8am-5pm Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm on Saturday & Sunday. These will be the store hours through March.
Pictured up top is customer & friend John Antollini with an impressive FRAA Rainbow that he caught Sunday, and it wasn’t the only nice fish he landed. That fish was stocked in April and managed to make it through catch & kill season, plus some low/warm water during the late summer. Tough fish! This strain of Kamloops rainbows from Harding Hatchery has some great genetics.
As of 9/1, the entire upper 21 miles of river from the dam in Riverton to the Rt 20 bridge in Unionville is catch & release until the spring.
We recently got in some inexpensive used older Orvis rods/reels in immaculate condition, Silver Label Rods& Madison Reels, check ‘em out in the store. They are true classics.
Monday 11/4/24 1pm Flow Update:
As expected, because they started lowering Otis Reservoir (in MA) last week, they bumped the dam release up at 9am this morning. The Riverton USGS gauge went from 67cfs up to 115cfs (medium-low), putting the total flow below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/C&R at 194cfs (I would call that about medium and a nice level). This should last at least a week, and could be 2-3 weeks if we are lucky. Unless we get some real rain, it will eventually go back to a very low release, so take advantage of these improved flows. The Still River is at 79cfs but will also drop after they are done lowering Highland Lake. Get out there and fish!!!
Monday 11/4/24 morning Report:
We should see a flow increase from the dam today, not 100% guaranteed but highly likely. We saw an increase in the Still River flow on Friday after they started lowering Highland Lake. They started lowering Otis Reservoir early last week, and that water is required to be added to the planned dam release in Riverton (Goodwin/Hogback Dam). Typically they make dam release adjustments the following week on Monday mornings, so that would be today. As I write this it hasn’t shown up on the USGS streamflow graph yet, but I expect to see a flow increase by lunchtime. When/if that happens, and I’m 95% sure it will, I’ll post an update on this report. I’m holding off on our social media reports (Instagram & FaceBook) until this afternoon due to that. Judging by the flow bump in the MA section of the Farmington River above Colebrook Reservoir, I’m expecting the dam release to be increased by about80-100cfs. This should put Riverton into the mid 100cfs range, and the total flow below the Still River in the low to mid 200cfs range.How long this will last is hard to predict. I’d guess at least one week, and up to maybethree weeks. Take advantage of the improved flows while they last, it should lead to improved fishing with flows temporarilyback to a normal, medium level.
The brown trout spawn is on, so watch out for redds and don’t walk through or just below them or you will crush the eggs. Leave actively spawning trout alone, but rather target the first deeper/darker water downstream of the redds where non-spawning trout are feeding on the loose eggs. Let the fish that are doing the spawning make more wild trout without being harassed by anglers.Most of the leaves are off the trees now, there are still a fewthat are just turning colors. Couple more weeks and the trees will be 100% bare.
Generally the best fishing is late morning through late afternoon when water temps are highest and there is bug activity. If you do start early in the morning, use flies that are independent of hatching: egg flies & streamers. Streamers are at their best early and late in the day during low light conditions. Tan/Brown Caddis are running #16-20, but we are getting to the tail end of that hatch.There are a still a few Isonychia averaging about #14, and Blue Winged Olives #18-26 (trending more to the smaller end) are a major hatch. Egg flies are hot right now, and if you are nymphing, other than egg patterns think small, as in #18-22. Otter Eggs work well on extra picky fish. Lighter tippets & longer leaders match up wellwith smaller flies.
Brown trout are spawning, so keep your eyes out for redds (the light colored oval patches areas where trout spawn, see down below for more info). Please don’t fish to spawning trout, let them do their thing, and don’t walk on the redds or the first 10-15 feet below them or you will crush the eggs. Fish downstream of the redds in slightly deeper water where trout are feeding on the loose eggs. As you can imagine, “matching the hatch” will often involve egg flies now. Joey tied up some lighter weighted eggs to match the low flows we have right now, and we have plenty of unweighted egg patterns too.
A medium-low water level of 146cfs total flow in the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release as I write this Monday morning- the Riverton gauge shows 67cfs from the dam down to the Rt 20 bridge, with the Still River adding in 79cfs a little downstream of that. The dam flow is likely to be increased by an additional 80 to 100cfs this morning, which would put the total flow up the low/mid 200cfs range, and that would put Riverton up to about 150cfs, give or take a little. I’ll update this report when/if that happens. Riverton water temp is 53 degrees at 8am, yesterday afternoon it peaked there at 57.
Brown trout are aggressive on streamers due to the spawn, and peak streamer time is early & late in the day when direct sunlight is off the water. You will often see the males chasing each other around as they stake out their territory. Keep an eye out for redds (the oval shaped lighter areas in shallow pea gravel riffles where the trout deposit their eggs) and please LEAVE SPAWNING TROUT ALONE- it’s unsporting to target them and only adds to spawning stress, let them do their thing unmolested. What you want to do is target the often unseen fish downstream from them that are eating loose eggs in the drift, usually in the first darker/deeper water below the redd. Don't walk through the redds, or the first 15 feet or so of water below them as many of the eggs the trout deposit drift 5-15 feet downstream. If you walk on the eggs you crush them and are killing future generations of wild trout.
Egg flies, particularly in small sizes, will be a steady producer for the remainder of the Fall/Winter. A 4-6mm size single egg fished at the end of the leader will often be effective. While all egg patterns work, the Otter Egg is particularly effective on picky trout as it features a realistic translucent rubber egg at its center with a milky veil over the top.
