We have changed to 8am-5pm Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm on Saturday & Sunday.
Pictured up top is Ben Toscano with a high quality brown trout he caught recently.
As of 9/1, the entire upper 21 miles of river from the dam in Riverton to the Rt 20 bridge in Unionville is catch & release until next spring.
We scored 4 boxes of unusually good used books in August, and we picked up a few dozen more books recently. Definitely some classics, collectibles, and autographed copies too. Come check it out, if you’re into books on fly fishing for trout, you should be able to find at least a book or two you like.
We are on Fall/Winter store hours now, which means we will be open 8am-5pm, 7 days a week.
Dick Sablitz dropped off some sweet Isonychia soft hackles, check 'em out before they are gone.
Monday 9/30 morning Report:
Just back from a week’s vacation, sorry for the lack of updates. River remains low but definitely fishable. Weather through Friday is dry with low to mid 70’s for highs, and nights in the low/mid 50’s, with a weekend in the high 60’s and Saturday night down into the mid 40’s. Water will continue to come out of the dam at about 64-65 degrees until the reservoir flips sometime in later October, but cooler nights means the water temps decrease as you move downstream from the dam, especially in the mornings. I’d say Trico’s and Flying Ants are both about done, although you may see a few stragglers. Caddis are one of the main bugs currently, averaging about #16-20 in tan to light brown. Hatching in the mornings (typically mid to late), and coming back later in the day in low light to egg lay. Nymphing the pupa is effective when they aren’t rising. Expect to work for your fish currently. Things normally pick up around mid October.
Flows remain low and below the median flow (120cfs total flow currently versus 189cfs historical median total flow), but certainly fishable as long as you are stealthy in your approach and match your rigging & flies to the conditions. The minimal water release is due to a lack of rainfall and a low level in the reservoir. The upside of low water is easier wading & access, easier to figure out where the trout are because you can eliminate a lot of the water, and lower flows encourage the trout to feed on the surface when there is a hatch. The downside is spookier fish, some spots become too shallow & slow to hold fish, water temps heat up faster, and it’s easier for predators like birds & water snakes to catch the trout. Dress in drab colors, use longer leaders (at least 12’), longer tippets (3-6’), stay low, stay a little further away, cast sidearm, and wade carefully so as not to send ripples into the pools. Also, in lower water on average you want to fish smaller flies, with some exception (morning Stoneflies, and Isonychia later in the day).
We are in that weird time of year when cool nights means lower water temps (especially in the mornings) as you move further downstream from the dam, and closer to Riverton will sometimes have higher water temps (depending upon weather). Mornings will give you the longest window of optimal water temps, as long as you stay a ways downstream from Riverton (coming out of the dam at about 64-65 degrees 24 hours a day right now, and then cooling down overnight as you move downstream away from the dam, plus the tributaries coming in are cooler now most of the time).
Total flow in the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release is low at 120cfs, historical median total flow for today would be 189cfs. Right below the dam in Riverton down to the Rt 20 bridge is 103cfs, and below that the Still River is only adding in 17cfs. 8am water temp at the Riverton Rt 20 bridge was 64.5 degrees, it peaked Sunday late afternoon at 67 degrees. Cooler nights will cool things down as you move downstream away from the dam.
Remember that the upper 21 miles of river from the dam in Riverton down to the Rt 177 bridge in Unionville is now catch & release as of 9/1 until the second Saturday in April.
The USGS temperature gauge at the Rt 20 bridge in Riverton only tells part of the story. Water temps coming out of the dam usually creep into the low/mid 60’s at the end of the summer, and depending upon the weather and time of day it can rise or fall as you move downstream. Right around now the Still River, which is a warming influence in the peak of summer, begins to drop down in temp and becomes a cooling influence, as do the other tributaries. So as things cool off in late September & October, the farther downstream you get from the dam, the cooler the water gets due to chilling at night and colder tributaries- the exact opposite of how things work in July/August, when the coldest water is up by the dam, the tribs run warm, and the lower river heats up. Bear in mind that a hot, sunny day will still drive afternoon water temps up to some degree, but with shorter days and the sun at a lower angle it has less effect than it did in the summer.
