Holiday hours:
-Friday 8am-6pm
-Saturday & Sunday: 8am-5pm
-Monday Memorial Day: 8am-3pm
Our hours are now 6pm on weekdays, but staying at 5pm on weekends. We are also closing on Wednesdays, at least for a while.
Store
ours currently are 8am-6pm Monday & Tuesday, closed on
Wednesdays, 8am-6pm Thursday & Friday, and 8am-5pm on
Saturday & Sunday.
Pictured up top is someone who has
been frequently pictured in this report, local angler/artist Jim
Decesare. Check out this Steelhead sized rainbow trout he landed,
what a whopper! Pay your dues and you will be rewarded!
We
have a lot of used reels at the moment. As such, we are doing a 20%
off sale on the used reels in that specific case. Get ‘em while
they last! This is an in-store promotion only, no mail order on
these.
We
just received a small batch of the new Diamondback Gen IV Nymph Rods
with carbon grips- the first batch prior to this was all with
traditional cork grips. Carbon grips are very sensitive, more than
cork, as well as quite durable (they won’t chip like cork can).
There is an extra $25 charge for the carbon handle. We got them in
the popular 10’ 7” #2 & #3 rods, and the 10’ #2. We can
order the carbon grip in any size rod you want though. We have very
limited quantities on this first batch, so don’t wait if you want
one.
We have tons of books at the moment- we received
a bunch of used books as well as a big order of new books
that arrived recently. Also, more used
rods & reels came in, we have a BIG inventory of used
stuff.
We are once again carrying the very popular
Frabill Landing Nets. They are
very reasonably priced ($35-45), lightweight, and capable of netting
large trout. Rubber coated mesh nets with flat bottoms make it easy
to handle the trout once you net them. Hard to beat for the money.
This first batch is almost sold out, but we should be getting more
soon.
Diamondback Generation IV
Euro nymphing rods are available. I know many of you have
been eagerly anticipating them, and now we have the full line-up,
minus the 10' 7" #4 (not available yet, probably in early/mid
fall). The models we have include 10' and 10' 7" lengths in #1,
#2, #3, and 10' 7" in #6 & #7. These rods are very nice with
crisp, responsive tips that recover fast with minimal wobble.
After
walking through the woods, check yourself for ticks-
they are extremely active now. I’m picking 1 or more off the dog on
a daily basis, and also finding them on me regularly when I walk in
the woods or through tall grass.
Friday
morning Memorial
weekend 5/23/25
River Report:
The total flow on the river
below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release
(C&R) is 555cfs
and dropping, the historical median total flow for today
is 379cfs- I would classify this morning’s flow as medium-high, and
the clarity is good. Riverton is 304cfs
(medium-high level) between the dam and the Rt. 20 bridge/Riverton
Self Storage (historical median flow for today is 253cfs). The Still
River is adding in 260cfs- it’s
peaked out and now dropping from Thursday’s rain, historical
median flow is 126cfs. Riverton water temp is 46.5 degrees this
morning, it reached 47.5 degrees yesterday afternoon. Downstream
water temps are higher, averaging mid 50’s to low 60’s of late,
depending upon the daily weather and time of day. Peak water temps
are normally mid to late afternoon, with warm sunny days seeing the
biggest temp increases. Unionville USGS gauge is reading
1,060cfs and peaked out (will start to drop now), historical median
flow for today is 549cfs- I’d call this high but fishable, and will
only improve daily over the weekend as it drops. Lake McDonough is
currently full to the brim and spilling water over the dam and into
the East Branch, not sure what the cfs is but it’s a good amount
(maybe 200cfs?) and is making the flow higher/faster from there down
(but not unfishable). The East Branch comes in about 3/8 of a mile
below UpCountry, a few hundred yards downstream from Michael Angelo’s
Restaurant.
We will be open our normal store hours this
weekend, but close early at 3pm sharp on
Memorial Day, Monday 5/26.
So we lucked out on
the rain Thursday. About 1” was received, and it was spread out
over the entire day so much of it soaked into the ground and is
slowly filtering back into the river. I would call a total flow in
the mid 500’s a medium-high and very fishable level, clarity has
remained quite good, just a bit of an iced tea/tannic stain to it
with 3-4’ of visibility. The Still River has peaked and is now
dropping, so the flow will be lower each day this weekend. Cooler
today & Saturday (mid to upper 50’s), and then moving into the
60’s for Sunday, and low 70’s for Monday. Other than a possible
dribble this afternoon, it looks like a nice dry weekend, and not
windy either. As the weather warms up over the weekend, look for the
hatches to kick back into gear. The cold temps (40’s!) the past two
days stalled out most of the bugs, except there were tiny Midges and
small #24 Olives hatching (FYI BWO’s hatch great in crappy
weather). Caddis have been the main bug, from a #14-16 tan, to #18
olive/green, #20 black, and annoying #24 Micro Caddis (the “hatch
from Hell”). Pupa patterns nymphed in the fast water work very well
when Caddis are active, and there can be some good dry fly action
during milder eves when they come back to egg-lay in low light. With
normal weather returning as the weekend progresses, look also for
#12-14 Vitreus (look sorta like a bigger Sulfur, hatch in fast water
late afternoon through dark), and also #10-12 March Browns (sporadic
fast water afternoon/evening hatch). If they rise to these bugs,
match with dries. If not, fish nymphs that suggest them. #14 Pheasant
Tails/Frenchies for the Vitreus, and bigger Hare’s Ear’s &
Fox Squirrels for the March Browns (or a specific MB nymph).