Most hatching activity is pushed toward the late morning to late afternoon time slot (except the early to mid morning Winter/Summer Caddis hatch). Streamer fishing has picked up. They are a good choice now that the brown trout are more aggressive. Best time to streamer fish is in the morning, the earlier the better, and again at the end of the day when the sun gets off the water. Make sure to play with streamer colors, size, pattern type, and retrieves to see what is working better at any given moment.
Local guide Mark Swenson is doing a Beginner Fly Tying class on November 17th, contact him directly at 203-586-8007 to sign up. Cost is $150 person, with a maximum class size of 6 people. I would expect this class to fill up quickly.
Many FRAA trophy rainbows are still around after the April stocking (120 went in). They run anywhere from 20-27”, and are all colored up now after being in the river for about 6 months. Also the FRAA put in 18 large Golden Rainbows, and some are still in the river. They are always a challenge to catch because they stick out like a sore thumb (they are a bright yellow/orange color) and everybody targets them, so they get educated quickly and never get a break from anglers.
Be prepared to go subsurface with egg flies, smaller Caddis pupa, small Mayfly patterns, Stoneflies, Isonychia nymphs #12-14 (can also use Pheasant Tails & Prince Nymphs to imitate them), wet flies/soft hackles, and streamers. Also try BWO nymphs #18-22, #12-20 Pheasant Tails/Frenchies and other assorted nymphs. Small nymphs #18-22 are often the ticket this time of year, with the fly size being more important than the exact pattern. Mops (cream, chartreuse), Mini Mops & Squirmy Worms (pink, red) are always worth a try, especially as a clean up fly after you nymph a run, or if trout are not responding to your usual more imitative patterns. They can also be good during non-hatch periods. Don’t neglect attractor nymphs that have flash, fluorescent colors, UV, or gaudy colors- metallic pink beaded nymphs can be very effective sometimes.
The new Thomas & Thomas Avantt II fly rods arrived in March, and they have really impressed us. Slightly more flex in the tip, but still plenty of power in the mid & lower sections, with fantastic crisp recovery and a low swing weight.
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Hatches/Dries:
-Caddis #16-20 (tan, brown): hatching late mornings & afternoons, come back later in the day to egg-lay, getting near the tail end of this hatch.
-Isonychia #14: light hatch, near the end, typically a mid/late afternoon in fast water. This bug brings some large trout to the surface in fast water later in the day. You can also blind fish it in likely looking water or use it in a Dry/Dropper rig.
-Blue Wing Olive #22-26: cloudy afternoons, evenings too. In the eves fish small rusty spinners #22-26 to gently sipping trout in flat water.
-Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24: hatching in early to mid morning, all year long
Nymphs & Wet Flies/Soft Hackles:
-Small Nymphs #18-22: frequently size & profile is more important than the exact pattern, especially this time of year when most of the bugs are smaller. Generic bugs like Pheasant Tails/Frenchies, Hare’s Ears, Walt’s Worms, etc. all are good choices.
-Caddis Pupa #16-18 (tan, brown)
-Egg Flies #12-18: Otter Eggs, Eggstasy, Glo-Bugs, Slush Eggs, Sucker Spawn, etc. Fall is prime time for eggs! Shades of yellow, orange, pink, or a mix of those.
-Blue Winged Olive Nymphs #18-22, good all year, and especially in the fall, common item in the drift
-Isonychia Nymph #12-14: BMAR & others, fish in fast water, mid afternoon through dusk. Try dead-drifting, swinging, and even stripping them in.
-Pheasant Tails/Frenchies #12-20: imitates a wide range of Mayflies including Isonychia, Blue Winged Olives, Sulfurs, small Stoneflies, and more
-Stonefly #8-12: good in the mornings when they crawl out in low light onto the rocks to emerge in fast water. They emerge from June through mid fall on the Farmington River, and can produce some big fish. Worth fishing all year long.
-Wet Flies & Soft Hackles #12-16: assorted colors/patterns, try to imitate the main hatches, but also use flashy attractor patterns
-Junk Flies (Mops, Squirmy Worms, Eggs, Green Weenie): eggs are deadly in the fall, and the others are good change-up flies when the usual imitative flies aren’t producing, or during non-hatch times
-Zebra Midge #18-22: black, olive, red
-Winter/Summer Caddis Larva #18 (yellow): can also imitate Midge larva & Black Caddis larva
-Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16: lots of these in the river, imitates the common Hydrospyche
-Attractor Nymphs #14-20: such as Sexy Waltz, Rainbow Warriors, Frenchies, Prince, Triple Threats, Pink Bead Walt’s Worm, Pink Bead Pheasant Tails, etc. Often work better than drabber, more imitative flies.
Streamers:
Fall is PRIME TIME for streamers! - Especially colors like olive, white, yellow, brown, tan, and also yellow paired with other colors (brown/yellow, olive/yellow, etc.).
-Jigged Streamers #8-12: various patterns/colors, deadly fished on a tight-line/Euro rig, often sorts out bigger fish. Great to use as a clean-up fly after you nymph a run.
-Ice Picks (tan, gray, white, yellow): tied by Rich Strolis, a very nice single hook baitfish pattern
-Wooly Bugger #4-12: assorted colors, try also Don's Peach Bugger
-Zonker #4-6: a classic fish catcher! In white, natural
-BMAR Yellow Matuka #6: deadly fall fly! Also standard Matuka in olive, brown
-Zuddler #4-8: one of our favorites, in olive, white, brown, black, yellow
-Complex & Mini Twist Bugger #2-6: assorted colors, very effective