Fishing typically gets tougher in September due to increased water temps from the dam, which both slows down the hatches to some degree and also reduces the trout’s metabolism. Despite that, nice big trout are still being caught by some skilled and persistent anglers, especially as you move downriver away from the dam where water temps are lower & hatches are better. Things will pick up as things cool down and we move into October.
Your best bite window at the moment is normally first light until about noonish/early afternoon, and again when we get hatches later in the day (late afternoon until dark). Mornings typically means Summer/Winter Caddis, or nymphing the fast water with big Stonefly nymphs, smaller Caddis pupa, and small Mayfly-type nymphs. Afternoons can be tougher, and typically mean nymphing the faster water with small nymphs. Some of the best dry fly fishing occurs between late afternoon and darkness (peaks at dusk), with the likely bugs being Isonychia #10-12 (in fast water), Caddis #16-20, Hebe/Yellow Quills #16-18, Light Cahills/Summer Stenos #12-18, and Blue Winged Olives #22-26. FYI Riverton has overall been slow for hatching in the eves, I’d go downstream of that for the best evening fishing. If you’re nymphing in the afternoons, think mostly small flies size 18 or smaller- an exception is Isonychia in #12-14 from about mid afternoon through dusk. Nymph the fast water, that’s where the Isonychia and many other bugs live.
The Farmington River was stocked 9/29 with about 2,000 rainbow trout from below Rt 219 (the Wall) in New Hartford, downstream to Rt. 4 in Avon/Farmington.
As of 9/1, the entire Farmington River from the dam in Riverton, downstream 21 miles to the Rt 177 bridge in Unionville became Catch & Release (C&R) until the second Saturday in April. Below the 177 bridge it remains 5 trout, 9” or bigger through February.
Large Golden Stoneflies still crawling out on the rocks to emerge between first light and mid mornings, they run from about a #4 down to a #12. Imitate them with #8-12 nymphs in the fast water, big trout key in on them. They are active & emerging from June through October. Look for their empty shucks on protruding rocks in fast water, you’ll also see a bunch on concrete bridge abutments. Fishing these big nymphs will net you some bigger fish, especially if you fish the fast water from first light to mid-morning (until about 10am). You can beef your tippet up when fishing bigger bugs like this for bigger trout- 4x to 5x is not to heavy, and if you have a really big trout located, 3x may be appropriate.
Caddis typically hatch in the mid to late mornings, and come back later in the day to egg-lay in the riffles areas where they dump into the pools, and they typically hatch in the morning. Trout normally feed on the pupa during the hatch, not so much the adults- this can mean anything from nymphing pupa near the bottom, to swinging pupa/wet flies/soft-hackles mid column, or dead-drifting pupa in the surface film. Dry/dropper with a Caddis dry and a pupa fished 6-12” below it can be effective during the hatch. You get more of the classic dry fly fishing with Caddis dries during the evening egg-laying events.
FRAA trophy rainbows are still getting caught & released (mostly). They have been averaging about 5-7 pounds, and some are even bigger. A good amount of trout are holding in faster water: riffles, faster runs, and pocket water. Also the FRAA put in 18 large Golden Rainbows, and you will see them here & there, along with the leftover ones in the upper river from the Riverton Derby in early April. They are always a challenge to catch because they stick out like a sore thumb (they are a bright yellow/orange color) and everybody targets them.
Be prepared to go subsurface with Caddis pupa, small Mayfly patterns, big Stoneflies, Isonychia nymphs #12-14 (can also use big Pheasant Tails & Prince Nymphs to imitate them), Yellow Sally Stoneflies #14-18, wet flies/soft hackles, and streamers. Also try BWO nymphs #18-22, #12-20 Pheasant Tails/Frenchies and other assorted nymphs. Small nymphs #18-22 are often the ticket this time of year, with the fly size being more important than the exact pattern. Mops (cream, chartreuse) & Squirmy Worms (pink, red) are always worth a try, especially as a clean up fly after you nymph a run, or if trout are not responding to your usual more imitative patterns. They can also be good during non-hatch periods. Don’t neglect attractor nymphs that have flash, fluorescent colors, UV, or gaudy colors- metallic pink beaded nymphs are very effective.