Good
streamer conditions with the extra water and overcast weather.
Streamers are also a good option when you don’t have bugs hatching
(early AM, cold days, in between hatches, etc.), or if you want to
cover a lot of water quickly. Make sure to get them deep, experiment
with different retrieves, change colors, and play with different fly
sizes & designs (length, bulk/sparseness, shape, etc.). I like to
strip them fast this time of year with water temps mostly in the 50’s
and even low 60’s. But if that doesn’t work, slow it down, change
your presentation angle, swing them, twitch them, fish them on the
dangle- experiment based upon the trout’s reaction (or lack thereof
lol). Go smaller if you cannot get eats on bigger patterns. Also try
trailing a nymph or wet fly/soft hackle 18” behind a weighted
streamer, very effective for converting follows to eats.
Caddis
are the dominant hatch currently, on the entire river from top to
bottom. They run from #14-24, with 16-18 being very common. They are
most active in the faster water: pool heads, riffles, runs, rapids &
pocket water. Trout will gorge on the pupa surface, hint hint. We are
starting to see a light Vitreus hatch well up into the Permanent TMA,
and it should get heavier soon. March Browns are starting up, there
are a few hatching sporadically as far upstream as about Church Pool.
Subsurface they are eating Vitreus nymphs: try a #14 Pheasant Tail,
Frenchy, or Sulfur Nymph (Vitreus nymphs in the Farmington are
brownish yellow, just like the Sulfur nymphs, but bigger). FYI
Vitreus hatch and are active between late afternoon and dark, and
they hatch best when it’s cooler and cloudy. They also require high
quality water, which we are fortunate to have on the Farmington
River. Various other nymphs from #10-20 are catching fish. Caddis
pupa are working great subsurface in #14-18 (olive/green, tan). You
can use specific pupa patterns, Walt’s Worms, and Sexy Waltz (has
flashy rib & hotspot). For dries think olive/green in #16-18, tan
#14-16, and black #20. Seeing clouds of tiny cream Midges at moments.
The fast water is currently full of trout, they are
literally everywhere. FYI after the CT fisheries sampled the trout
population last September, they estimated the trout per mile in the
Permanent TMA/C&R at 2,800+ fish- that’s a lot! Tight-line
nymphing with one or two weighted nymphs is your best option to probe
faster riffles, runs, rapids & pocket water. Make sure one of
them is a pupa-type pattern. Junk Flies like Mops (also Eggs &
Worms) are still very effective at moments, especially on the stocked
fish that aren’t totally dialed in on real bugs yet. Also hard to
go wrong with a #14-18 Pheasant Tail or Frenchy (just a hot-spot PT).
In case you missed it up top, we have gone to a 6pm
closing time on weekdays. Also, we are now CLOSED on
Wednesdays at least for a while, so please plan
accordingly.
Caddis &
General Fishing Tips:
We are seeing several
different Caddis hatching. FYI, all Caddis look tan while flying in
the air, you have to get one in hand and flip them over to determine
the true body color. And they are not easy to catch by hand, as they
will actively try to avoid your hand, unlike a mayfly. You can look
for them in spiderwebs. Pupa color should match the adult BODY color.
Olive/green & tan are the two most common body colors, and small
black Caddis are common now and all year long. Tan Caddis are picking
up now. At the moment the subsurface nymphing with Caddis pupa and
other nymphs is by far the most consistent & predictable method.
I’m still catching trout on Junk Flies though, so make sure to have
some Mops, Eggs, Worms & Weenies. Junk typically either works
great, or not at all. Pair them up with a more natural, imitative
nymph. Caddis are a great bug to imitate with wet flies/soft-hackles
too, and that’s a fun method. You will find the best Caddis action
where the water is broken and has some current. If you have fish
breaking on the surface during a Caddis emergence, a Dry-Dropper rig
works well. Run a pupa or soft hackle wet 12-18” under a buoyant
Caddis dry. Streamers are also a good choice, a great way to cover a
lot of water in a hurry, and also be able to fish the water that you
cannot nymph. They are at their best early & late in the day, on
cloudy days, and during higher flows. Make sure to cover lots of
water, play with streamer color/patterns, and vary your retrieves.
Try tan, olive, white, yellow, black, or combinations thereof.
