Hello Compleat Angler Friends! This past week we received some much-needed rain for our local rivers and streams. With that said, temperatures will most likely have not cooled enough to justify fishing for trout. If you decide to fish, check your stream temperatures in the morning, and if temperatures are below 68 degrees, you’re in the clear. Otherwise, the Farmington River has good fishable temperatures and flows now, and the fishing has been good, especially the dry fly options. During the morning hours nymphing has been the most effective before your hatches start. Another great option is Smallmouth Bass on the Housatonic River which has been fantastic. Both larger streamers and poppers are now worth bringing, and some larger Bass have been brough to hand. Other considerations are Carp and Pike fishing, which hold up strong all summer even in higher water temperatures. The Delaware River also has fishable flows and temperatures on the West Branch if you’re planning a Catskills trip. Generally, the overcast weather has been more productive for dry fly fishing, as you are more likely to see Blue Winged Olives hatching. Other considerations to bring include Sulphurs and Isonychia. On the Saltwater scene, not much has changed which is good news because Stripers are still up and crashing Sand Eels and Bunker. The wade fishing has been trickier; however, the morning hours have schoolies and small Bluefish chasing Sand Eels near the Westport and Fairfield beaches. Overall, saltwater fishing has held up and there are still options and fish to be had.

Read on for more…

Connecticut

Local Rivers

We received some much-needed rain this past week on our local rivers and streams. This will cool water temperatures a bit but as always for this time of year make sure you check stream temperatures and limit your fishing hours to avoid the heat of the afternoon. Now is a good time to switch to Panfish and Bass species, and fishing small poppers can be an exciting way to target them. All rivers and streams are above average, but will drop quick, as our next rainstorm isn’t expected until this upcoming Tuesday. The Saugatuck is currently 110 CFS and on the drop. You can expect the normal hatches for this time of year, including Blue Winged Olives (especially on overcast days) in sizes 18-20, Ant Patterns, Sulphurs and Light Cahills in 12-18, Tan Caddis in 16-20, and Midges in 18-24. As a bonus, all of these patterns will work for panfish. Sticking to nymphing during the early hours of the morning is a safe bet until you start seeing hatches and fish rising which will occur later in the morning. During the early hours you will most likely encounter Caddis and Midges. Some of our favorite nymph patterns include Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, Caddis Larvae, Waltz Worms, and Perdigones in sizes 14-18, as well as Zebra Midges in sizes 18-20. If you decide to streamer fish, using small Woolly Buggers in White, Chartreuse, Black, Olive, Grey, and Brown will all do the trick. Streamer fishing will be more successful in the early mornings and especially during higher water events (for average and low flows stick to nymphing). Areas to consider are the Saugatuck, the Mill River in Fairfield, the Aspetuck River, and the Norwalk River. Plenty of ponds and lakes were also stocked, which is a good opportunity to take the kids fishing.

Naugatuck River

Flows have also increased on the Naugatuck and are currently above average reading 692 CFS. Check your stream temperatures as they will approach 68 degrees and over during the afternoon. Temperatures below this threshold will give you the green light to fish without stressing trout. The main hatches will be Tan Caddis in sizes 16-18, Blue Winged Olives (especially on overcast days) in sizes 18-20, Midges in sizes 20-24, and Ant Patterns. Sulphurs and Light Cahills are hatching with more frequency in sizes 16-18. 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, and Squirmies. All sections of the Naugatuck were stocked and there are still some fish left from Spring Stocking. The Naugatuck is a good alternative 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 West Branch of the Farmington River are near average reading 272 CFS, while the Still is adding 198 CFS from the most recent rain. River levels are good for fishing, and clarity will improve quickly downriver of the Still which is currently high. Water temperatures have been fluctuating in the low to mid 50s in Riverton, so temperatures are still great for trout. The primary hatches are going to be small Blue Winged Olives in sizes 18-20 with Sulphurs in sizes 16-18. Trout will be very selective this time of year, so it helps to bring a variety of sizes and offerings; also consider Tan Caddis in sizes 18-20, Isonychia in sizes 10-12, Light Cahill in sizes 14-18, Midges in sizes 20-24, and Terrestrials (Ants and Beetles). During reduced and normal flows with good clarity, we recommend using 9’ or greater leaders in 5x-6x for dry flies. Swinging wet flies, such as a Caddis Pupae, can be an effective technique when Caddis hatch in the mornings and afternoons. The holdovers and wild fish are going to be more difficult but persistence and a more natural selection of flies will help even the odds. With that said anglers are finding some quality fish, especially some big stocked rainbows, and are having good success. Nymphing is going to be the most productive method during the morning before most of the hatches start. For nymphing, you will want to bring 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. Since stocked trout have been in the system for a while, we recommend using smaller and more imitative nymphs that match their wild forage. 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 Wolly Buggers and jig style streamers in sizes 8-10 in a variety of colors: Olive, Black, White, and Brown. Fishing articulated flies on a sinking/sink tip line can be another useful tool to include in your arsenal. Weighted Sculpin patterns are another consideration and can be fished on a floating line. Now is a good time for our Trout Spey anglers to use Scandi heads and polyleaders during these average flows. Try swinging some wet flies on less aggressive sinking tips, as insects will become more active during the afternoon. 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

