8am-6pm Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm on Saturday & Sunday.
Pictured up top is guide Zach St. Amand’s son Hunter with a big brown fooled on a streamer over the weekend when the water was up & off-color. It’s dropped and cleared since then. Second pic is only some of our used books, we have another entire bookshelf full, plus more up on the walls.
We scored 4 boxes of unusually good used books over the weekend. Definitely some classics, collectibles, and autographed copies too. Everything has been processed, fairly priced, and is up on the shelves & walls. Come check it out, if you’re into books on fly fishing for trout, you should be able to find at least several titles you like before they sell out in the near future.
Monday 8/12 morning Report:
Conditions continue to get better every day as the Still River steadily drops from the rain last Friday night, and it looks like dry weather this week. This both lowers the water level and drops water temps back down. Cooler weather in the 10 Day Forecast will help a lot too, with 9/10 highs in the 60’s/70’s, and five nights down into the 50’s. The total flow is 312cfs (medium/normal for today’s date) in the Permanent TMA/C&R. Riverton, from the dam to the Rt 20 bridge, is at 159cfs (medium level). The Still River is adding 153cfs & steadily dropping. Water coming out of the dam is still cold (mid 50’s), and normally in the summertime it mixes with a small amount (10-50cfs) of warm water (70 degree plus) from the Still River, giving that only a slight warming effect. Substantial rain (like we had Friday) temporarily changes the equation with warm water mixing with the cold water from the dam and raising water temps, from the point the Still River dumps in and below. Look for water temps 68 degrees or less, and fishing is better at 65 degrees and lower.
The fishing definitely gets more technical this time of year, so bring your "A" game. Long leaders (12’ or longer) & long/light tippets (3-6’ of 5x-7x depending upon fly size/air resistance) help to get stealthy, drag-free presentations. August is definitely a big month for dry fly fishing on the Farmington River, but smaller nymphs fished in the fast water are catching trout too. Streamers are having their moments, especially early & late in the day, and after rain when the river gets off-color.
Tricos are now a legit hatch in the permanent TMA/C&R. These “hatches” are all about the morning spinner fall, and that normally happens when the air temp is about 68 degrees, give or take a little. Tricos are very small and average a #24, give or take a hook size. The other early to mid morning hatches right now are Needhami & Summer/Winter Caddis. Needhami are more upriver now (probably about Pipeline to the dam) and on their way out, while the Summer/Winter Caddis is everywhere (that’s a 12 month a year hatch, but heaviest in the summer & winter). Mid morning to about noonish look for #16-20 Caddis, primarily in tan, and hatching in the faster water (pool heads, riffles, pocket water). Sulfurs #18 are almost done, and I’d say only from about the Rt 20 Riverton bridge to the dam, about a 2 mile section. You may see #20-24 Olives in the afternoons & eves, especially on cloudy days. Late afternoon until dark look for large Isonychia #10-12 in the fast water, and closer to dusk Light Cahills/Summer Stenos #12-18, and assorted Caddis #16-20. And surprisingly, we are still seeing some #18-20 Attenuata , but that hatch has to be near the end, this is late to still have it.
August & September see Yellow Sallies, which are almost like a mini Golden Stonefly and run about #14-18. Typically, just like the big stoneflies, this is more of a nymphing thing than a dry fly game. You will see their shucks (they crawl out to emerge) on the downstream side of rocks in fast water. As I’ve mentioned before, with the exception of big stoneflies in the morning and big Iso nymphs later in the day, if you are nymphing it’s mostly #18 and smaller this time of year.
Fishing remains good, although technical at times- especially the flat/slow water, small dry fly game. Presentation is important, and sometimes the right fly can be critical, especially during a hatch. If you are fishing dry flies, longer leaders in the 12’ plus range (up to 18’) with long tippets (3-6’+) can be very helpful for stealth and getting a drag-free drift. Water is coming out of the dam in the low/mid 50’s and staying cool quite a ways downstream, even on 90 degree plus days. If you are venturing well downstream on hot sunny days, take a water temp before you fish, and if it’s over 68, move upriver to find colder water- the coldest water of all right now is up near the dam, above the Still River. Many days you can fish as far downstream as New Hartford & Canton, especially in the mornings after a cooler night, when water temps are at their lowest. Please don’t fish Collinsville/Unionville until things cool down in September/October. If you don’t own a thermometer, you need one in the summertime.