Kudos
to CT DEEP for their wise management of the water in Colebrook
Reservoir since they took that over around June of 2024. They
were dealt a crappy hand in terms of weather (and by that I mean an
incredibly dry 9-10 months in a row), but they did the right thing
and ran the dam release low so they could fill the reservoir back up,
instead of running the flow according to historical norms that are no
longer relevant due to changing weather/climate. After the recent
rains we are finally full, last I knew we were at about 711’
elevation, 708’ is considered 100%/full and a little over 100%.
This means we don’t have to worry about running out of water in
July & August. At some point though, they will likely need to
increase the dam release to get the reservoir down to or below 708’
by July 1st (the beginning of hurricane season).
Other
bugs we are starting to see include Vitreus and March Browns. Vitreus
often get labeled as a bigger Sulfur (#12-16, averaging a 14), but
they are close cousins to the Quill Gordon (same Epeorus family of
bugs). They have 2 tails, hatch in faster water, and the winged dun
emerges from the nymph on the stream bottom and then swims/rises to
the surface- most mayflies emerge in the surface film. The eggs
inside the females give a distinctly pinkish-orange cast to their
abdomen, and some people call them a Pink Lady or Pink Cahill. Pale
Evening Dun is another common name for them. March Browns average
#10-12 (can even be a #8 on the lower river) and are another bug that
lives & hatches in fast water. They are a sporadic, one here, one
there type of bug, hatching sporadically in the afternoons &
eves. They are starting up, and we are seeing a few as far upstream
as about Church Pool. FYI 1-2 weeks before they hatch, they nymphs
migrate to the edges of fast water, and many end up in the drift,
creating some good nymph fishing. You can use a specific March Brown
nymph, and also bigger Hare’s Ears & Fox Squirrels. The
spinners fall all at once at dusk over fast water.
Don’t
be afraid to explore and fish new water to get away from the crowds,
there are literally fish EVERYWHERE, including all the water in
between the pools. The further you go downstream, in general the less
anglers you will see- especially if you walk 5-10 minutes away from
the easy access points. Most anglers focus on the famous named pools
that have easy access, and skip the water in between. The water
outside of the Permanent Catch & Release/TMA gets less pressure
for the most part.
Fishing reports have varied widely,
depending on the angler, river section fished, time of day, and
methods/flies used. Overall we are getting a LOT of good reports from
smiling anglers. Dry fly fishermen have come into their time now,
with Caddis bringing trout to the surface at moments. Nymphs &
streamers have been producing the majority of the big fish you see in
this report, but some are coming on dry flies too. Expect to work for
the high quality bigger holdover & wild fish. If you get into a
pod of recently stocked fish, you can do some big numbers with
subsurface flies. It pays to move around and cover water currently.
It one section is not producing, don’t beat it to death, move to a
new area. The big wild browns are the hardest to fool, you need to do
everything correctly. They’ve seen it all, and they spook easily.
They are also very tuned into real bugs & minnows.
The
Permanent TMA/C&R was stocked in mid April with a lot of brown
trout of various sizes. Most sections outside that have been stocked
3-4 times now, with more to come for July 4th and Labor
Day. FYI, 20% of the trout they stock throughout the state are over
one foot, with some much larger. The Permanent TMA/C&R gets 1,000
fat Two Year Old Browns that average 14-18”, and some are bigger
than
that.
****************************************************************
Dries:
-Caddis
#14-20 (tan, green/olive, black): main hatch on all of the river now,
very active mid mornings to mid afternoons, nymphing with pupa is
currently the most productive tactic for them. They typically egg-lay
later in the day in low light, in the faster water.
-Vitreus
#12-14: Seeing a light hatch well up into the Permanent
TMA/C&R
-March Brown #10-12: light hatch, about as far up as
Church Pool. Sporadic fast water bug, afternoons/eves.
-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/eves
Nymphs:
-Assorted
Caddis Pupa #14-20 in various colors (olive/green, tan). Use specific
pupa, Walt’s Worms, and Sexy Waltz.
-Pheasant Tails/Frenchies
#12-20: imitates a wide range of Mayflies including Blue Winged
Olives, Vitreus, small Stoneflies, and more. #14 will pass as a
Vitreus nymph.
-Blue Winged (Baetis) Olive Nymphs #16-20: all
year long
-Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16: lots of these
in the river (most other rivers too), imitates the common
Hydrospyche, good all year
-Pheasant Tails/Frenchies #12-20:
imitates a wide range of Mayflies including Blue Winged Olives,
Vitreus, Sulfurs, small Stoneflies, and more
-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.
-Cased Caddis #10-16:
all year, but especially after rain or flow bumps (higher water
knocks them into the drift)
-Winter/Summer Caddis Larva #18
(yellow)- also imitates Black Caddis larva & some Midge
larva
-Midges #18-22 (black, olive, red): Zebra Midge, Flash
Midge, Red Iris Midge.
Streamers:
*We
have a lot of new streamer patterns from MT Fly Co in the bins.
***Don’t
neglect streamers! - top colors have been olive, tan, white, and
black. Black is good on recently stocked trout (of which there are
lots right now), 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