Monday through Friday 8am-6pm, Saturday & Sunday 8am-5pm.
Recently arrived, the brand new Diamondback Ideal Nymph Reels:
Probably the most well thought out & designed Euro nymphing reels out there, the product of Joe Goodspeed who designed the Diamondback Ideal Nymph Rods. It has a full cage which makes it unlikely for long/thin leaders or Mono Rigs to work their way outside the frame. The machined tolerances are also extra tight to help with this. It has four 10 gram (1/3 ounce each)removable weights so you can fine-tune the rod/reel balance. It has an ultra large arbor, large diameter, narrow spool which is ideal for Euro nymphing where you don’t want or need a ton of line capacity- this also gives you a faster retrieve rate and less line coiling. The drag is ultra smooth to protect light tippet.
Here’s where this Diamondback reel deviates from other Euro reels:
Joe designed a special handle: it is narrow at the base and flares out, and it has 3 silicon “O” rings, the two combined give you an unusually good grip on the reel and makes it easier to grab the handle without looking. But the most unique feature of all is the offset reel foot, which gives you the ability to put the mass ofthe reel even closer to the rod butt, improving rod balance by enabling you to use less weight and still achieve a proper rod balance (it can be easily switched around for R or L hand retrieve). A properly balanced reel makes your rod both more comfortable to fish, and even enhances your sensitivity. And if you need to take up slack quickly, you can hit the spool with your palm and spin it fast to rapidly take up excess line. Anywhere your leader/line can rub against the reel when stripping line has been machined round so that you won’t abrade or cut your line. All in all a unique reel, with all the features you wanted and clever ones you never even thought about. They use the latest 5D - 5 Axis machining (most reels only use 3D - 3 Axis) to make this unusual & beautiful fly reel. These reels have already become a hot seller.
We will be limiting the pics in this report to about 2 or 3 in total. It’s too time consuming to post a bunch of pics on here, but we will be posting additional pics & videos on our Instagram page story (which stays up for 24 hours and then automatically disappears), so follow us on IG if you don’t already. Up top is Yannick Riviere (world champion French angler Antoine brought to the USA to do some clinics) with one of many large trout he caught on the Farmington River over the past week (there are still a few openings in his clinics this Tuesday & Wednesday 8/9 & 8/10). Next down is Derrick with a slammer brown he caught the other day (he had three from 19-21” in a 25 minute time span, all in one spot- 1 on a dry, 1 on a nymph, and 1 sight nymphed). Derrick has been crushing it on his night fishing trips with his clients also. Third fish pic is Yannick again with a large rainbow he sight nymphed- he luvvvs the Farmington River.
The brand new Diamondback range of Ideal Nymph rods are now in stock. These are fantastic Euro nymphing rods in 10’ #1, 10’ #2, 10’ 10” #2, 10’ 10” #3 & 10’ 10” #4, with more models to come. Joe Goodspeed (formerly of Cortland and T&T) designed this series, and he did a great job. At $525-550, these rods are a deal and easily the best Euro rods in the $500 range- they use the latest, state-of-the-art materials & construction. Light with excellent recovery & sensitivity, plenty of big fish playing power (even the #1 & #2), double rings on the downlocking reel seat, 3 snake guides on the rod tip for minimal line wrap when using micro leader butt sections, and 2 single foot ceramic stripping guides to reduce friction & improve line shoot.
We’re excited to announce the recent launch of Sage’s new flagship line of fast action rods: the Sage R8 Core, using their new Revolution 8 tech and axial fiber formulation. This is the first time in 20+ years that Sage has debuted an entirely new graphite composition. Available to see in person and purchase finally, we have the entire line-up from the lightest to the heaviest (3wt up to 9wt). We were able to cast the line-up with our Sage rep, and we were all surprised & impressed. While modern fast action rods have become very stiff and tippy over the years, this new series has loads of feel and casts easily. The flex is closer to the older popular Z-Axis & XP’s, and refreshingly closer in the trout sizes to a true line weight rating. The R8 Core flexes further down into the blank, but still has a crisp recovery and plenty of line speed. Sage says they are “Made to fish, not just to cast”, with “Effortless energy transfer and more connected feel”. These are real fishing rods, not rods just meant to win parking lot casting competitions, but break tippets and don’t fish comfortably up close. Kudos to Sage.
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River Conditions:
Still have a couple of spots open in Antoine's clinics with World Champion French competition angler Yannick Riviere on Tuesday & Wednesday this week (contact Antoine directly)- he has been HAMMERING trout here for the past week, he loves the river. He is using techniques, leaders & flies you have not seen before. Some really clever, innovative stuff.
