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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.
Pictured
up top is a spectacular wild brown Jim DeCesare caught over the
weekend on Saturday in the brutal cold & wind. The pectoral fins
on that fish are huge, they look like giant potato chips- typical of big wild browns. He had another very large brown the day
before that, and a big rainbow too. Jim is incredibly persistent and
gets out as often as he can, and as you can see it pays off. He’s
been finding some success on small nymphs and also jigged streamers,
often fished under and Indicator on a mono rig. Ice up is less of a
problem with a mono system when it’s really cold out. Indicators are a good choice when fishing slower water, and also on windy days.
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.
Monday morning 2/3/25
River Report:
Extra deep
discount: Diamondback Ideal
Nymph rods in stock are on now
on sale for $330
(normally $525-550) until
we run out of stock,
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
10’ 10” #2. Some we only have one of though, and the popular
models will sell out fast.
Some more nice used reels
in the case, including a couple of Hatch 3 Plus, check ‘em
out.
Further down in this report I’ve mentioned the new
almost indestructible MT Fly Company
Trina’s Squirmy Material
that we have back in stock, and Joey just put flies in the
bins tied out of this in both pink &
red colors, and he is doing 2 slightly
different versions of each. Check ‘em out. We also have some brand
new Fulling Mill nymph & streamer patterns in the bins, as well
as new nymphs and streamers from local tyer extraordinaire Keegan
Nelson.
We are still in winter mode, but almost every day
this week (Wednesday excepted) will be above freezing, averaging in
the upper 30’s. We received about 3” of snow last night, and with
a high of 44 today I imagine it will mostly melt. We need precipitation
of any kind to refill Colebrook Reservoir, it’s down about 45 feet
below full. While temps have been all over the place lately, rain
last week combined with some milder days has melted some of the ice
that has had most of the river locked up. It varies on a run by run
basis, so you will have to check out each spot. Slower and wider
pools are still mostly frozen as I write this. This week’s above
freezing highs should help open up some more water though.
Flows
remain lower than average due to Colebrook Reservoir being well below
normal levels- December & January saw minimal snow & rain.
USGS gauge at the Riverton Rt 20 bridge is reading 109cfs, normal
would be just over 200cfs for today’s date. The Still River flow
gauge has been frozen up for weeks, so I’ll have to guess it at
about 40cfs (give or take a little), putting the total flow below
that (includes the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release) at an estimated
150cfs- normal for today would be low 300cfs. Water temp at the gauge
this morning is 33 degrees, it reached 35+ degrees Sunday afternoon.
Sunny afternoons see the highest water temps, which also gives you an
idea of when you should be on the water. The slightly warmer water
coming out of the dam in Riverton keeps the section above the Still
River, (about 2 miles) 100% fishable. The pools up there never
freeze up, and it stays slush-free.
While I would rate
the fishing lately as slow, the average size has been large. If you
can manage to get a bite, you definitely have a shot at a trophy
fish. 16-18” has been a pretty common size, and some 20-22’”
browns are occasionally getting landed, along with some giant FRAA
rainbows that can push 20-24”, and some are even bigger than that.
The bows went in last April, and held over way beyond our
expectations.
Make sure to fish the slower deeper water,
not the fast water areas that don’t freeze over but also don’t
hold trout when water temps are in the 30’s. Slightly warmer water
coming out of the bottom of the reservoir keeps it ice & slush
free all winter up in Riverton, but below the Still River it is a
crap shoot. The Still River is freestone and runs ice cold in the
winter, and low & warm in the summer. Don’t start early, let
the sun warm the water for a couple of hours before you head out, and
if floating slush forms overnight that gives it a chance to melt.
Nights in the teens and single digits can create morning slush (below
the Still) that typically clears out by late morning.
Diamondback
Ideal Nymph rods are now $330, normally $525-550. As I write
this, we have most lengths & line weights in stock, but limited
numbers. These will go fast.
Quite a few new flies (mostly
nymphs, some streamers) in the bins. Joey just whipped up a batch of
flashy #18 Red Iris
Midges with 2.5 tungsten beads, they look amazing. Small flashy
red midges can be quite effective in the winter, red midge larva are
a common trout food this time of year. The red is from the
hemoglobin, which allows them to live in slower silty water that has
lower oxygen content. This is the same water type that trout spend
most of the winter in.
Slightly warmer water coming out
the bottom of this deep reservoir system is always a few degrees
above freezing, which keeps the upper 2 miles or so free of slush and
shelf ice (mostly). Once the Still River dumps in about ¼ mile below
the Rt 20 Riverton bridge by Hitchcock/Riverton Self Storage, during
cold snaps it is dumping in slush and freezing cold water and can
lock the river up with ice and make it unfishable.
In
general, don’t bother starting before 10am- let the sun come out
and warm things up a bit. Even a tiny increase in water temps can be
enough to create a feeding window. It’s also a more pleasant &
comfortable time of day to be outside. Target the slow to medium-slow
water with some depth to it, and fish nymph, streamers, and Junk
Flies slow & deep. Don’t expect to catch a lot of fish and
expect to work hard for every single bite. Be patient, and fish the
prime water thoroughly. Trout won’t move far to eat your fly in the
winter, so make plenty of extra drifts in the high percentage spots.
