8am-5pm Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm on Saturday & Sunday. These will be our hours through March.
Pictured up top is a 22” FRAA rainbow Derrick of CT Fish Guides sight fished on light tippet and a #24 nymph, that’s some finesse fishing. Low water gives you increased sightfishing opportunitiesfor bigger trout, but it takes some practice. My buddy Alain just successfully sighted & caught a Golden Rainbow this morning as I'm updating this report (picture on our Instagram & Facebook pages). That was also stocked by the FRAA in April.
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 the spring.
We recently got in some inexpensive used older Orvis rods/reels in immaculate condition, Silver Label Rods& Madison Reels, check ‘em out in the store. They are true classics.
Great news, they started releasing water out of Highland Lake to lower the lake level on Friday, and this flows into the Still River, which dumps in about ¼ mile below the Rt 20 bridge in Riverton (by Riverton Self Storage/Hitchcock). The USGS gauge for the Still River is reading 80cfs now, it was 13cfs before this. With the 65cfs from the dam, this puts the total flow below the Still River at 145 cfs, a very nice medium-low water level and a big improvement in conditions. This will absolutely improve the fishing. Above the Still River the upper 2+ miles are still very low. This will likely change very soon, probably on Monday 11/4, as they are supposed to also lower Otis Reservoir in MA starting on 11/1, and when they do that, it has to be added to the dam release in Riverton. They typically adjust the dam release on Mondays. November is looking good, make sure to get out while these improved conditions last.
Friday 11/1/24 morning Report:
No major changes in conditions or fishing. Temps cool down starting Saturday (highs 50's/lows 30's) and beyond, it's been quite mild the past few days. The brown trout spawn is on, so watch out for redds and don’t walk through or just below them or you will crush the eggs. Leave actively spawning trout alone, but rather target the first deeper/darker water downstream of the redds where non-spawning trout are feeding on the loose eggs. Let the fish that are doing the spawning make more wild trout without being harassed by anglers. The majority of the leaves are off the trees now, but there are still some that are just turning colors, it’s still quite pretty here. Low water conditions makes it easy to find the trout- focus on areas with deeper water (in low water deep is a relative thing) and preferably some broken current that allows you to approach the fish more easily without spooking. Be stealthy with drab clothing and longer/lighter leaders.
Generally the best fishing is late morning through late afternoon when water temps are highest and there is bug activity. If you do start early in the morning, use flies that are independent of hatching: egg flies & streamers. Streamers are at their best early and late in the day during low light conditions. Main hatch remains Tan/Brown Caddis #16-20, there are a still a few Isonychia averaging about #14, and Blue Winged Olives #18-26 (trending more to the smaller end). Egg flies are hot right now, and if you are nymphing, other than egg patterns think small, as in #18-22. Otter Eggs work well on extra picky fish. Lighter tippets & longer leaders match up with low water and smaller flies. Sight fishing with small nymphs & egg flies is very possible in these conditions, with the peak time being late morning to early afternoon when the sun is at it’s highest and spotting conditions are the best.
There should be a temporary increase in the water level sometime soon in November as they have to lower both Otis Reservoir (and that water release has to be passed through and added to the dam release at Goodwin/Hogback Dam in Riverton) and Highland Lake (goes into the Still River)- how much or how long is hard to say, and I don't have en exact date, but any additional water right now will be very welcome.
Anglers employing low water tactics are finding fish in their landing nets, and some trout have been large. These tactics include dressing in drab colors (that includes your hat/cap), moving slowly, approaching fish from below where possible, using longer leaders (12’ plus), longer/lighter tippets, and smaller/drabber flies. When nymphing, use lighter flies and/or less added weight.
Brown trout are spawning, so keep your eyes out for redds (the light colored oval patches areas where trout spawn, see down below for more info). Please don’t fish to spawning trout, let them do their thing, and don’t walk on the redds or the first 10-15 feet below them or you will crush the eggs. Fish downstream of the redds in slightly deeper water where trout are feeding on the loose eggs. As you can imagine, “matching the hatch” will often involve egg flies now. Joey tied up some lighter weighted eggs to match the low flows we have right now, and we have plenty of unweighted egg patterns too.
A low water level of 78cfs total flow in the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release as I write this Monday morning- the Riverton gauge shows 65cfs from the dam down to the Rt 20 bridge, with the Still River adding in 13cfs a little downstream of that. Riverton water temp is 57 degrees at 8am, yesterday afternoon it peaked there at 61.