Despite the current stretch of brutal hot & humid weather, the water coming out of the dam in Riverton is still ice cold and remains in the ideal temp range for trout in the upper river- the Riverton temp gauge was reading 48 degrees this morning and peaked at 54 degrees in the mid/late afternoon, and water temps gradually rise as you move downriver. Fishing remains good to excellent from the dam down to People’s Forest/Mathie’s Grove, and stays fishable down to about Church Pool. Please refrain from fishing below Church Pool at least for the next couple of hot 90+ degree days, weather breaks on Wednesday with highs averaging low 80’s after that, and night upper 50’s/low 60’s. Otherwise you will be fishing in 70+ degree water, which is stressful to the trout and unsporting. As long as you don’t venture too far downstream, you can stay in optimal water temps all day long. If the MDC starts releasing more water (they have LOTS in the reservoirs currently) that will also cool things off downriver.
Due to the low water & heat wave the CT DEEP has created temporary Thermal Refuge areas near tributary/brook mouths where they flow into the Farmington River (they did this in 2016 during that hot/dry Summer), starting just below the New Hartford Rt. 219 bridge and going down to the town of Farmington. You cannot fish within 100 feet ofthe signs posted in these areas, here is a link that details this:
https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/News-Releases/News-Releases---2022/DEEP-Announces-Emergency-Closure-to-Fishing-Near-Tributaries-to-Farmington-Rivers
River remains low at 118cfs (normal/median flow for today would be 267cfs) despite plenty of water in the reservoirs due to the MDC running the minimum mandated flows (which DEEP is currently augmenting with 50cfs to help keep the river cooler downriver), but it is fishing well in the upper sections for those who adapt to the conditions. The big upside to low flows is easy wading/access andlots of dry fly fishing, but it is more technical. If you can get in some riffly water that makes it easier to approach the trout closer, and they don’t get as good at look at your fly so are more apt to make a mistake and eat it. 12’ plus leaders will help your dry fly presentations, as will lengthening out your tippet sections. Pay close attention to what you observe hatching, and try to match it closely. For the fishing sipping gently in flat water, it often takes a #24 fly on a long 7x tippet with a precise drag-free float to fool them. The other gambit is try a #12-18 Ant or Beetle on a long 6x tippet, sometimes this does the trick without going to a tiny fly and super light tippet.
Mornings are now bringing Tricos in Church Pool (moving upstream daily), along with Needhami & Summer/Winter Caddis hatches, all tiny flies #20-26, with smaller imitations generally better. Nymphing the fast water is always an option (mostly small nymphs though), as is Dry/Dropper- try a buoyant visible dry with a small weighted nymph 12-24” below the dry.Afternoons see minimal bugs, with the exception being the mid/late afternoon #18 Sulfurs in Riverton only (Rt 20 bridge at Hitchcock/Riverton Self Storage up to the dam). Terrestrials are a great dry fly choice from late morning through early evening. Evenings are mostly Isonychia & Light Cahills/Summer Stenos, with some assorted Caddis in the mix (mostly egg-laying, not so much emerging, they mostly hatch in the mornings).
The MDC is releasing the minimum flow they are required to do, plus an additional 50cfs is being added in from the DEEP for a total of 111cfs by the time it hits the USGS gauge in Riverton. The Still River is adding in another7cfs, giving us a total combined low flow in the permanent TMA/Catch & Release of 118cfs this morning. This is low, but the water is still coming out of the dam ice cold (in the mid/upper 40’s still) and then gradually rising in temps as the day progresses and as you move further downstream away from the dam. With trout, it’s all about cold water and fortunately we still have that. You can stay in fishable cold water in the 50-68degree range as long as you don’t venture too far downriver. Carry a thermometer and use it in the Summer, and if you aren’t sure about the temps, err on the side of fishing further upriver where you know the water is cold. DO NOT fish in water that is 70 degrees or above, it is stressful to the trout to C&R them at those temps, and can even be lethal.
Summer trout fishing is usually at it’s best early to mid mornings and in the evenings up to and beyond darkness. The exception would be the mid to late afternoon Sulfur hatch, located only in Riverton, from about the Rt 20 bridge in Riverton up to the dam- hatch is near the end now FYI. Morning dry fly fishing has been on mostly tiny flies, Tricos #22-26 now, and still Summer/Winter Caddis #20-24 &Needhami #22-26 (the Needhami spinners fall first in the AM, then the duns hatch in later morning), with long leaders and light 6x if not 7x long tippets. Long tippets create controlled slack, and that gives you a natural, drag-free presentation. Isonychia (#10-14) and Blue Wing Olives (#18-24) are appearing in the evening along with assorted Caddis and a few different cream/yellowmayfly varieties.
You can also nymph the faster water, or Dry/Dropper it with a buoyant visible dry fly with a small (#18 or smaller) weighted nymph 1-2 feet below the dry. Just like with dries, for the most part the nymphing is #18 & smaller with a few exceptions (#8-10 Stonefly nymph from first light until about 10am, and #10-14Isonychia nymphs in the late afternoons & eves). Frequently success with nymphing hinges upon just fishing a small enough fly, usually no bigger than #18 in the mid/late Summer when the bugs are mostly small and the water is low. Don’t forget about terrestrials, especially midday and during non-hatch times, fish those Ants & Beetles. Also you can prospect with attractor dries like Mini Chernobyls, Mega Beetles, etc. Dry/Dropper, with a buoyant visible dry fly and a small weighted nymph 1-2’ below it is a very effective tactic during lower flows like this. You get the visual fun of dry fly fishing, combined with the effectiveness of nymphing, win-win. Wet fly/soft hackle fishing is still good to excellent in the faster water, whether or not trout are rising. Many large trout move into shallow riffles when they want to feed, so don’t neglect that calf to knee deep riffle water.