The new Thomas & Thomas Avantt II fly rods arrived in March, and they have really impressed us. Slightly more flex in the tip, but still plenty of power in the mid & lower sections, with fantastic crisp recovery and a low swing weight.
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Hatches/Dries:
-Isonychia #12-14: typically a mid/late afternoon through dusk hatch in fast water. This bug brings some large trout to the surface in fast water later in the day. You can also blind fish it in likely looking water or use it in a Dry/Dropper rig.
-Assorted Caddis #14-22: averaging smaller (#16-20), hatching mid/late mornings, and come back in the eves to egg-lay
-Light Cahill/Summer Stenos #12-18: evenings at dusk
-Yellow Sally #16
-Hebe/Yellow Quill #16-18: a few, typically late afternoons to eves, look like Sulfurs and are imitated with standard Sulfur patterns, hatch is near the end.
-Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24: hatching in early to mid morning, all year long
-Blue Wing Olive #22-26: cloudy afternoons, evenings too. In the eves fish small rusty spinners #22-26.
-Ants & Beetles #12-18: effective, especially midday when you have sporadic risers without any major hatch occuring
Nymphs & Wet Flies/Soft Hackles:
-Small Nymphs #18-22: frequently size is more important than the exact pattern, especially this time of year when most of the bugs are smaller. Generic bugs like Pheasant Tails/Frenchies, Hare’s Ears, Walt’s Worms, etc. all are good choices.
-Caddis Pupa #16-18 (tan)
-Isonychia Nymph #12-14: fish in fast water, mid afternoon through dusk. Try dead-drifting, swinging, and even stripping them in.
-Pheasant Tails/Frenchies #12-20: imitates a wide range of Mayflies including Isonychia, Blue Winged Olives, Sulfurs, and more
-Stonefly #8-12: excellent in early to mid mornings when they crawl out in low light onto the rocks to emerge in fast water. They emerge from June through October on the Farmington River, and can produce some big fish.
-BMAR Isonychia Nymph #10-12: fish in fast water, mid afternoon through dusk
-Yellow Sally #14-18: active & hatching in August/September in fast water
-Wet Flies & Soft Hackles #12-16: assorted colors/patterns, try to imitate the main hatches, but also use flashy attractor patterns
-Junk Flies (Eggs, Mops, Squirmy Worms, Green Weenie)
-Blue Winged Olive Nymphs #16-22, good all year, common item in the drift
-Zebra Midge #18-22: black, olive, red
-Winter/Summer Caddis Larva #18 (yellow): can also imitate Midge larva
-Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16: lots of these in the river
-Cased Caddis #12-14: underfished pattern, abundant in the Farmington. Especially effective after flow bumps and during high water.
-Attractor Nymphs #14-20: such as Sexy Waltz, Rainbow Warriors, Frenchies, Prince, Triple Threats, Pink Bead Walt’s Worm, Pink Bead Pheasant Tails, etc. Often work better than drabber, more imitative flies.
Streamers:
-Jigged Streamers #8-12: various patterns/colors, deadly fished on a tight-line/Euro rig, often sorts out bigger fish. Great to use as a clean-up fly after you nymph a run. Olive, tan, white are effective colors here.
-Ice Picks (tan, gray, white, yellow): tied by Rich Strolis, a very nice single hook baitfish pattern
-Wooly Bugger #4-12: assorted colors, try also Don's Peach Bugger
-Zonker #4-6: a classic fish catcher! In white, natural
-BMAR Yellow Matuka #6: deadly fly! Also standard Matuka in olive, brown
-Zuddler #4-8: one of our favorites, in olive, white, brown, black
-Complex & Mini Twist Bugger #2-6: assorted colors, very effective