Hello Compleat Angler friends! We’re officially into the dog days of summer. What that means is our local rivers and streams around Fairfield County are currently too warm and low to trout fish ethically. Some of our local anglers are switched over to target Smallmouth and Carp in lieu of fishing the tailwaters for trout. The Housatonic is warm and low but is currently a great option for Smallmouth fishing. The Farmington River has ideal temperatures for trout and wading. The hatches have been sporadic, but you may come across some Sulphurs upriver, Light Cahill, Caddis, Needhami, Isonychia, and soon Tricos. Many of the insects are small, so small nymphs are also getting the job done. The East and West Branches of the Delaware River has good temperatures and some hatches of Sulphurs (especially upriver on the West Branch), as well as Light Cahill, and Isonychia. Most of the hatch activity is throughout the evening unless conditions are overcast when you will find small Blue Winged Olives hatching. On the saltwater wade fishing has been difficult along the Connecticut coastline as water temperatures approach over 70 degrees. Boat anglers have been finding more fish around the islands and coves during the morning hours, with some still finding larger fish chasing bait to the surface on the deeper water ledges.
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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week our local rivers and streams have seen slight improvements in flows from rain, however most options will be too warm to fish as they are approaching temperatures 70 degrees and over. If you do decide to fish, check your stream temperatures in the morning when they are at their coolest. It’s a similar story on the Housatonic, however there are alternative species such as Carp, Smallmouth, and Pike to target. On both the Farmington and the Delaware Rivers hatches have been sparse, however you may find fish on Sulphurs, Light Cahills, small Blue Winged Olives, and Isonychia towards the evenings. Both rivers are near average levels and are comfortable for wading. On the Delaware River, stick to the East and West branches where temperatures are safe to Trout fish. On the saltwater there are a few Stripers holding in their summer lies along the Connecticut beachfronts, we recommend targeting rocky coves and structure around islands. If you’re fishing by boat, some of the deeper water structures are still holding some nice sized Stripers and Bluefish. Your best shot at topwater action is lowlight before temperatures warm up by the afternoon. Further east will you will encounter more consistent fishing such as Plum Gut, Fisher’s Island, all the way to Block Island.
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Hello Compleat Angler friends, this week on our local rivers and streams water levels are well below average and warm. We would advise waiting for things to improve before Trout fishing again, as fish are more susceptible to stress when stream temperatures reach 70 degrees or above. The Housatonic River is also low and hot, so we recommend waiting or fishing for alternative species such as Carp, Smallmouth, or Pike. The Farmington River has average flows and good temperatures, and the hatches have transitioned to smaller insects, besides Isonychia. You may encounter Blue Winged Olives, Midges, Light Cahills, Sulphurs, and Olive/Tan Caddis. Our dry fly anglers have reported tricky fishing on the Delaware River with hatches being far and few this week. Nymphing will continue to produce fish, just be mindful of stream temperatures, while the Mainstem and small streams nearby are too warm, the East and West Branches are cooler. Saltwater fishing has been a hit or miss in Connecticut, with the steadier fishing being from Old Saybrook to Fisher’s Island. Nearshore Stripers are now in their summer haunts so you may find a few fish working rocky coastline or fishing the deeper water ledges. Rhode Island and along the Northshore of Long Island continue to see steady numbers of bigger Stripers with Bluefish mixed in.
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