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, that is this weekend.
Pictured up top is one of several nice wild browns I landed while fishing with Will Ryan on Thursday afternoon. He ate a Caddis larva.
A customer found a fly rod & reel in Riverton Thursday. If you think it might be yours, email him at dean.killelea@gmail.com.
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 2/28/25 River Report:
New product has been arriving every week, we are stocking up. Two big fly tying materials orders have been placed and the first one should arrive next week. Big Lamson order came in Tuesday, we are well stocked on both their reels & rods. Their rods are very good, and moderately priced. Also received some new Sage rods (R8 Classic) and new Rio line (Rio Gold XP & Rio Gold Max). The XP replaces the Perception (1/2 size heavy all purpose line), and the Max replaces the Grand (1 full size heavy, and the new version is rear loaded). Perception & Grand lines in stock are now on sale until we run out of them.
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 any day now). Currently we are down to the 10’ #3 and 10’ 10” #4, they are going fast now.
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 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 new Fulling Mill nymph & streamer patterns in the bins, as well as new nymphs and streamers from local tyer Keegan Nelson.
Thoroughly enjoying this thaw out, it’s made most of the river fishable again. It has also improved the flow from just over 100cfs to I fished yesterday (Thursday) with Will Ryan, and it was better than I expected. Fishing overall has been challenging for most of 2025, with skunkings not uncommon, and anglers generally working hard for every hook-up. But improved conditions, rising water temps, and some insect activity seems to be picking things up recently. Our first stop we hooked up 5 fish, putting 4 in the net. Mine were on nymphs, Will’s were on a streamer fished aggressively. Despite yesterday being heavily overcast, barely touching 40 degrees for a high and spitting on & off light rain, the water temp in New Hartford was 40 degrees (if felt colder!) in the afternoon. While Will’s hits on streamers were hard, the fish eating my nymphs did nothing more than slightly stop my drift. Caddis larva & attractor/hotspot nymphs did it for me, I had one eat on an egg pattern late in the day. The fish we landed were all wild browns in good condition and not skinny, 16-18” was the cookie cutter size.
The long range forecast continues this mild trend, on all but two days. And spring unofficially starts tomorrow, 3/1. Saturday March 1st will be quite mild and crack 50 degrees, but then a cold front moves in Saturday night, with a low of 15 degrees and windy with a high of only 27 degrees Sunday, 35 Monday, and then back to highs in the 40-50+ degree range starting Tuesday. Saturday is the day if you can make it out, should be a good bite with the warm up. Sunday will be a different story though, that kind of rapid temp drop will lower the water temps and tend to turn the trout off.
Milder temps means you can start earlier, although I wouldn’t bother getting here at first light. Water temp bumps turn the trout on, and you are most likely to see bug activity in the afternoons (morning Winter Caddis excepted). We are seeing small Black Stoneflies averaging about #18, give or take. Anglers are still working for their fish, with nymphs & jigged streamers being the main players. Think slow & deep on your presentations. Trout are holding in medium-slow to slow water with some depth to it, but you will see wild browns move into riffles to feed in the afternoons, especially on sunny days with bug activity.
The mild weather has melted most of the shelf ice, increased the low flow, and made most of the river once again fishable. The Still River USGS gauge thawed out recently and is finally giving us the flow there after being frozen up and not reading for 2025. Riverton USGS is 106cfs this morning, normal would be 186. The Still River is adding in 121cfs below Riverton, giving us a total flow downstream of that of 227cfs and slowly increasing- I’d call this a medium level, but about 100cfs below the normal median flow for today’s date. A predicted inch of rain the middle of next week should help to refill Colebrook River Lake, along with the last of the snowmelt in southern MA.
Guys (and girls) are still working to catch fish, but when you get one, the average size has been big. Definitely a quality over quantity situation, but the milder weather and increase in flow is picking things up finally. Riverton has remained 100% fishable all winter, but lower than normal. 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), there are something like 120 subspecies, 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 35 degrees at 8am this morning, it reached 36.5 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 all winter, even during the coldest weather. The pools up there never freeze up, and it stays slush-free.
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 expectations.
Diamondback Ideal Nymph rods are now $330, normally $525-550. As I write this, we still have a few in stock, but very limited numbers.
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 smaller Black Winter Stoneflies #16-18 and even smaller (slightly bigger ones coming in March, about a #14). Sunny afternoons are the best by far for Stonefly activity. Nymphs & streamers fished slow and deep will be the ticket most of the time. Strikes in cold water (30’s to low 40’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. 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, 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.
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 low 40’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 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 in wintering lies: slower, deeper water. As water temps rise during the afternoons and bugs get active (especially on sunny days), some trout will 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. Sunny days will raise water temps more than milder air temps will on a cloudy day.
If you are nymphing slower/deeper water, 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.
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 10 months. Also the FRAA put in 18 large Golden Rainbows last April, and amazingly a few 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:
-Small/Tiny
Black Winter Stoneflies #16-24: afternoons, averaging about #16-18
currently
-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.
-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