The Housatonic River flows are back up after a bout of low flows, currently flows are reading 834 CFS at Falls Village. Most likely water temperatures will not drop enough to justify trout fishing, as most of the trout have moved into thermal refuges, which are off limits to fishing. The good news is that there has been some fantastic Smallmouth Bass fishing. Large articulated streamers and Woolly Buggers have been working well, try switching colors from Black, Chartreuse, Yellow, and Orange, to see what they prefer. Poppers are another great option as the topwater eats will get your heart pounding. For Smallmouth we recommend a short and stout leader to turn over the larger flies such as a 6” 12-20 leader. The Rio Big Nasty Leaders are a great option. Pike are another fun option for this time of year, focus on slower sections of water, coves, and weed beds. For rods and rigging, we like to use 8-10wts rigged with a sinking line, big flies (such as a Flashtail Whistler), and wire leader. The Housatonic also has some big Carp and the opportunity for sight fishing that will satisfy even the most discerning flats fisherman. For these fish, Mulberry Flies, Damselfly Nymphs, Crayfish, and your standard Trout Nymphs will fool these fish. We prefer 6-8wt rods paired with a floating line, such as a Bonefish Taper, rigged with an 8lb fluorocarbon leader.

Saltwater

Striper action continues to be steady even though are approaching mid-summer conditions which can slow the bite a bit. There are still Stripers holding in some of the deeper water reefs with their primary forage being Sand Eels and Bunker that are sporadically moving through our area. Most of the action, especially on the surface, has been during the early hours of the morning, with anglers finding nice Bluefish in the mix from 10-15lbs. The fish have spread into areas further East in Connecticut along the shorelines and ledges into Old Saybrook. Our boat anglers are also finding fish migrating towards Middleground and other areas in the mid sound, whether it’s Stripers crashing bait or Bluefish finning. If fishing on foot, focus on the beaches off Westport (sand Eels) near compo, and the coves and mouths of Rivers. Overall temperatures are warm nearshore, so the bite has slowed with your best chance being the early morning Sand Eel hatch. The mouth of the CT River has seen more Bunker showing up and the Striper bite has improved. Fish are migrating and spread out, so it helps to cover ground until you find the birds active on bait. 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. For our boat anglers bringing larger Bunker to juvenile Silverside Patterns and Sand Eels will be key as there is a variety of bait and sizes. Focusing on rocky structures and points when fishing from a boat is crucial, and this time of year you will find Stripers cruising the flats early in the morning. Some fish are starting to leave the deeper water ledges in favor of moving east, however you may still find fish crashing bait during the mornings. If there’s no surface activity, marking fish with sonar and using full sinking lines will also work. For this fishing we recommend a 4-6” Deceiver in Olive/White. Please be safe out there and respectful to other boaters!

