We are once again open 7 days a week, current hours are:
8am-5pm Monday & Tuesday, Wednesday 10am-4pm, 8am-5pm Thursday & Friday, and 8am-5pm on Saturday & Sunday.
Pictured up top is Derrick’s Client (CT Fish Guides) Kristen C. with a sizeable brown trout.
Tom Ames new & updated "Pocketguide to Eastern Hatches" book is back in stock. Definitely the BEST hatch guide for our area, nothing else comes close. This version has some new info, new pictures, and new fly patterns. We will do our best to try to keep this in stock, it’s been flying off the shelves.
Fall
Nymphing Tip:
Small
nymphs are often the key to subsurface success this time of year when
flows are normal to low, and by small I mean #18 and smaller, all the
way down to #22-24. Exception would be Stoneflies #8-10 &
Mops. Most nymphs are
small to very small this time of year, especially the Fall batch of
Blue Winged Olives (BWO’s). Overall, small nymphs & larva are
by far more numerous than bigger ones. Some days this makes a huge
difference. Dry/Dropper nymph rigs can be effective, especially in
softer and shallower currents. I know a guy from central PA that
catches an average of 6,000-8,000 trout every year. Yes, he is
retired and fishes a LOT (about 300 days a year), but usually only
part of each day. And yes, he’s a highly skilled nympher with
excellent water reading skills, and he lives near the best streams in
central PA (2,000 - 4,000+ fish per mile for some of his streams). If
he has a secret, it’s that he mostly fishes nymphs averaging #18-24
on a Euro Mono rig (FYI he also does dry flies & dry/dropper). He
typically uses a 30’ 4x micro leader and 6x tippet with 2 flies. He
reasons that immature nymphs are small and grossly outnumber bigger
adult nymphs, and it’s hard to argue with his results.
As
of 9/1/25, the entire upper 21 miles of the Farmington River from the
dam in Riverton downstream to the Rt 177 bridge in Unionville went
Catch & Release
until 6am on the second Saturday in April 2026. If you see anyone
illegally keeping trout, call the 24/7 turn in poachers DEEP hotline
at 860-424-3333.
Even if they cannot send somebody in time, they still log the call
and it helps us get more future enforcement.
We
have some of
the new Diamondback Gen IV Nymph Rods with carbon grips-
the previous batches were all with traditional cork grips. Carbon
grips are more sensitive than cork, as well as quite durable (they
won’t chip like cork can). There is a $25 upcharge 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.
Diamondback
Generation IV Euro nymphing rods are available. 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. The 10’ 7”
#1 is a very interesting and excellent option for Micro Leaders,
lighter tippets, and lighter flies - the rod has more backbone in the
lower half than you would expect, while having a very soft tip. The
10' 7" #2 & #3 have been the big sellers for us, perfect for
the Farmington River. The #3 is the all around and will do everything
including jigged streamers, but the #2 is great if you fish mostly 6x
or lighter tippet, it throws lighter flies a bit easier, and is
slightly better with Micro Leaders. The 7 weight is a new addition to
the Diamondback lineup, for those targeting larger Steelhead, as well
as King Salmon and other larger fish where you need a stiffer rod
with some serious backbone. Could also be a good choice for hot fresh
Fall Steelhead in heavy water & rapids on heavy tippets. The 6
weight is probably overall the better choice for Salmon River
Steelhead in NY, where you are often down lighter 3x & 4x tippets
and still need a rod that has some backbone to land 10# plus fish,
but has a softer tip so you don't break fish off.
Friday
morning 11/7/25 River Report:
Total
flow below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/Catch &
Release (C&R) is 247cfs
(a
medium/excellent water level),
with Riverton right below the dam at 162cfs,
and just below that the Still River is adding in 85cfs.
Riverton water temp is 52
degrees
this morning, it peaked yesterday afternoon at 54.5
degrees.
Downstream water temps are currently lower than that, running from
mid
40’s
to mid 50’s, depending upon time of day & weather.
This
morning at 7:30am it was 44
degrees behind UpCountry.
Water
temperatures will continue to slowly decline with long range highs
mostly in the 50’s, and nights averaging in the 30’s.
They
recently began to lower Otis Reservoir in MA, and that water has to
be added to the dam release in CT. Also, the Still
River flow
is
being augmented by water released from Highland Lake to lower the
lake level there (they do that every Fall, just like at Otis
Reservoir). We should be in good shape in terms of water for quite a
while now. Seems like we are back to weekly rain also. Still
need a good amount of water to boost Colebrook River Lake water
level.
Grady
recently acquired some reasonably
priced trout-weight bamboo rods,
most are in the $300 range.
They are in the rod rack all the way to the right, in between the
Sage and T & T rods. There are some real values & bargains
here.
Some nice fish are getting caught by anglers who
are flexible in their approach. Be ready to fish nymphs, streamers,
Junk Flies, wets/soft-hackles, or dry flies.
Watch
out for redds (where trout deposit their eggs in the gravel), there
are still some spawning brown trout,
and will be for the rest
of
November. Read several paragraphs
below for advice for fishing during the spawn. Still some pretty
patches
of colorful foliage here & there (Norway Maples, Burning Bushes,
and Oak Trees all peak late),
but we’ve lost the vast
majority
of
leaves due to wind and rain lately.
The
current Glamour Hatch in November is small Blue Winged Olives #22-28,
they will hatch well into December in the afternoons.
You
may still see a few Tan/Brown #16-18 Caddis & #12-16 Isonychia on
milder days, but both those hatches are just about done.
