Cortland's "Top Secret" Ultra Premium Fluorocarbon Tippet is now in stock in 4x-7x. No hype or exaggeration, it literally is the world's best fluorocarbon tippet, hands down. Grady & I have both fished it now (I have several trips under my belt so far), and we both found it to be super strong, unusually flexible, holds & knots like a champ, very abrasion resistant, has excellent clarity, and just is an amazingly durable tippet. The combination of high break strength, stretch, and perfect plasma outer finish make it hard to break off fish & flies, and despite the slightly higher price tag, most using it report they go through it at about half the rate of normal tippet due to it's amazing durability.
The river is close to normal for today's date, clear & medium at 378cfs in the permanent Catch & Release area in BarkhamstedNew Hartford/Pleasant Valley (304cfs in Riverton, with an additional 74cfs from the Still River). Water temps are running mid 50's to low/mid 60's- coldest up near the dam in Riverton.
We are now in what I used to call "Crazy Time" when I worked at the Housy, there is quite a large assortment of bugs, depending upon exactly where you're standing. This week we've seen: Sulfurs #16-18 (Invaria & Dorothea), Cream Cahills #12, regular Cahills #14 (creamy yellow), still a few Vitreus #14-16, March Browns #10-12, Blue Wing Olives #22 (cloudy day/low light), Potomanthus #10, all sorts of Caddis from #14-22 (tan, olive/green, black, brown), and spinners of all the above mayflies. It can make it tough to figure out what they are eating, because it constantly changes throughout the day, and varies depending on how far below the dam you are! But it's a fun problem to solve. Look to the bigger/wider pools for your best shot at rising fish- Pipeline, Roberts, Whittemore, Mathie's Grove (School Bus, Spring Hole), Church, Greenwoods, the Wall, Town Bridge Pool, etc. Don't neglect terrestrials, ants & beetles are working. Remember that Riverton lags a few weeks behind the permanent C&R due to the colder water near the dam (and above the warmer flowing Still River). I don't have as good a handle on the hatches up there, Caddis #14-18 (olive/green & tan) for sure, some Vitreus #14-16, and quite possibly some #16 Invaria Sulfurs (if not now, than anytime soon). Van's, Canal & Beaver Pools would be your highest percentage to find rising trout.
Nymphers are still catching fish consistently, with some big ones mixed in. Streamers & wet flies/soft-hackles are working too- early, late, and/or cloudy moments have been best for streamers. When streamer fishing midday in the sun, look for shade & structure along the banks. During the daytime, nymphers are finding success using things like Caddis Pupa #14-18 (tan, olive-green), attractor/hot-spot nymphs #14-18 (Frenchies, Triples Threats, Egan's Red Dart, Rainbow, Warrior, etc.), Sulfur nymphs #16 (you can use a Pheasant Tail or a specific imitation), Stonefly nymphs #8-12 (brown, golden, black), and anything resembling a March Brown/Gray Fox in #10-14 (other than a specific imitation you can use a big Fox Squirrel or Hare's Ear). And the controversial Mop Fly continues to produce at moments too. It's a good "clean up" fly to use in a run after you fish it with your normal nymphs.
Nymphers should look for the medium to fast broken water, and focus on edges/transitional zones: seams between fast/slow water, cut banks, rocks that break the current, drop-offs, spots where 2 or more currents converge together, etc. You are looking for spots with good current that will deliver an above average amount of bugs to the trout, while at the same time providing a current break and overhead cover (this includes both objects they can hide under as well as a broken/ripply water surface that obscures them from predators like birds) and refuge from the current. The Prime Lies, where you have some depth/overhead cover, current bringing in food, and also a current break, will typically hold the biggest trout as they will use their size to dominate the most desirable spots.
The long awaited book "Nymph Masters" arrived recently, and it's really good! Author Jason Randall fished with a bunch of the top nymphers in the USA (guys like George Daniels, Pat Dorsey, Joe Humphreys, etc.), and then wrote this book about his experiences. He codified what he learned into a systematic approach covering all styles of nymphing.
We recently received a huge closeout of Hardy Jet and Shadow fly rods which can be found in store and on our website on our Used Gear and Specials page. If you are looking for a great fly rod at at a great price, the Hardy rods are hard to beat and are available in most sizes. We still have some closeout Sage ONE's left.
Current flies to have:
Sulfur #16-18 (emerger, dun & spinner), Light Cahill #12-14, Caddis pupa (olive/green, tan) #14-18, Caddis dries #14-18 (olive/green, tan- X2 Caddis, Elk Hair, CDC Caddis, Emergent/Crippled Caddis, etc.), Vitreus #14-16, Usual #14-16, March Brown/Gray Fox #10-14, Baetis/Blue Wing Olive dries & emergers #18-22 (on cloudy days), Midges #20-26. Subsurface try Caddis pupa #14-18 (olive/green, tan), March Brown Nymph #10-14, Hare's Ear #10-14, Frenchies #14-18, Sulfur Nymph #16, Pheasant Tails/Quasimodos #14-20, Caddis Larva #10-16 (olive, green), Baetis/Blue Wing Olive nymphs #16-20, and #8-12 Stonefly nymphs (gold, brown, black). Make sure to also try Hot Spot & Attractor Nymphs #14-18, and Mops.