Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week our Connecticut freestones have seen an increase in flows but are still below average, a slight improvement from last week. Anglers are still finding trout from Fall stockings. Now that water temperatures have dropped lower, winter techniques will start becoming more effective. This means methodically searching the deeper pools, using a low and slow approach drifting nymphs. Egg flies will also be working now that Brown Trout are completing their spawning. On the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers, which all have fishable flows for this weekend, will also be seeing some small Blue Winged Olives emerging towards the late afternoon. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead fishing is alive and well with fish being spread throughout the entire river. Flows have dropped, and now most sections will have easier wading, but the river is still high. As a result, search a variety of water types, as there will be Steelhead both holding and traveling, and you may find some nice Brown Trout as a bonus. On the saltwater, the Long Island Sound has winded down, with schoolies still blitzing on occasion. Areas to focus on include the mouth of river, coves, and harbors. Late morning can result in finding some Stripers hitting Peanut Bunker on the surface. Holdover Stripers are now staging and moving upriver into their respective winter spots. Rhode Island is experiencing similar circumstances, meanwhile the South Shore of Long Island and New Jersey still has good numbers of migratory fish.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week we have no significant changes to our Connecticut trout fishing, and all of our freestones have been holding below average flows. Hatches have been slowing down, but the main insects you will see include Tan Caddis, Midges, and Blue Winged Olives during the afternoon. Subsurface has been the best option, both nymphing and streamer fishing. On the Farmington River, you will want to bring your smaller nymphs as well as some egg patterns now that Brown Trout are spawning. The Housatonic River will be similar, and flows will be ideal for fishing and wading this weekend. Anglers are finding trout on all techniques, including dry flies when there are hatches of small Blue Winged Olives. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead have moved throughout the entire river now, and they’re still entering the estuary. Flows are high so we should see a nice push of fish into the river as a result. On the saltwater, there are some schoolies on some Peanut Bunker near the coves and harbors, and one will find them blitzing during the later morning with tide movement. The best action is still along the Southshore down to the Jersey Coastline, which is holding larger migratory Stripers. The most prevalent bait is Bunker and Sand Eels.

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Our local freestones have been holding steadily below average over the past few weeks throughout Connecticut. With stocked fish acclimated, it will be worth bringing some smaller nymphs, and you may find trout rising infrequently to Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and Tan Caddis. The Farmington River has increased flows on the West Branch, and clarity and wading will be ideal for the weekend with flows just shy of average. Cooler water temperature will result in better subsurface fishing during the morning and into the afternoon. Later during the day you may find some fish rising on small Blue Winged Olives, unless you’re lucky enough to encounter an October Caddis hatch, which are still occurring infrequently. The Housatonic River also has ideal flows leading into the weekend, and Blue Winged Olives are the primary hatch. When there are no hatches, streamer fishing and nymphing will be the most productive. On the Salmon River, Steelhead are now the primary fish entering the river, along with a few nice Brown Trout. There are still a few late Kings and Cohos running; however, most are staged upriver and into the tributaries. The primary nymphs this time of year will be egg flies, as salmon are spawning. Swinging flies will also work as fresher fish tend to be most aggressive. Fishing in the Long Island Sound has been spotty, but there are occasional Striper blitzes on Peanut Bunker. Areas to focus on include the Norwalk Islands, and along the Westport shoreline and into Bridgeport. On the right tides it will also be worth fishing the structures along the Northshore. The best Striper action continue along the Southshore, from Jamaica Bay and into New Jersey.

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