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Fishing Reports
LOOKING TO UP YOUR GAME OR FIND SOME NEW IDEAS TO TAKE YOUR FISHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL? CHECK OUT OUR COMPLEAT JOURNAL FOR TIPS, TRICKS, AND INFO FROM THE FIELD.
Northeast Fishing Report: 8/19/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Same story as last week folks. Not much of a change to the conditions out there. Some areas are fishing well and others are the exact opposite. In general, the trout fishing has been extremely tough. Low water, warming temperatures, waning hatches, and limited locations to fish have really concentrated angling pressure on the few great spots, and this, in turn, has made for some tricky, educated fish. Even really experienced fly anglers are only getting a few fish on a good day and many have been taking a break and dusting off the 9 or 10wts. The saltwater fly fishing out East has been spectacular. The tides are on the weaker side now so you can expect a bit of slow down for a week or two. However, the action should be consistent this week. Stripers blitzing on huge schools of tiny bait have provided almost constant action. The big fish are still around as well making them a viable option during low-light hours. That, coupled with prevalent Gator Blues willing to seemingly eat any fly thrown at them, has been keeping those rods bent. Read on for more…
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Northeast Fishing Report: 8/12/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Same story as last week folks, not much of a change at all to our report. Some areas are fishing well and others are the opposite. In general, the trout fishing has been extremely tough. Low water, warming temperatures, waning hatches, limited locations to fish, and increased angling pressure in those places means that you can expect to really have to work for them. Most experienced fly anglers are only getting a few fish on a good day. There are certainly exceptions, however the fish are so educated from angling pressure and skittish due to low water that most anglers have been taking a break and dusting off the 9 or 10wts. The saltwater fly fishing out East has been spectacular. With the Full Moon tides we have, the action has been hot this past week. Stripers blitzing on huge schools of tiny bait has provided almost constant action. The big fish are still around as well making them a viable option during low-light hours. That, coupled with prevalent Gator Blues willing to seemingly eat any fly thrown at them, have been keeping those rods bent. Read on for more…
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Northeast Fishing Report: 8/5/2022
You really need to pick and choose your battles in the coming weeks. The trout fishing has been extremely tough. Low water, warming temperatures, waning hatches, and limited locations to fish have all combined to concentrate angling pressure, and this in turn means that you can expect to really have to work for fish. Even experienced fly anglers are only getting a few fish on a good day. There are certainly exceptions however. The trout are so educated from angling pressure and so skittish due to low water that most anglers have been taking a break and dusting off the 9 or 10wts. The saltwater fly fishing out East has been spectacular. Even with the weaker tides we have, the action has been steady. Stripers blitzing on huge schools of tiny bait have provided almost constant action. The big fish are still around too making them a viable option during low-light hours. That, coupled with prevalent Gator Blues willing to seemingly eat any fly thrown at them, has been keeping those rods bent. Read on for more…
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Northeast Fishing Report: 7/29/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Well, it was bound to happen, as it does every year. The Summer doldrums are upon us, reflected in the challenging freshwater scene and localized saltwater action. If you are thinking about fly fishing for trout, tailwaters are the only option. However, low water and concentrated angling pressure leaves a lot to be desired. If you are hankering to get out there, the tailwaters are your best option but many anglers are waiting until we get some much-needed rain. Similar story for the Saltwater fly fishing. If you are out East, the fishing is probably pretty good. If you are in Long Island Sound or West of that, chances are it has been difficult. Rhode Island and Montauk are really where you want to be. Cooler water and more prevalent bait all contribute to better fishing. The bite has been hot out there and with the New Moon Tides, the fishing should be great this weekend and into next week. Saltwater is certainly the safe bet in the weeks to come unless some dramatic happens with water levels across the Northeast. If you’d like to get a few more ideas about how to make the most of your fishing this time of year also be sure to check out our Compleat Guide to the Summer Doldrums. Read on for more...
