Hello Compleat Angler Friends, despite a few warmer days this past week, things are starting to shape up for Fall trout fishing. Cooler evening temperatures have been improving water temperatures, and many trout anglers are anticipating Fall trout stocking. For now, you may still find some fish holding over from Spring, just make sure to check your water temperatures if deciding to fish. The Housatonic River is still warm for trout, however there is some fantastic Smallmouth fishing this Spring in terms of numbers and size of fish. Poppers and larger streamers have been working well. In addition, the flows are low and clear enough to visit your favorite Carp spots for some sight fishing. The Delaware River has seen an increase in temperatures on the East and Mainstem, however the West Branch has cool temperatures and good hatches. Blue Winged Olive, Isonychia, and Ant Patterns have been the most popular forage with a few Cahills for good measure. The Farmington River is in good shape for this weekend, with a noticeable uptick in Tricos, and persistent anglers have been finding some nice holdover Brown Trout. In upstate NY Salmon season is finally here, and previous high flows have triggered Kings and some early Cohos to start running. Currently flows are average so fish that have entered the system will be staging. Rhode Island continues to impress this week with most of the Bonito run scattered across the shoreline; the heaviest concentration of fish will be from Newport to Martha’s Vineyard, with Striper and Bluefish remaining steady. Meanwhile the Peanut Bunker are showing up in Connecticut in greater numbers, so were not far off from some great Fall fishing. Read on for more…

Connecticut

Local Rivers

Local rivers have gradually receded over the past week and are currently near average or slightly below. For instance, the Saugatuck River is currently 33.3 CFS, so all our rivers are back to average flows with good clarity. There are still trout from the Spring stocking that you may encounter, however look for an improvement later this Fall when additional stocking will occur in select rivers (mainly TMAs). Average air temperatures have been reaching into the low 60s at night with daytime temperatures reaching into the 70s, which is an incremental improvement that will help the transition to Fall fishing in the next few weeks. You can expect the normal hatches for this time of year to include 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. 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. Generally, this time of year will call for more natural and smaller flies as any trout in the system is keyed in on natural forage, and on average the insects are smaller. Streamers will not be as productive during lower flows; however, you will still want to bring small Woolly Buggers. Make sure to check your water temperatures this time of year. If water temperatures are above 68 degrees, it would be best to focus on Panfish and Bass. And as a bonus all the flies listed above will work on these species, as well as small popper and topwater flies.

Naugatuck River

The Naugatuck River is also back down to near average flows and is currently slightly above the average running at 285 CFS. Water temperatures are starting to improve, and fishing during the morning hours will yield the coolest water temperatures. 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 more commonly during the evening hours 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. Streamer fishing will be good during the dropping flows and as water temperatures drop in the Fall. 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

A small flow cut occurred at the dam on the West Branch of the Farmington River this past week which has flows steady at 206 CFS in Riverton, while the Still River is adding 27.6 CFS to total flows. Water temperatures are fluctuating in the low to mid 60s which have been ideal for hatches. Trico hatches are becoming more prevalent throughout the river is sizes 22 and smaller. Other usual hatches are Blue Winged Olives in sizes 18-20 during overcast days. During the morning and evening hours also consider Little Dark Hendricksons in size 20 and smaller, Yellow Sallies in sizes 14-18, 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). Fishing Isonychia emergers and Adults during the evening in faster water where they are hatching has been successful. 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 since trout can be picky this time of year. 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, namely larger holdover Brown Trout. Nymphing is going to be the most productive method during the afternoon when hatch activity is lowest. 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 morning to early 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 was also unaffected by this past week’s rain and flows are at ideal levels for wading, reading 356 CFS at Falls Village. Water temperatures are warm, so most of the trout have moved into thermal refuges, which are off limits to fishing. Look for an improvement in trout fishing when temperatures drop during the Fall. The good news is that there has been some fantastic Smallmouth Bass fishing. Large articulated streamers and Woolly Buggers have been working well recently for the larger fish, 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

Fall is right around the corner and we’re already seeing some trends that are characteristic of this transition. Smaller bait has started showing up which has been fueling Striper blitzes, especially during the morning hours. As a result, there has been an improvement in the coves, harbors, and nearshore structure, while the ledges and deeper water structure remain consistent. Blue fishing has been a hit or miss, with anglers finding large schools of smaller fish, while the larger fish have been tough to come by. The Western portion of the sound has been slower compared to out East, however the morning hours and night fishing have been best for Stripers. The primary forage this time of year will include Sand Eels, Baby Butterfish, and Peanut Bunker. Small and wide profile baitfish imitations, such as an EP Peanut Butter Fly, is a good pattern for both the Baby Butterfish and Peanut Bunker. Areas along the Eastern shore and to the middle of the sound have been seeing the best topwater feeds so far. Most of the fish will be schoolie size with a few fish 30” and over hanging underneath them. For our wade anglers, fishing along the shoreline has improved, and will continue to get better once the water clears up. When fishing by boat or wading, it helps to look for the birds diving on bait. This time of year, you may find Stripers cruising the flats early in the morning before the heat of the sun. 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. Please be safe out there and respectful to other boaters! No report of Bonito or False Albacore yet in the sound, however we should start expecting False Albacore toward the end of September.