Brown trout are aggressive on streamers due to the spawn, and peak streamer time is early & late in the day when direct sunlight is off the water. You will often see the males chasing each other around as they stake out their territory. Keep an eye out for redds (the oval shaped lighter areas in shallow pea gravel riffles where the trout deposit their eggs) and please LEAVE SPAWNING TROUT ALONE- it’s unsporting to target them and only adds to spawning stress, let them do their thing unmolested. What you want to do is target the often unseen fish downstream from them that are eating loose eggs in the drift, usually in the first darker/deeper water below the redd. Don't walk through the redds, or the first 15 feet or so of water below them as many of the eggs the trout deposit drift 5-15 feet downstream. If you walk on the eggs you crush them and are killing future generations of wild trout.
Egg flies, particularly in small sizes, will be a steady producer for the remainder of the Fall/Winter. A 4-6mm size single egg fished at the end of the leader will often be effective. While all egg patterns work, the Otter Egg is particularly effective on picky trout as it features a realistic translucent rubber egg at its center with a milky veil over the top.
Most hatching activity is pushed toward the late morning to late afternoon time slot (except the early to mid morning Winter/Summer Caddis hatch). Streamer fishing has picked up. They are a good choice now that the brown trout are more aggressive. Best time to streamer fish is in the morning, the earlier the better, and again at the end of the day when the sun gets off the water. Make sure to play with streamer colors, size, pattern type, and retrieves to see what is working better at any given moment.
Local guide Mark Swenson is doing a Beginner Fly Tying class on November 17th, contact him directly at 203-586-8007 to sign up. Cost is $150 person, with a maximum class size of 6 people. I would expect this class to fill up quickly.
Many FRAA trophy rainbows are still around after the April stocking (120 went in). They run anywhere from 20-27”, and are all colored up now after being in the river for about 6 months. Also the FRAA put in 18 large Golden Rainbows, and some are still in the river. 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, so they get educated quickly and never get a break from anglers.
Be prepared to go subsurface with egg flies, smaller Caddis pupa, small Mayfly patterns, Stoneflies, Isonychia nymphs #12-14 (can also use Pheasant Tails & Prince Nymphs to imitate them), 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), Mini Mops & 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 can be very effective sometimes.
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:
-Caddis #16-20 (tan, brown): main bug, hatching late mornings & afternoons, and come back later in the day to egg-lay
-Isonychia #14: light hatch, near the end, typically a mid/late afternoon 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.
-Blue Wing Olive #22-26: cloudy afternoons, evenings too. In the eves fish small rusty spinners #22-26 to gently sipping trout in flat water.
-Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24: hatching in early to mid morning, all year long
Nymphs & Wet Flies/Soft Hackles:
-Small Nymphs #18-22: frequently size & profile 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, brown)
-Egg Flies #12-18: Otter Eggs, Eggstasy, Glo-Bugs, Slush Eggs, Sucker Spawn, etc. Fall is prime time for eggs! Shades of yellow, orange, pink, or a mix of those.
-Blue Winged Olive Nymphs #18-22, good all year, and especially in the fall, common item in the drift
-Isonychia Nymph #12-14: BMAR & others, 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, small Stoneflies, and more
-Stonefly #8-12: good in the mornings when they crawl out in low light onto the rocks to emerge in fast water. They emerge from June through mid fall on the Farmington River, and can produce some big fish. Worth fishing all year long.
-Wet Flies & Soft Hackles #12-16: assorted colors/patterns, try to imitate the main hatches, but also use flashy attractor patterns
-Junk Flies (Mops, Squirmy Worms, Eggs, Green Weenie): eggs are deadly in the fall, and the others are good change-up flies when the usual imitative flies aren’t producing, or during non-hatch times
-Zebra Midge #18-22: black, olive, red
-Winter/Summer Caddis Larva #18 (yellow): can also imitate Midge larva & Black Caddis larva
-Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16: lots of these in the river, imitates the common Hydrospyche
-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:
Fall is PRIME TIME for streamers! - Especially colors like olive, white, yellow, brown, tan, and also yellow paired with other colors (brown/yellow, olive/yellow, etc.).
-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 fall fly! Also standard Matuka in olive, brown
-Zuddler #4-8: one of our favorites, in olive, white, brown, black, yellow
-Complex & Mini Twist Bugger #2-6: assorted colors, very effective