We are in summer mode, which means that overall early & late in the day are the peak hatch and fishing times. The exception to this is Riverton, which due to the icy cold water will often see hatches in the late morning to early evening period. If you are out after work, try to stay until full darkness if you can, or you may miss the best fishing of the evening. The hotter the day, the more the good rising activity will push closer to darkness. Again, Riverton above the Still River can be an exception to this rule. During the slower times of the day, a good strategy is to target the faster, broken water. If you can find shade, even better. Terrestrials like ants & beetles are good midday fly choices.
Farmington trout can be very particular when they are rising to a hatch, especially the bigger holdovers and wild browns, so match the bugs as closely as you can. If you are in between 2 fly sizes, the general rule is to err on the smaller side. If you are nymphing in the summer with a 2 fly rig, make sure one of your nymphs is small, as in #18 or smaller. The exceptions to small nymphs would be large Stoneflies in the early to mid mornings, and big Isonychia nymphs in the mid afternoons through evenings. Both those bugs live in fast water FYI, so that’s the water type you should target. Mousing at night is also an option, especially to catch larger browns- use a short (5-7.5’) leader with a heavy tippet (0x). Early & late in the day are generally the peak times to be out, but good fishing can be had any time of day right now if you are flexible in how you fish (like nymphing), and are willing to fish different sections of the river at different times of the day.
Large Golden Stoneflies are 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 will be 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 more appropriate.
Wet fly/soft hackle guys are putting fish in the net, and streamers are producing early & late in the day. Even had some good midday streamers reports, with the caveat that they were fishing them in fast water. Caddis typically 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 (can be afternoons up closer to the dam due to the colder water temps there). 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.
The state did multiple stockings up & down the river in the spring, and the fish density is currently very high between stocked, holdover & wild trout. They put in a lot of fat 14-16” rainbows, some are 17” and over 2 pounds. Many of the FRAA trophy rainbows are still getting caught & released (mostly). They have been averaging about 5-7 pounds, and some are even bigger. Many trout are holding in faster water now: 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 and everybody targets them.
Be prepared to go subsurface with Caddis pupa, small Mayfly patterns, big Stoneflies, Isonychia nymphs, Yellow Sally Stoneflies #14-18, wet flies/soft hackles, and streamers. Also try BWO nymphs #16-22 (especially on overcast days), #12-20 Pheasant Tails/Frenchies and other assorted nymphs. Small nymphs #18-22 are often the ticket in July/August, 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- metallicpink 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:
-Tricos #22-26: starting finally in the Permanent TMA/C&R. It’s all about the spinner fall, typically early to mid mornings when air temps hit 68 degrees, give or take a little.
-Isonychia #10-12: typically a late afternoon through dusk hatch in fast water, starts later on hot, sunny days. On the entire river currently. This bug brings some large trout to the surface in fast water later in the day.
-Assorted Caddis #16-20 (tan is most common color, but not the only one): hatching mid/late mornings, and come back in the eves to egg-lay
-Light Cahill/Summer Stenos #12-18: evenings
-Yellow Sally #16
-Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24: hatching in early to mid morning, all year long
-Sulfur #18 (Dorothea): Riverton only, up near the dam and almost over.
-Needhami #22-26: early/mid mornings, spinners & duns, near the end of the hatch, upper river only
-Blue Wing Olive #20-24: cloudy afternoons, eves too
-Ants & Beetles #12-18: very effective, especially when you have sporadic risers without any major hatch occuring
-Attenuata #18-20: Often mistaken for a Sulfur, but it's a bright lime green and smaller. Typically in the evenings, but sometimes in the afternoon as you get closer to the dam. Hatch is near the end and moving upstream, probably from about Pipeline to the dam, but possibly lower than that.
Nymphs & Wet Flies/Soft Hackles:
-Small Nymphs #18-22: frequently size is more important than the exact pattern, especially this time of yearwhen 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, olive/green)
-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
-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.
-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