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Northeast Fishing Report: 7/22/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! It is feast or famine out there right now. Some fisheries are doing quite well and others are devoid of life. On the freshwater side, it is exclusively a tailwater game at this point. With temperatures this weekend peaking in the mid-nineties, the fish that are left in our smaller streams will be extremely stressed. As such, it is time to leave these fish alone until the Fall. It is almost a certainty that any fish caught and released will die, even after initially swimming off. That said, tailwaters are a great option this time of year. With cold water in the mid-fifties, they are plenty cold to safely release fish provided you take care of them. The Farmington is the only game in town as far as Connecticut is concerned. While crowds have been substantial, especially on the weekends, it is a great option during the week. Just be sure to get there early. The premier fishery right now is the saltwater action out East. Montauk and Rhodie are in rare form. Big fish have been crushing Sandeels and fish up to 50lbs have been caught on the fly recently. With the New Moon approaching I would expect the fishing to only get better in the week to come.
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Northeast Fishing Report: 7/15/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Location, Location, Location. The popular adage applied to real estate holds true to fly fishing as well. If you are in the right location, the fishing can be awesome right now. For the saltwater species, the further East you go, the better. Montauk, Rhode Island, and out toward the Cape have been spectacular with Full Moon tides driving aggressive feeding behavior in larger Stripers. It has been a low light game however. Early and late have been good with the night-time bite being the best. The schoolies have been all over the place as well, less location dependent but certainly sensitive to lower light hours. Gator Blues have amassed out East as well. They have typically been in deeper water but are a viable option for boat anglers. Freshwater has been all about location as well. Most of the smaller rivers are way too low and warm to ethically fish at this point. Water temperatures are 67 degrees or higher meaning it is time to give these rivers a break. However, tailwaters across the Northeast are still fishing very well. While most are low, the water is nice and cold which is keeping those trout comfortable and feeding. The dry fly fishing has been great with plenty of bugs around to keep those fish looking up. You certainly have to pick your spots and be cognizant of things like time and tide but if you take these things into consideration, the fishing is just as good as it was two months ago. Read on for more...
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Northeast Fishing Report: 7/8/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! We hope you had a great 4th of July last weekend and had the chance to get out on the water with friends and family. The word this week is fairly similar to last week's, namely, that while the options are starting to shrink a bit, there is still great fishing to be had if you pick your spots carefully. Tailwaters continue to be the best bet for trout anglers, and getting to spots early and fishing in the cooler part of the day should prove successful. We're also seeing some other fun options emerge too, such as the bass fishing on the Housatonic. Getting bass to come up and hit poppers is a blast this time of year. In the salt, the action continues to shift East but we've been pleasantly surprised at how good the fishing has stayed in the Connecticut area. We are still getting good reports from anglers who are getting lots of hookups. Just keep an eye on the tides and try to get out there when the light is low and you should be in business. In short, even though the summer doldrums aren't too far away, there are still plenty of options at present, so it's a good idea to make the most of them before things quiet down a bit. Read on for more...
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Northeast Fishing Report: 7/1/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Happy 4th of July weekend! If you plan on fly fishing this weekend, the odds should be in your favor. A good forecast and perfect conditions for both fresh and saltwater mean great fishing this weekend. The Farmington and other tailwaters are fishing exceptionally well at the moment. These rivers have cold and clear water that keep the fish comfortable and active all summer. The Farmy is around 54 degrees in the middle of the permanent catch-and-release area. Most tailwaters are around a similar temperature and with the hatches we have at the moment, it has been awesome fly fishing all around. Saltwater is a similar story. The June New Moon is famous for a reason! It is one of the best times all year to target large Stripers and that new moon was only two days ago. Big bass are all over the place and feeding aggressively. Thanks to the weather in Montauk, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, the fly fishing has been exceptional. Now is the time to target these larger fish. Only a few days left of the good tides. Read on for more...
