8am-5pm Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm on Saturday & Sunday. These will be the store hours through March.
Don’t forget to get a 2025 CT fishing license! They are available online, in our store, and at some town halls.
Guide Mark Swenson is doing a Beginner Fly Tying class this Sunday, January 12, 2025. Contact him directly at 203-586-8007 to sign up. Cost is $150 person, with a maximum class size of 6 people. Only a couple of spots left open.
Pictured up top is customer Brent on a great start to 2025 with a picture perfect brown trout, compliments of techniques learned the day before on a guided trip with Zach St. Amand.
As of 9/1/24, the entire upper 21 miles of river from the dam in Riverton to the Rt 20 bridge in Unionville is Catch & Release until the second Saturday in April 2025.
Friday morning 1/10/25 River Report:
Diamondback Ideal Nymph rods are on sale for 20% off, they are re-doing this series of rods with the latest technology & new tapers (Generation IV will be available sometime in February). Sale applies to in stock rods only, and I expect remaining inventory to go fast. We currently have most of the different lengths/line weights from #1 to #4 in stock, but not the #6 or the 10’ 10” #2. Some we only have one of though, and the popular models will sell out fast.
After several brutal days in a row of literally non-stop 20-40 mph+ wind and temps in the teens & 20’s, the weather is finally breaking. Anywhere from 32 to 40 for today through Monday, and way less wind. I’ve never seen such a protracted period of relentless high wind in the winter before. The recent cold snap has the entire river downstream of the Still River in a mess: most slower pools are frozen over bank to bank, and there has been constant slush. The only fishable section currently is the upper river in Riverton, above the Still River where the bottom release from the dam keeps the water slightly above freezing and ice free. Below the Still and downriver, it’s an icy mess. So if you stay from about the Rt 20 bridge (Hitchcock/Riverton Self Storage) and up you will be fine, it’s about a 2 mile section of river. The milder temps will chip away at the river ice, but it may be a bit before the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release is thawed out and fishable, rain or a flow bump would help clear it out faster. Other than a few colder nights in the long range forecast, slush should not be a problem, and up in Riverton you never get slush or shelf ice. Even on mornings with slush, if it’s sunny out it usually clears by noonish.
If you venture out fishing this weekend, stay up in Riverton above the Still River, and there is no need to start early- I’d wait until about 10am to let things warm up a bit. An increase in water temps, even only 1 degree, can be enough to turn the fish on and get them to bite. Focus on the medium-slow to slow water with some depth, that’s where trout spend most of their time in the winter. Having said that, you may see them move into moderate riffle water to feed when water temps bump up a little and you see a few bugs. The only insect activity right now is Winter/Summer Caddis in the mornings, and Midges in the afternoons. You might see a few Micro Black Winter Stoneflies #18 and smaller, but February is more so when they hatch. Nymphs & streamers fished slow and deep will be the ticket most of the time. Strikes in cold water (30’s) tend to be very gentle and subtle, so pay close attention and strike on anything suspicious- hook sets are free! We all get eats that we never detect or set the hook on. The best anglers set their hooks often. Small nymphs, Junk Flies (Mops, Eggs, Worms) and jigged streamers (white, tan, olive) are your high percentage patterns. Also try bigger stonefly nymphs #8-10, sometimes trout cannot resist what looks like a big meal.
Don’t forget to get a 2025 CT fishing license, they can be purchased online, in our store, or at some town halls.
River is at a nice level: the total flow below the Still River in the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release (C&R) is an estimated 210-220cfs, (the Still River USGS gauge is frozen), I’d call that medium or so. Currently the USGS Riverton flow gauge is reading 159cfs at the Rt 20 Hitchcock/Riverton Self Storage bridge, that’s medium-low. As I write this the only fishable section (due to ice) is the upper section of the river in Riverton, above the Still River. The Still River USGS gauge is frozen and I would estimate it at 50-60cfs this morning. This historical median/normal total flow for today’s date would be 358cfs. Last I knew the East Branch was releasing 25cfs, it comes in about ½ mile downstream of UpCountry, just below the condo’s/sewage plant.
Water temps at the Riverton USGS gauge have dropped during the cold snap this past week, and averaging in the low to mid 30’s. Riverton gauge is 33 degrees currently, and it reached 34.5 yesterday afternoon. The water coming out of the bottom of the dam in Riverton actually moderates water temps- cooler in the summer, and a little warmer in the winter. Water temps will vary depending how far below the dam you are, and also depending upon the weather. During colder weather like we have now and for the near future, as you move downstream away from the dam water temps get lower and can freeze up/slush up once you go below Riverton. Sunny days will see the biggest water temp increases in the winter.
