Pictured is a trout that could not resist a Cased Caddis larva imitation last week, there are plenty of the naturals it imitates in the river. The Farmington is currently 179cfs from the Goodwin Dam in Riverton, downstream to the confluence of the Still River, 510cfs total flow and dropping through the permanent Catch & Release area. The return to
cold nights has the morning
Winter Caddis #20-24 hatch improved and providing some decent dry fly fishing for a few hours in the morning. Typically the hatch is an early to mid morning deal,
but that can vary depending upon the day, with winged adults often on
the water after the hatch in late morning/early afternoon. On warmer afternoons
we are seeing Midges #22-32 with some trout feeding on the surface in the larger pools. Our hardcore nymphing crew has been doing well with Zebra Midges #16-20. Green/Olive Caddis Larva #14-16, Quasimodo
Pheasant
Tails #16-18, Tiny Egg Patterns, Squirmy Worms. Hot Spot Nymphs #14-16 and Black Stoneflies #8-14.Trout are mostly in winter lies (slower/deeper water). Skip the faster water, but there are still some trout in the pocket water in some of the deeper pockets, moderate riffles, and deeper runs. Look for trout around current edges, drop-offs & structure; anywhere there is a break from the faster current combined with some depth. Trout are cold blooded so in the winter they don't have to eat as much and conserve energy by laying in slower water. They will often pod up this time of year, so where you find one, there may be a bunch more. Nymph slow & deep and expect strikes to be subtle. Get your streamers well down into the water column using weight or sinking lines and don't fast strip them, but rather swing, twitch, and slow retrieve them. Winter trout like their streamers slow, deep & easy to catch.
Rich Strolis' new book "Catching Shadows- Tying Flies for the Toughest Fish and Strategies for Fishing Them" has just arrived. It covers 20 of his best original fly patterns, the rationale for developing the fly and how/when to fish it. He will be doing a book signing at UpCountry on February 7th, noon to 3pm. Steve Culton will be doing a tying class for us on January 30th "Wet Flies and Fuzzy Nymphs for the Farmington River", call the store to register at 860-379-1952.
Our apartment is now closed for the season, and will be available again starting in April 1, 2016.