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Northeast Fishing Report: 6/24/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! The tailwaters across the Northeast are in their prime. While they are some of the only options out there, the fishing has been awesome. Cold water, lots of hatching bugs, and plenty of trout in the rivers mean that our tailwaters are fishing about as well as they can. Sulphurs and Cahillis are two main hatches at the moment. These bugs are popping off in the afternoons and evenings. There will also be caddis, BWOs, and midges as well. On the saltwater side, the further East you go; the better the fishing. Rhode Island and Montauk are hot spots right now. Large migratory Stripers are calling these areas home for the summer and fly anglers who have been putting in the time are hooking fish over 30lbs. Schoolies can be found all over the Northeast. Early morning blitzing is a common occurrence as the fish feed on Sandeels and other assorted small baitfish. The Gator Blues have headed East as well. They are most often in deeper water. Fly anglers have been teasing them up with large poppers and then throwing the fly behind it. That has been very effective in getting Bluefish over 12 lbs to hand. Read on for more…
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Northeast Fishing Report: 6/17/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! A windy and rough forecast will lend itself well to staying inland for the weekend. While the wind direction is not horrible, the conditions will be challenging for you saltwater anglers. However, when the weather cooperates the boat anglers have been getting into some very large Stripers and Bluefish from New York to Rhode Island. The action has moved to the East with the majority of the fish around the Montauk, Point Judith, and Cape Cod areas. From shore the options are endless. Back bays, river mouths, beaches, and open water are all fishing very well. Whether wading or fly fishing from a boat, anglers are reporting lots of fish around and plenty of opportunities to hook up. The Gator Blues have shown up as well. These fish are both in deep water as well on the flats/back bays of Long Island. A very cool fishery, these fish will smoke poppers and flashy flies in shallow water. Our freshwater fly fishing is also probably at its peak right now. While the small streams are essentially done for the rest of summer, the next month will see the best fly fishing all year for larger tailwaters. From the Catskills to the Farmington, hatching bugs are providing some awesome dry fly action. The Croton system is also fishing well. Flows and water temps are great so provided it is not too windy this weekend, the fly fishing should be lights-out. A little reminder: crowds will be substantial so, if you plan on fly fishing this weekend get there extra early. Read on for more…
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Northeast Fishing Report: 6/10/2022
Greetings Compleat Anglers! The fishing this weekend should be darn good provided you pick your spots correctly. Both fresh and saltwater fisheries are in their prime with one exception. The smaller stockie streams are on their last leg. Months of pressure and spin anglers killing fish has resulted in very tough fishing of late. Some areas have been completely cleaned out while others have only a few, well-educated fish left. But aside from these smaller rivers, everything else is fishing extremely well. On the saltwater side, boat anglers are getting into some very large Stripers and Bluefish from New York up to Rhode Island. From shore the options are endless. Back bays, river mouths, beaches, and open water are all fishing very well. Whether wading or fishing from a boat, anglers are reporting lots of fish around and plenty of opportunities to hook up. The Striper bite has really developed on Long Island which seems to be the epicenter of the action right now. Mid-long island is seeing some large migratory fish being taken by fly anglers who know how to target these fish effectively. The Gator Blues have shown up as well. These fish are both in deep water as well on the flats/back bays of Long Island. A very cool fishery, these fish will smoke poppers and flashy flies in shallow water. Our freshwater fly fishing is also probably at its peak right now. The next month will see the best fly fishing all year for larger tailwaters. From the Catskills to the Farmington, hatching bugs are providing some awesome dry fly action. The Croton system is also fishing well. Flows and water temps are great so provided it is not too windy this weekend, the fishing should be lights-out. A little reminder: crowds will be substantial so, if you plan on fly fishing this weekend, get there extra early. Read on for more!
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Northeast Fishing Report: 6/3/2022
We hope you had a good long weekend and short week. The fly fishing this weekend should be darn good. Both fresh and saltwater fisheries are in their prime. Boat anglers are getting into some very large Stripers and Bluefish. From shore the options are endless. Back bays, river mouths, beaches, and open water are all fishing very well. Whether wading or fly fishing from a boat, anglers are reporting lots of fish around and plenty of opportunities to hook up. The Striper bite has really developed on Long Island which seems to be the epicenter of the action right now. Mid-long island is seeing some large migratory fish being taken by fly anglers who know how to target these fish effectively. The Gator Blues have shown up as well. These fish are both in deep water as well on the flats and back bays. A very cool fishery, these fish will smoke poppers and flashy flies in shallow water. The Northeastern freshwater fly fishing is also probably at its peak right now. This month will see the best fly fishing of the year. From the Catskill to small streams in Connecticut, hatching bugs are providing some awesome dry fly action. Flows and water temps are great so provided it is not too windy this weekend, the fly fishing should be lights-out. A little reminder: crowds will be substantial so, if you plan on fly fishing this weekend get there extra early. Read on for more!
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