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Hatches/Dries:
-Tricos #22-26: just starting up in the permanent C&R/TMA (Church Pool/Mathie’s Grove) early to mid AM, spinner fall is the main event (happens at approximatley 68 degrees air temps)
*Isonychia #10-14: faster water, late afternoon/eves normally
*Light Cahills/Summer Steno’s #12-18: eves, #14 is most common
-Sulfurs #18: Dorothea Sulfurs, they are only upstream now (Riverton from about Lyman Rock/Still River junction up to the dam), anytime from mid morning to dark (timing varies, mid/late afternoons are typical), hatch is near the end
*Needhami #22-26: AM hatch, duns & spinners, also called Tiny Chocolate/Mahogany Dun
*Summer/Winter Caddis #20-24: early/mid mornings usually, sometimes go later
-Attenuata #18-20: eves in upper river (Riverton), often mistaken for a Sulfur (light green/lime green almost chartreuse body, cream wings/legs)
*Assorted Caddis averaging #16-18 (tan, olive/green are common): hatch in mornings, come back in eves to egg-lay in riffly water, ranging from #12-22 and also in black, brown, gray
*Beetles & Ants #12-18: great during non-hatch times (late morn thru early eves)
*Flying Ants #18-24: can be an ace-in-the-hole fly some days
*Mole Fly #20-24 (olive, brown): deadly emerger that covers many small bugs
*Mini Chernobyls #12-16: very consistent foam bodied attractor dry
-Baetis/BWOs/Blue Winged Olives #18-28: afternoons/eves on cloudy/cooler or rainy days
-Midges #18-28: anytime
Nymphs:
*Small Nymphs #18-22: Assorted. In the Summer, often the secret is just going smaller, the size of the nymph supersedes the exact pattern
*Sulfur Nymph #16: all water types, doubles as a Yellow Sally Stonefly imitation
*Caddis Pupa #16-18 (tan, olive/green): a fast water go-to straight through the Fall
*Big Stoneflies #8-12 (gold/yellow, brown, black): fish first light to mid mornings
*Frenchies & Pheasant Tails #12-20: various sizes imitate many different Mayfly nymphs, and also smaller Stoneflies
-Olive/BWO Nymphs #16-20: various patterns, anytime
*Antoine's Perdigons #12-20: various colors & sizes
*Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16: anytime, all year
-Junk Flies (Eggs, Mops, Squirmies/SJ Worms, Green Weenies): good during non-hatch periods, and also for higher/off-color flows & fresh stockers, or just as a change-up to natural/imitative flies after you fish through a run
-Jigged Streamers #8-12: various colors/patterns, we have a bunch of new ones
-Attractor Nymphs #12-20: anything flashy, gaudy, or with a hot spot such as Rainbow Warriors, Haast Haze, Firestarter Perdigon, Sexy Waltz, Princes, Triple Threats, etc.
*Midges/Zebra Midges #18-22: olive, black, red: Midges are a staple food item, esp. when there aren’t many other hatches, and even fresh hatchery trout know them as food
Soft-Hackles/Wet Flies:
-Assorted Patterns #10-18: Hare's Ear, DW Catchall, Partridge & Orange/Green/Yellow, Partridge & Flash, Starling & Herl, Leadwing Coachman, March Brown, Partridge & Pheasant Tail
-best fished 2-3 at a time, on 4-6” tag end droppers, spaced 20-30” apart
-dead drift them, swing them, twitch them, bounce them- let the trout tell you how they want them
-great when Caddis are active
-if wet fly fishing is slow, try using a weighted fly (e.g. Beadhead Soft Hackle Hare’s Ear/Pheasant Tail) on the end/point to get your flies deeper, and/or fish your rig on an intermediate/sinking line or sink-tip/sinking leader.
Streamers:
*Rich Strolis articulated streamers: Headbanger, Masked Avenger, Alter Ego & Dumpster Diver- lethal flies!
*Jigged Streamers #8-12: various patterns/colors, deadly fished on a tight-line/Euro rig
*Rio's Precious Metal #4 (Kreelex copper, olive, white)
*BMAR Yellow Matuka #6
*Zuddler #4-8: olive, yellow, white, brown, black
-Complex Twist Bugger & Mini version #2-6: assorted colors
*Muddler Minnow #6-10: old school, underfished, still lethal & very versatile
*Conehead White Marabou Muddler #8: favorite Muddler variation, also underfished
-Woolly Buggers #2-14 (black, olive, white, brown, tan)
-JJ Special/Autumn Splendor/Tequeely #4-8 (brown & yellow streamers)
-Matuka #4-8 (yellow, olive, brown)