There is a new squirmy worm material from MT Fly Co, it’s called “Trina’s Squirm Material”, and it’s the next evolution in San Juan/Squirmy worms. This first batch sold out in only a week, but we will have a big order of them coming in sometime this upcoming week. Unlike normal squirmy material, it’s almost indestructible. Doesn’t break, it won’t disintegrate if you leave it in your car on a hot/sunny day, your tying thread won’t cut it, the tail won’t get ripped off by small trout, and solvents like head cement & super glue won’t melt it. It has quite a bit more movement than ultra chenille, but not as much as traditional squirmy material. I recommend tying it with all the material trailing behind the hook in a long “tail” (2.5-3”)for maximum movement. If you tie it with just a short length sticking out both ends it won’t have much wiggle to it.
Quite a few anglers are already got on board with their first trout of 2025. Mandy & I went out for about 2 hours late on New Year’s Day, and we hit a small pod of fish and a bite window. Small dark nymphs & egg flies got it done for us. The fish were in medium-slow water that was between knee & waist deep, just off the main current. At one point I thought I hooked bottom, and then it started swimming but the hook popped out- appeared to be a very large holdover FRAArainbow. When you have nights in the teens, it usually makes more sense to focus on the most pleasant time of the day, late morning through mid afternoon when water temps rise and trout are most apt to freeze. The exception is the morning Winter Caddis hatch that typically occurs in early to mid morning. Midges hatch in the afternoons.
The ‘bows and small to medium size wild & stocked browns have been eating insect imitations, but many of the better 18”+browns have been getting caught on jigged streamers (tan, olive, or white- experiment with colors) when a bite window opens up for streamers. Joey put some new Zonker strip jig streamers in the bin, check ‘em out. Good browns have also been on bugs (nymphs) in the mid to late mornings when bugs are drifting, especially on sunny mornings.
There are definite bite windows when the fish decide to actively feed, and it can go from zero to 100 when the fish turn on. This is very true of winter fishing, so be patient! Hours of very slow fishing can suddenly get good when they go on the bite. And conversely, it can just shut off and go dead suddenly. These windows typically last 1-3 hours. Also, with far less bug activity this time of year, Junk Flies (Mops, Squirmy/San Juan Worms, Eggs, Green Weenies), attractor nymphs & big stones are always worth trying. While most winter food available to the trout is small (#18-28 and sometimes smaller), if small bugs aren’t working try bigger flies, gaudier flies, Junk Flies, or a streamer. Trout are moving into wintering lies: slower, deeper water. As water temps rise during the afternoons and bugs get active (especially on sunny days), some trout may push up into the riffles to feed. This can also happen in mid to late mornings when it’s sunny and you get some behavioral drift of nymphs. The morning Winter Caddis and the afternoon Midges are the 2 winter hatches. Sunny days will raise water temps more than milder air temps will on a cloudy day.
If you are nymphing slower/deeper water (typical in the winter), fishing far away, fishing below you, or fishing in the wind, using a strike indicator is generally better than Euro nymphing. FYI you can fish an indy with either fly line or a mono rig. Make sure to play with the depth you have the indy set at, it can make a big difference. Generally you want your flies just above bottom, but sometimes a bit higher if fish suspend in slower water. Trout like to feed at their level or a bit above, but not so much ON the bottom or below them.
Now that we are fully in winter mode, there is no need to start super early unless you want to hit the early to mid morning Winter Caddis hatch. Other than that I’d focus on mid morning through mid/late afternoon when water temps rise and both the bugs and the trout get more active. After colder nights, start later in the morning, and if it’s a milder night, you can start earlier. It’s all about water temps, and whether they are moving up or down. Rising water temps is what you want, and dropping water temps (like when there is snowmelt or doing a cold snap) can turn trout off, even on a mild & sunny day. Look for Midge hatches in the afternoons, and you may find trout rising to them in the slower water in bigger, wider pools. Overall though it’s winter, so expect to mainly fish subsurface, slow & deep with nymphs and streamers. Small nymphs (#18-22) remain consistent producers, egg flies (and other “Junk” flies) are worth trying, and there have been windows of a good streamer bite. Post spawn trout are hungry! Make sure to cover plenty of water and play with color & retrieves when streamer fishing. In general with dropping/cold water temps, that means you want to fish your streamers both slower and deeper. A jigged streamer fished on a Euro rig can be quite effective, it puts your fly right in the fishes face and makes it easy for them to eat it. You can also try dead-drifting streamers under an indicator. Give the indicator an occasional twitch.