When they are not rising, which is the majority of the time, fish
streamers, Junk Flies (Mops, Eggs, Worms, Green Weenies), and small
nymphs #18-22. Egg flies get hot from
mid/late October through the early Spring.
Trout move around a lot in the Fall due to spawning,
so
they can be in one spot today, and a totally different spot tomorrow.
This
is
prime time for streamer fishing, browns get extra
aggressive
due to the spawn. Early & late in the day are the peak streamer
times, and also on overcast days and anytime the water rises and/or
gets off-color. Play with retrieves and fly color. In general, more
aggressive retrieves tend to produce better this time of year,
getting those quick reaction bites.
Brown
trout
are
still
spawning,
keep your eyes out for redds, the light colored oval areas in shallow
gravelly riffles where trout drop their eggs.
Avoid
walking through them, and the first 15 feet or so below them as the
eggs will often wash 5-15 feet below the redd.
Favored spawning areas typically include side channels and pool
tailouts, but riffles at pool heads can also have spawners if there
is pea gravel present. The bulk of the spawning on the Farmington
River is typically from about mid October through late November, and
the eggs/fry hatch out in February through early March. Walking on
the eggs in this time period will crush and destroy them and future
wild trout. Please also refrain from fishing to spawning trout on
redds, it’s unsporting & unethical. They are stressed enough
already, just let them do their thing and make more wild brown trout.
There are always lots of non-spawning trout to catch, as well as
trout that are still pre-spawn, and soon there will be plenty of
trout that have completed spawning. Some trout will position in the
first deeper water downstream of spawning fish
to
eat loose eggs in the drift.
Don’t
forget about the early to mid morning Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24
that hatch 12 months a year. Long leaders 12’+ paired with
long/light tippets (3-6’ and even longer) of 6x-7x (depending upon
fly size) will help present small dry flies properly to our picky
trout in flat water. Be stealthy in your wading, and it doesn’t
hurt to dress in drab clothing. 5x-6x tippet is appropriate for
nymphs. Streamer fishing requires 0x-3x tippet depending upon fly
size and the size of the trout your are targeting. Jigged streamers
on a Euro rig typically match up nicely with 4x-5x.
A big
Hareline
tying materials arrived recently and it’s up on the walls now. I’m
working on a Nature’s
Spirit fly tying order
at the moment. Time to tie some flies for the Fall!
FYI
after the CT fisheries sampled the trout population last September
(2024), they estimated the trout per mile in the Permanent TMA/C&R
at 2,800+ fish- that’s a lot! And when they sampled the trout
recently (early September 2025), they shocked up a lot of trout and
the fish were in good condition. Tight-line nymphing with one or two
weighted nymphs is your best option to probe faster riffles, runs,
rapids & pocket water, but Indicator nymphing is effective also.
Also hard to go wrong with a #14-22 Pheasant Tail or Frenchy (just a
hot-spot PT). FYI, small PT’s work 12 months a year and are a great
dropper fly when you are not sure what to put on. Bigger PT’s can
imitate Iso nymphs.
****************************************************************
Dries:
***Blue
Winged Olives (BWO’s/Olives) #22-26: This is the November Glamour
Hatch, afternoons & eves, especially during cloudy weather. Rusty
spinners also in the same sizes in the late afternoons.
-Assorted
Caddis #16-22 (tan, gray, black): Various species. With cooler Fall
weather here, they are most active in the afternoons, sometimes going
into the evenings. Hatch is almost over now.
-Isonychia #12-14:
light hatch, afternoons/eves in fast water, hatch is just about
done.
-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.
-Attractor Dries #10-16: Mini Chubbies,
Stimulators, Amazon Ants, etc.
-Midges #20-28:
afternoons/eves
Nymphs:
-Small Nymphs
#18-24: various patterns, most of the bugs are small to tiny this
time of year, with size of the fly often superceding the exact fly
pattern.
-Blue Winged (Baetis) Olive Nymphs #16-22: all year
long
-Pheasant Tails/Frenchies #12-22: imitates a wide range of
Mayflies including Sulfurs, Isonychia, Vitreus, Blue Winged Olives,
small Stoneflies, and more.
-”Junk Flies” (Eggs, Mops,
Squirmy/San Juan Worms, Green Weenies): Often work when standard
nymphs fail. Especially good on recently stocked trout, and also
during high or dirty water. Egg Flies are deadly from about mid
October through April. Mops are a great “clean-up” fly after
you already fished a run. And worm flies are very good in higher,
off-color water.
-Big Stonefly Nymphs #8-10: golden/yellow,
brown, black, Pat’s
-Caddis Larva (olive to green) #14-16:
lots of these in the river (most other rivers too), imitates the
common Hydrospyche, good all year
-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, even in
low/clear water.
-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, works all year
long
-Midges #18-22 (black, olive): Zebra Midge, Flash Midge,
Red Iris Midge.
Streamers:
Trout
get aggressive on streamers in the fall due to spawning. The
low-light conditions of early & late in the day are prime time
for streamers, as are overcast days and periods of higher and/or
off-color water.
Top
colors have been olive, tan, white, and yellow. A little yellow in a
streamer can trigger brown trout in the fall. Black is good on
recently stocked trout (especially rainbows), during low light (first
& last light), and high and/or 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
-Muddler
Minnow #6-10: and oldie, but a goodie. Most anglers don’t fish this
classic pattern anymore, and that’s a mistake! Quite a versatile
fly that can be floated, skated, dead-drifted, swung, stripped, or
weighted down & nymphed