Big browns are putting on the feedbag lately, getting ready for winter. Check out this tank of a male in full fall colors with a snowy backdrop from the DEEP's Mike Steeves, caught on a #16 nymph and 7x tippet! Snowy days often result in excellent fishing. I'll be posting more big brown pix soon, so keep your eyes out. Rain/snow Thursday & overnight has put a little water in the Still River, so despite the low 50cfs minimum release at the dam, the flows are improved from the Still River downstream, at least until she drops. This should improve fishing in the permanent Catch & Release section for today & Saturday. Currently the USGS Riverton gauge is reading 55cfs, with an additional 34cfs from the Still River, giving us almost 90cfs in the permanent TMA/Catch & Release in Pleasant Valley/New Hartford- still low, but significantly better than 55cfs. Water temps have been ranging from upper 40's to mid 50's, depending upon weather, time of day, and distance from dam. Highs move into high 50's for this weekend, with sunshine Saturday and a 60% chance of showers Sunday afternoon. Today will be windy, but it dies down for the weekend.Still plenty of good reports, with fish coming to a mix of nymphs, dries, streamers and wets/soft-hackles. Blue Winged Olives (BWOs) are becoming the main glamour hatch, typically popping around 2pm or so, averaging a #24. Still some Isonychia #12-14, Tan Caddis #16-18, and a few giant October Caddis #10-12 at day's end. Make sure to have Rusty Spinners #20-24 for late in the day Small nymphs #16-22 remain the most consistent producer (Caddis pupa, Quasimodo Pheasant Tails, Zebra Midges, Olive nymphs, attractors (Rainbow Warrior, Yellow Prince, etc.), and Egg flies. Also Stonefly nymphs in #8-14 (brown, golden/yellow, black). Streamers are a great fall choice, try especially olive, yellow, black, and white. Various wets & soft-hackles are producing, particularly upstream in Riverton.
The FRAA stocked the upper river on 10/6 with 1,200 Brook Trout & Rainbows. Brookies averaged a foot, with the Rainbow Trout running 12-14". The trout were stocked in the section from a little below the dam in Riverton, down to about Whittemore Pool. They've been responding well to a variety of dry flies, wet flies/soft-hackles, and assorted nymphs. The upper river was also stocked by the state with 2,000 trout (mostly browns) for Labor Day from the Goodwin Dam/Hogback in Riverton, downstream to Whittemore Pool at the northernmost point of Peoples State Forest. On Monday 9/26 the state stocked downriver in Collinsville/Unionville.
Trout are more aggressive on streamers in the fall, albeit you may want to downsize them due to the low water conditions- we have Woolly Buggers in stock down to #12-14. Or swing for the fences and use a bigger streamer, and expect to catch larger but less fish. Prime-time for streamers is low-light conditions: mornings, eves, overcast days, and when it rains and the water discolors. Except for the biggest dries, keeep your tippets light, in the 6x-7x range, and nymph with 5x-6x tippet.
UpCountry has recently acquired a ton of Simms closeouts that are now on sale. There is a huge selection of Mens & Womens: Gore-tex jackets, packs, slings, shirts, pants, tee shirts, and a few shoes/wading boots/waders. Sizes are limited (the Men's is mostly in Large, and the Women's is all in Medium) and there are only a couple of each item so when they are gone they are gone. There is also a large selection of used and clearance rods and reels from Sage, Orvis, TFO, Redington, Scott, Winston and Waterworks-Lamson. The fly tying bargain bin is currently overflowing with saltwater bucktails, necks, saltwater hooks, Mustad freshwater hooks and more.
UpCountry is always looking for good trade-in fly rods and reels to sell on our website. If you are looking for some new equipment we will gladly put the value of your used gear toward new items in our store. Give us a call to make an appointment.... our prices on trade ins are typically higher than found anywhere else.
If you like our fishing report, please consider buying your gear from us. We generally ship the same day, for free anywhere in the country on all but the smallest orders. Our shop can only exist with your patronage.