99% of the browns have spawned by now, and many have lost weight and are skinny due to the rigors of spawning. It is tough/stressful for trout, it really beats them up, and a small percentage of them actually die as a result of it. Play fish quickly, minimize handling, and keep their head & gills in the water as much as possible- "Keep 'Em Wet". Especially on colder days below freezing, try not to take fish out of the water or you can freeze their eyes & gills. After spawning, trout focus more on eating and trying to pack some weight back on. As such, to a post-spawn brown trout streamers look like a nice big meal with lots of calories. Eggs also represent a big chunk of calories and an easy meal. Unlike insects, eggs cannot swim away, and are calorie dense.
Generally the best fishing is mid/late morning through mid afternoon when water temps are highest and there is increased bug activity (exception: early to mid morning Winter Caddis hatch). This is especially true after colder nights. If you do start early in the morning, use flies that are independent of hatching: egg flies, streamers, and Junk Flies (Mops/Micro Mops, Squirmy/San Juan Worms, Green Weenies). Streamers are normally at their best during low light conditions, and after flow increases or discolored water conditions. Jig streamers, fished slow & deep on a Euro rig, can be very effective in cold water almost anytime, often outfishing standard streamer presentations. Egg flies can be a good choice, and if you are nymphing, other than egg patterns think mostly small, as in #18-22. Try also olive Caddis larva/Walt’s Worms in #14-16. Otter Eggs work can well on extra picky fish that have seen too many egg flies. Lighter tippet (6x) & longer leaders (12’ plus) match up well with smaller flies when nymphing.
Please don’t step on or just below redds (the light colored oval areas in shallow pea gravel where trout deposit eggs in pool tailouts, riffles, side braids, etc.). Don’t walk on the redds or the first 10-15 feet below them or you will crush the eggs. The eggs won't hatch out until February or early March.
Egg flies, particularly in small sizes, are a good option for the remainder of the 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.
Many FRAA trophy rainbows are still around after the April 2024 stocking (120 went in) and they are getting caught on a regular basis. They run anywhere from 20-27”, and are all colored up now after being in the river for about 8 months. Also the FRAA put in 18 large Golden Rainbowslast April, and amazingly enough some are still around. 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.
The 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:
-Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24: hatch is typically early to mid morning, all year long. Trout focus on the pupa first, and then as the morning progresses they normally switch to the winged, egg-laying adults.
-Midges #20-28: afternoons, sunny/milder days are best
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.
-Zebra Midge #18-22: black, olive, red
-Egg Flies #12-20: Otter Eggs, Eggstasy, Glo-Bugs, Slush Eggs, Sucker Spawn, etc. Fall/winter is a good time for eggs! Shades of yellow, orange, pink, or a mix of those. Try Otter Eggs on extra picky fish.
-Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16: lots of these in the river, imitates the common Hydrospyche, good winter fly
-Winter/Summer Caddis Larva #18 (yellow): can also imitate Midge larva & Black Caddis larva, good winter nymph
-Pheasant Tails/Frenchies #12-20: imitates a wide range of Mayflies including Blue Winged Olives, Sulfurs, small Stoneflies, Isonychia, and more
-Blue Winged Olive Nymphs #18-22, good all year, a common item in the drift
-Stonefly #8-12: Worth fishing all year long, big stones are on a 2-3 year life cycle. Often produces bigger trout. In the winter, some days trout will eat bigger Stones when they won’t move for small flies or Junk Flies. Golden/yellow, brown, black.
-Junk Flies (Mops, Squirmy Worms, Eggs, Green Weenie): eggs are deadly in the fall/winter, and the others are good change-up flies when the usual imitative flies aren’t producing, during non-hatch times, cold water, or higher/off-color water.
-Attractor Nymphs #14-20: such as Sexy Waltz, Rainbow Warriors, Frenchies, Prince, Triple Threats, Pink Bead Walt’s Worm/Pheasant Tails/Hare’s Ear, etc. Often work better than drabber, more imitative flies, especially in the winter.
Streamers:
Don’t neglect streamers! - top 3 winter colors are normally olive, tan, and white.
-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