Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Tuesday 9/22/15 Report

The Farmington River remains at a low flow but normal for September level, 140cfs in the permanent Catch & Release. The Farmington River Anglers Association will be stocking 1100 12-14" Rainbow and Brook Trout in the upper river on Wednesday which should add up to some easier fishing this weekend. The Farmington River Anglers Association will also be holding their first meeting of the year at the Farmington Senior Center on New Britain Ave in Unionville/Farmington tomorrow Wednesday night at 6:30. Guest speaker Ben Bilello will be talking about tube fly streamer fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the Naugatuck River and on Salmon rivers around the world.
 
Needhamis #20-26, and Summer/Winter Caddis #20-24 are on the water in the mornings through midday. Afternoons have been bringing plenty of Flying Ants #22-24 and Tan Caddis #16-18. Lt Cahills #12-14, White Flies #12-14, and Summer Stenos #18-20 have been hatching just before dark. The cloudier days have seen afternoon/evening hatches of Blue Winged Olives in the #20-24 range. If you are nymphing, think #16-20 mayfly and midge patterns for most of your offerings but include  Isonychia #12-14 and Stones #6-12 in the mix as well. When nymphing, focus on the medium to fast choppy water, and don't skip knee-deep spots. Currently effective nymphs include: Yellow Sally nymphs #14-16, Hot Spot Nymphs #16-20, Tungsten Sunk Ant #16, #10 Tungsten Carotene Jig, Wade's Clinger Nymph #16, Olive nymphs #16-20, Yellow Sparkle Prince #16-18, Rainbow Warrior #16-18, Caddis Pupa & Larva in both tan & olive/green #10-18 (#14-18 on the pupa), Jig nymphs #10-16, Pheasant Tails #16-20, Isonychia Nymphs #12-14, Prince Nymph #10-18.

As you move into late summer/early fall, trout (especially bigger ones) turn to larger food items like minnows & crayfish, or in the case of this river also Salmon Parr. Look for snags, big rocks, fallen trees, undercut banks, drop-offs, current seams, shady  banks, etc.- anywhere you think a bigger than average trout might hide. Cover lots of water and change streamer color & presentations until the trout tell you what they want at that moment (it can change from day to day, and even during the same day as light conditions change). Streamer colors of tan, olive, and white are a great starting point. Play around with the angle you cast & your retrieve. Currently, with the lower water, smaller streamers are best overall. Low light is prime-time (early mornings & evenings). Streamer fishing normally picks up in October as we get closer to brown trout spawning time, they get more aggressive. Dropping water temps also gets them to put the feedbag on.  - Torrey