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 Spring/Summer:

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

New York

The Catskills

Delaware received a small shot of rain this past week, but flows are still below average. The Mainstem at Lordville is currently 1300 CFS with water temperatures in the high 60s to low 70s. Temperatures are too hot to fish for trout on the Mainstem, so your coldest water will be on the West Branch. Currently the West Branch at Hale Eddy is flowing at 590 CFS while the East Branch is 457 CFS at Fishes Eddy. Dry fly fishing has been a hit or miss, which depends on the forecast and what insects the trout are keying in on. Overcast days coupled with cooler nighttime temperatures will result in better hatch activity. Hatches you may encounter include Tan Caddis in sizes 16-18, along with Sulphurs in sizes 16-18, Light Cahill in size 14, Isonychia in sizes 10-12, and Blue Winged Olives in sizes 18-24. Bringing a variety of these insects is crucial as they will key in on any stage of these hatches. Presentation is also crucial in these lower flows, and you will want a downstream presentation so fish will see your fly first. During the overcast days Blue Winged Olives are more prolific. You can expect to encounter Sulphurs in the evening, so it is worth staying until dark. Fishing Isonychia during the evenings in faster water can be effective at times. Streamer fishing will be tricky during these flows, but swinging soft hackles and emergers, as well as nymphing and dry/dropper rigs. For nymphs we recommend bringing Prince Nymphs, Pheasant Tails, Caddis Larvae, Perdigones, Waltz Worms, etc... In sizes #12-#20. Nymphing during the sunnier afternoons and mornings has been the most productive. If trout are on Caddis, try fishing some emergers just below the surface film if they’re refusing the adult. The smaller rivers and streams outside of the tailwaters are currently too hot to fish.

New York Saltwater

Eaton’s Neck and other areas along the North Shore still have some Migratory and resident Stripers chasing Sand Eels and Bunker along the shorelines with more Bluefish now in the mix. Anglers are also doing well further East into Plum Gut, The Race, and Gardiners Island which means a fair number of fish are traveling East. Striper fishing in the harbors and coves have been slowing down with an increase in water temperatures. Along the South Shore beaches and into Montauk Stripers have been in the surf and holding in deeper water structure, when they’re blitzing on top, they’re either on Sand Eels Adult Bunker, Butterfish, or Anchovies. There are also plenty of 6-10lb Bluefish pushing bait at the head of the rips during all hours of the day. However, fishing early in the morning will give you a better chance at finding Stripers on the surface. Squid patterns are also working in the rips. The salt ponds, coves, and flats have been a hit or miss with some shots at solo cruising fish. For the back bays you will want to bring some smaller sparse Clousers in #2 and a variety of colors, small Deceivers, Sand Eel patterns and Crabs. Fishing poppers early mornings on a floating line can be a blast, such as Bob’s Bangers and Gurglers. Most of the holdovers you will find are in the 20-30” size with a few high 30” in the mix. If searching for migratory fish, 40” and over that have shown up in more numbers, bring some larger flies to imitate adult Bunker paired with a sinking line to cut below the schools. Look for signs of nervous and faster moving bait as Stripers will be pushing below them. Bluefish can be a blast on big poppers, and some anglers are finding larger ones up to 15lbs. Depending on your tide, night fishing has been great. Smithtown has also seen steady action with Stripers chasing both Bunker and Sand Eels. There are tons of great options now!

Rhode Island Saltwater

The Striper fishing in Rhode Island continues to be consistent. Narragansett Bay, Providence, and Newport have seen good topwater action with the primary bait being Sand Eels and Adult Bunker. The worm hatch in the salt ponds also continues to be consistent towards the evenings. While far and few, some Bluefish are also being caught. Both the flats and bays around Cape Cod have been steady, however some of the bays with warmer water temperatures are starting to shut down. Watch Hill and Point Judith are also good Striper fishing with the largest being 40” and over. Each day has been different, with some finding fish on top near Block Island. Buzzards Bay, Providence, and Newport are fishing consistent with Stripers blitzing early mornings. The salt ponds are seeing some great Cinder Worm hatches with Stripers gorging on them. Rhode Island has held strong in terms of size and numbers of Stripers, so there’s tons of great options available.