Caddis larvae and Pupae, Stoneflies, Zebra Midges, etc. The main hatches will be Blue Winged Olives and Stoneflies. Bringing a variety of Black Stonefly patterns in sizes 12-20, and 26-24 BWOs, as this will have you covered for the warmer afternoons, which is when you can expect the hatches. With the increase in water temperatures Hendricksons will start to hatch soon. For nymphs, having different sizes of Pheasant tails and Prince Nymphs (#12-18) will imitate Stoneflies and Hendrickson Nymphs well. Focusing on TMAs and areas by the park should result in some fish during the warmer afternoons especially if you’re looking for rising trout. Other fly considerations will be Midges and Winter Caddis, and I would bring a variety of sizes in the adults and emergers, as the trout have been sipping on emerging BWOs frequently. Focusing on small sizes 18-24 should result in some success. Presentation is key, with longer leaders, stepping down to 6x tippet, and a drag free drift all critical for success. Likely water to find rising fish will be areas with medium to slow flows. Focusing on nymphing and streamer fishing during the colder mornings and then look for rising fish in the afternoon and into the evening. For streamer fishing, having a sinking line or sink tip is the key to success. Focus your efforts on the deeper pools as trout are still pushed into the slower and deeper winter lies during the colder days and mornings. During high water the fish will be pushed closer to the bank, which is a good opportunity to fish larger streamers. No stockings have happened on the Housatonic yet, however there are plenty of holdover fish from the last stocking during Fall.

Saltwater

The Housatonic River is continuing to produce holdover Stripers and these fish are getting ready to drop back into Long Island Sound. Lately, the Striper activity has increased on the lower part of the river. Stripers are also starting to become active during the night as well, so planning around an ideal evening tide could result in some great fishing. The most productive technique this time of year will be fishing different colored Clousers paired with an intermediate sinking line (1.2-2ips sink rate). Bringing brighter and flashier offerings, switching up your retrieve speed and pausing between strips should result in fish once you find the pace the fish prefer. Bringing some unweighted larger patterns, such as Deceivers, is a good choice to imitate larger Herring. For this fishery we prefer 20-30lb fluorocarbon leaders around 7’ in length. Having a shorter leader will help sink your fly when fishing an intermediate line because it will reduce leader hinge, especially with unweighted flies. This rig will also be easier to cast in windier conditions. The Norwalk Harbor is also seeing a large number of Juvenile Bunker and Silversides, which is relatively early. If fishing in this area by boat, bring some small EP Peanut Butters, paired with a sinking line to cut below the large schools on the surface. Striper activity has also increased in the harbors and coves. Targeting shallow areas with darker mud bottoms will prove useful, as these areas will warm up quicker during the morning hours. With a lot of options available via wading or boat, now is the time to get out there! Please report any poaching to the DEEP by calling 800-842-4357.

New York

Salmon River

Dropback Steelhead are now spread throughout the river, and there has been an increase in fish brought to hand in the lower sections. On average, the water temperature has been in the mid 40s, which is increasing fish activity and improving odds of catching fish swinging intruders and streamers. If swinging flies, consider Brown, Olive, Chartreuse, White, and Black flies. Flows are currently 1440cfs at Pineville after an increase in flows at the dam. If nymphing, egg flies will continue to work with Chartreuse being a popular color this time of year. Other considerations are Pink Squirmies and Black Stonefly patterns paired with a red hotspot. Stoneflies in sizes 12-14 are hatching all over the system on warmer afternoons. We have nice 70-80F sunny weather ahead for the weekend which will cool down during the following week. The tributaries will still be fishing well, and some anglers are finding Brown Trout in the mix. The morning hours during first light are generally the most productive, especially if there is a sunny afternoon ahead. Bring a good layering system for the morning, as temperatures will be in the mid to high 30s for next week.

Catskills

Overall, river conditions are slightly below average which will open some sections for easier wading. On the mainstem water temperatures will start in the mid 40s during the morning and increase into the low 50’s during the afternoon. The mainstem at Lordville is reading 4160 cfs. The East Branch at Fish’s Eddy is 2320cfs, while the West Branch at Hale Eddy is flowing at 1740cfs. During the springtime high water, articulated streamers will be most productive paired with a sinking line. White is the predominant color of choice given the abundance of Alewives in the system. Switch up retrieves (fast to dead drifting) to see what the fish prefer. Warmer temperatures will bring the Early Black Stoneflies in sizes -18 and small Caddis in 16-18 to the surface, as well as Blue Winged Olives in 18-20. Blue Winged Olives will be the most prevalent hatch during the afternoons and there have been some surprisingly large sizes coming to the surface. In addition, our anglers are starting to see Paraleptophlebia (Blue Quills) that the fish are taking. In regards to nymphing, with low water temperatures, have a variety of Stonefly Nymphs, Caddis Larva, Zebra Midges, and Mayfly Nymphs in size 14-24 ready to go as they will make up most of the menu. The Willowemoc and Neversink are clear and fishable, while the Beaverkill is still high so use caution wading. We should see warm air temperatures into this weekend which will change to scattered showers and highs in the low 50s for next week.

Rhode Island

While things are relatively quiet around the Rhode Island Coast, the most noticeable change is an increase in holdover Striper action and size. Fishing the tidal estuaries and salt ponds will still be the most productive option, using smaller baitfish imitations (such as Peanut Bunker and Silversides) until most of the Herring run arrives. Using Clousers and flies that imitate Alewives are considerations when heading out there.