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

Salmon season has officially started on the Salmon River in upstate NY, which has received a relatively early jump thanks to higher flows which have pushed staging Kings and early Cohos into the River. The lower and Middle sections of the river (Pineville and down) have seen the most activity so far with a few fish moving quickly into Altmar and above. Flows are back down to average, reading 377 CFS at Pineville, which will have more fish staging, as well as slow the fresh fish entering the lower river. For flies we recommend different colors of Woolly Buggers (Chartreuse, Black, Pink, Purple) as well as Egg Sucking Leeches dead drifted. In the lower ricer these early fresh fish will be aggressive, so we recommend a 9’ leader around 20lb composed of fluorocarbon, which has more abrasion resistance on rocks. For our two-handed Salmon anglers, similar colored intruders will be working with sink tips and a Skagit setup. Concentrating on the lower river will help as fish will be more likely to grab when they are fresh in. Overall, things have heated up early and fishing will keep improving by the day!

Catskills

On the mainstem of the Delaware at Lordville, flows have dropped back down to below average reading 1210 CFS. In addition the East and West Branches are also below average, with flows reading 511 CFS on the East as Fishes Eddy, and 585 CFS on the West at Hale Eddy. Because of the warmer air temperatures and lower flows, both the East and the Mainstem have been reaching over 68 degrees, so it will be best to fish the West Branch which will have your coolest water temperatures. Water temperatures on the West Branch have been fluctuating from the low 50s into the low 60s, making conditions the most ideal for trout and bug activity. In addition to the usual hatches, there have been a lot of flying Ants which trout have been keying in on. Otherwise, you should also bring Blue Winged Olives in sizes 16-18 with some smaller sizes down to 26. Other considerations to bring are Sulphurs (hatches slowing down) in sizes 16-18, Light Cahill in size 14, and Tan Caddis in sizes 16-18, and. During the evenings it will be worth fishing Isonychia patterns in sizes 12-14 for the faster water where they will most likely hatch. Bringing a variety of these insects is crucial as they will key in on any stage of these hatches. The trout will be wary and picky this time of year, so fly size, a long leader, and good presentation is crucial. Use a reach cast with an upstream mend to ensure feeding fish see your fly first and not your fly line or leader. Nymphing has been the most consistent producer when there are no hatches. 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. Larger articulated streamers on sinking lines will start working better as Fall progresses and when flows are higher.

New York Saltwater

Striper fishing has been fairly slow, however anglers that are putting in their times and covering ground have been able to find both Stripers and Bluefish feeding on top during the morning hours. In good news anglers are seeing a lot of Bonito this season, and there has been plenty of action this past week and we have also been seeing some False Albacore showing up in the mix. Look for an improvement in the Striper fishing in a few weeks. The bays, harbors, coves, and salt ponds have seen an increase in Striper activity. For this fishing you will want to bring some smaller sparse Clousers in #2 and a variety of colors, small Deceivers, Sand Eel patterns and Crabs. The bait has made a transition to smaller sizes, and the predominant bait is now Peanut Bunker, Silversides, and Sand Eels, and we should see more Bay Anchovies as September progresses. Most of the larger Bluefish are situated on the North Shore of Long Island around Plum Gut. In addition, some anglers are also finding Bonito in this area. Look for the birds which will give away the location of Bluefish, Stripers, Bonito, and Albies crashing on Peanut Bunker. We are at the beginning of the Fall transition so fishing should only improve in the coming weeks.

Rhode Island Saltwater 

The Rhode Island Striper bite has been holding steady in the bays, coves, mouth of rivers, and along the beachfronts from Watch Hill into the Cape, with a good concentration of fish around Newport. Anglers are also finding some larger Bluefish mixed in with the surface action. The best time to fish is during the early morning hours when temperatures are at their coolest.  Bonito fishing has been exceptional along the shorefronts and reefs with larger concentrations of fish near Martha’s Vineyard to the Cape. Block Island Striper fishing has also seen an uptick with some Bonito making a showing. Most of the bait is Peanut Bunker, Silversides, and Sand Eels, and all the bait is smaller on average, from 1”-3”. Albies haven’t shown up in large numbers yet, however they are not far off as anglers are catching them further east. Overall, the fishing has been off to a great start this Fall with things only improving from here.