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.
Don't forget to get your FRAA Banquet tickets, we sell them here at UpCountry. This is their big fundraiser, so you are supporting a great cause. It's a superb banquet with fantastic prizes and great food. Date is Saturday, March 1st.
Pictured
up top is a big spawned out female brown trout Brent landed on his 5th cast
early Sunday afternoon on a jig streamer. Caddis larva also worked for him. He saw
quite a few small black Stoneflies crawling on the snow, and this
seems to be picking things up finally. Second pic below is a Capnia Stonefly that was on the snow yesterday, they are starting to hatch now. As you can see, they are small, black and skinny.
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.
We had to move Derrick's
Euro Nymphing 101 class from 2/9 to Sunday 2/23. It was full
but several people cannot do the new date, so we
have a few spots open. It runs from 9am-3pm, and the
cost is $125, call 860-379-1952 to sign up.
We received preseason orders last week from Simms, Fishpond & St. Croix (both spin & fly). I'm working on some fly tying material orders currently (Hareline, Nature's Spirit, Wapsi).
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 Keegan Nelson.
We received approximately 4” of snow Saturday night, it’s pretty out there. River conditions are similar with lower flows and quite a bit of shelf ice, with Riverton above the Still River being wide open. If you look around downstream of the Still River, there are some fishable areas but you will have to drive around and look to find them. We have 12” plus of additional snow forecasted over the 10 Day Forecast. I only got 2 fishing reports back on Sunday, but they were both good, which is a change from the slower fishing so far in 2025. Both anglers reported seeing decent numbers of small black Stoneflies on the snow, about #16-18, I think they are Capnia (Tiny Winter Black Stoneflies), and I think that is what got the fish feeding. Stoneflies are active in the afternoons, and hatch best on milder, sunny days. These bugs are skinny, so if you are imitating them make sure to use slim bodied patterns.
Colebrook Reservoir is down about 45 feet below full. When all the snow we are forecasted to get melts, it will go a long way toward filling it up, so this is a good thing. Slow pools downstream of the Still RIver are mostly frozen over, but there are some fishable spots if you look around. The further downstream you get from Riverton, the more frozen over the river is in general, with some exceptions. Riverton above the Still River remains unfrozen (as always) and 100% fishable, albeit lower than usual.
Flows remains well below average and the USGS gauge at the Riverton Rt 20 bridge is reading 85cfs, normal would be 182cfs for today’s date. The Still River flow gauge has been frozen up for weeks, so I’ll have to guess it at about 20cfs, putting the total flow below that (includes the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release) at an about 105cfs- normal for today would be just over 300cfs. Water temp at this gauge is 33.5 degrees at 8am, it reached 36 degrees yesterday 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.
I would rate the fishing overall as slow, but the average size trout landed has been large. Having said that, with small winter Stoneflies (Capnia) starting to hatch, it seems to be improving things. 16-18” has been a pretty common size lately, and some 20-22’” browns are occasionally getting landed by skilled/persistent anglers, along with some giant FRAA rainbows that can push 20-24”, with some are even bigger than that. The ‘bows went in April of 2024, and held over way beyond our expectations.
Make sure to focus on 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 remains 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), Midges in the afternoons, and we are starting to see some smaller Black Winter Stoneflies #16-18 and even smaller (slightly bigger ones coming in March). 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. Mono rig lets you hold line off the water and also helps prevent your guides from icing up as fast, but fly line lets you fish further away and you can also roll cast it (unlike 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.
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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
-Small/Micro Black Winter Stoneflies #16-24: afternoons, just starting up
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