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 Mike Andrews with a big mouth brown trout he landed right before Valentine's Day
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.
Friday morning
2/21/25 River Report:
We
received our first preseason orders from Simms, Fishpond & St.
Croix (both spin & fly) recently. Joey & I are working on
some fly tying material orders currently (Hareline, Nature's Spirit,
Wapsi). Look for us to be heavily stocked in tying material in the
very near future when these orders arrive and go up on the walls.
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,
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.
Looks like we are finally going to get a
protracted break in the cold & sometimes snowy winter weather of
2025. Mid 30’s & mostly sunny Saturday, with 40 degrees and sun
& clouds Sunday, minimal wind both days. Long range forecast is
highs in the mid to upper 40’s through Thursday, and in the mid to
upper 30’s after that. While there is still shelf ice on a good
amount of the river, a lot more areas have melted and opened up quite
a few spots. The inbound mild weather will definitely open up a lot
more spots and increase the flow. The Still River gauge has been
frozen and not reading for all of 2025, making it hard to tell you
what the water level is. But if you look at the Unionville USGS gauge
and take about 2/3 of that number it will give you an approximate
total flow for the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release section.
Unionville is 271cfs, which would put us at about 180cfs- there is a
margin of error here so is could be a bit lower than that. Normal
total flow for now would be around 300cfs. Riverton is low at 78cfs,
median/normal would be 180cfs. They are still doing a low release out
of the dam in Riverton due to mostly dry weather since July, and due
to that the reservoir never refilled all the way up (down 45 feet
last I knew a month ago). When all this snow melts, we should see a
good bump up in flow, and hopefully a significant increase in the
water in Colebrook River Lake.
Guys are still working for
every single fish, but when you get one, the average size has been
big. Definitely a quality over quantity situation. Riverton has
remained 100% fishable all winter, but low. Below that there are
quite a few sections that opened up if you look around, but there is
still a good amount of shelf ice in some areas. Small Black
Stoneflies are out now, these have been averaging about #16-18, and
can go all the way down to a #24. Pretty sure the ones currently
hatching are Capnia (Tiny Winter Black Stoneflies), and when they are
out it helps get the fish feeding. Stoneflies are active in the
afternoons, and hatch best on milder, sunny days. These bugs are
skinny & black, so if you are imitating them make sure to use
slim bodied patterns. Joey put a new small black Stonefly in the bin
to imitate these, tied on a nice Fulling Mill wide gap hook to
increase your hook-ups and landing ratio.
Water temp at
the USGS Riverton gauge was 33 degrees at 8am this morning, it
reached about 38 degrees yesterday afternoon due to the abundant
sunshine. 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 recently, it seems to be improving things.
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 still have
several lengths & line weights in stock, but limited numbers.
They are going fast now.
Quite a few new flies (mostly
nymphs, some streamers) in the bins. Joey 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 seeing some smaller Black Winter Stoneflies #16-18
and even smaller (slightly bigger ones coming in March, about a #14).
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.
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.
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 often 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
-Small/Micro Black Winter Stoneflies #16-24: afternoons,
averaging about #16-18 currently, started up recently
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.
-Black Stonefly
#16-18: afternoons, imitates what is currently hatching
-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