Takes are often very subtle, so set the hook on anything- hook sets
are free! Many, many strikes go undetected in the winter. Be aware
that trout often pod up in cold water, so where you find one there
could be a bunch more. While I don’t expect to do numbers in the
winter, occasionally you can catch a really good bite window and if
you find a big pod of fish, sometimes you can rack them up. But this
is the exception. I’ve had zero fish days here in the winter, and
I’ve had 50+ on an exceptional day. Overall fishing was slow last
weekend, and anglers worked hard for their fish. But, the average
fish landed was good sized, with some in the 20” class.
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,
as you move downstream away from the dam the Farmington behaves more
like a freestone river- water temps get lower and can freeze up/slush
during cold snaps once you go below Riverton. Sunny days will
see the biggest water temp increases, and on all but the coldest days
will normally melt the slush by late morning or noonish.
Safety
Advice:
People
have been standing on the edge of shelf ice in some of the slow deep
pools lately. This is a risky proposition if there is some real depth
to the water and the ice gives way, you could drown, and at the very
least it’s a day ender. Use your common sense and don’t risk your
life or hypothermia just to catch a trout. Don't wade aggressively in
the winter, and try not to wade past knee depth if possible, you will
stay warmer with less of your body in icy water.
The
further you go downriver away from the dam, the more the Farmington
River behaves like a freestone river. During colder nights (teens &
below), morning slush is likely so don’t start too early. Most days
if AM slush is present, it normally clears out by late morning on all
but the coldest days. If you must start super early on cold/slushy
mornings, go up to Riverton where the water is slightly warmer &
slush-free, and then move downstream come late morning as water temps
rise. Sunshine is your friend in the winter, it pushes water temps
up, melts slush, and gets both the trout & bugs more active.
Winter is the time of year with the least bug activity, so for the
most part don’t expect major hatches. Milder/sunny days see the
most bugs, typically in the afternoons when water temps are at their
highest.
An increase in water temps, even as little as 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. There are bite windows when
the fish decide to feed and things turn on. There are also periods
that can last hours when then fish just aren’t feeding, so be
patient. The only insect activity right now is Winter/Summer Caddis
in the early to mid mornings (I know, this breaks the “rule” that
afternoon is when you get bugs in the Winter), and Midges in the
afternoons. You might see a few Micro Black Winter Stoneflies #18 and
smaller, but February is more so when the smaller Stones 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 on the slightest
deviations in their drifts. Small nymphs (#18 and smaller), Junk
Flies (Mops, Eggs, Worms) and jigged streamers (white, tan, olive)
are your high percentage patterns. With the current lower flows, try
a Micro Mop instead of a standard full size Mop. Also try bigger
stonefly nymphs #8-10, sometimes trout cannot resist a big meal after
passing up the small stuff. Remember, in the cold water of winter, a
trout’s metabolism is low and they don’t have to eat much. There
is also a lot less to eat in the winter.
Winter
Fishing Tip:
After you nymph a fishy section of water,
before you leave make one more pass with either a “Junk Fly”
(Mop, Egg, Squirmy Worm) or a jigged streamer. It will often result
in one or more fish. My personal go to clean-up flies are cream mops
& jigged streamers (olive, tan, white). Although 98% of a trout’s
winter diet is small bugs, sometimes it takes a bigger piece of food
to entice them to eat. Their metabolism is very slow when water temps
are in the 30’s and they don’t have to eat much, but a big meal
can be too enticing to resist. Plus they will move further to eat a
bigger fly. Sometimes you have to almost hit them on the nose with a
small nymph to get them to eat in the winter, and those subtle eats
can be very hard to detect. If you are playing with jig streamers,
make sure to try different colors, some days it makes a BIG
difference. Top 3 winter streamer colors are normally olive, tan, and
white. Other colors can have their moments, but usually one of those
three colors will get it done. Also experiment with different
presentations: dead-drift, occasional twitches, actively jigged,
swung, and stripped in with different retrieves. Sometimes they will
eat it on the dangle when it’s hanging straight downstream of you,
wafting around enticingly in the current until the trout cannot stand
it any longer.
Don’t forget to get a 2025 CT fishing
license, they can be purchased online, in our store, or at some
town halls.
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. We just got in a
second batch of this material, and this time I ordered a lot more and
added some colors (the first batch sold out in one 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 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.
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.
The browns have spawned, 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
deposited their eggs this past fall 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 9 months. Also the FRAA put
in 18 large Golden Rainbows last April, and amazingly some are still
around. They are 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.
****************************************************************
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 are 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.
-Midges #18-22
(black, olive, red): Zebra Midge, Flash Midge, Red Iris Midge. A
staple winter bug, fish mainly in slower water in the afternoons when
the pupa are active & hatching. Larva can be fished in mid/late
mornings.
-Egg Flies #12-20: Otter Eggs, Eggstasy, Glo-Bugs,
Slush Eggs, Sucker Spawn, etc. Mid fall through early spring is a
great 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 (most others too),
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/Micro Mops, Squirmy/San Juan Worms, Eggs, Green
Weenie): eggs are deadly in the fall/winter/early spring, and
the others are good change-up flies when the usual imitative flies
aren’t producing, during non-hatch times, cold water, on recently
stocked trout, or during 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. Try black during low light (first & last light) and
high/dirty water.
-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
-Woolly 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