Hello Compleat Angler friends! We’re quickly approaching August, and the summer doldrums have hit our local rivers and streams, water levels are currently low with warm temperatures. This means that it’s time to focus on Panfish and Bass, which can be a lot of fun with streamers and small poppers this time of year. Anglers are also focusing on Carp, Smallmouth, and Pike on the Housatonic River, and with flows below average now is the time to visit your favorite Carp flats for some sight fishing. With that said, if you’re still looking to get some trout fishing in, your best options are the Farmington River and the West Branch of the Delaware; both have cold water release from the dams which make temperatures ideal for hatches and trout. The dry fly fishing has been holding steady on the Farmington, with anglers finding a variety of hatches: Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahills, Caddis, Sulphurs, and Isonychia. Meanwhile hatches have been a hit or miss on the Delaware, and now with higher-than-average flows it’s time to break out the streamers. Both rivers have been fishing well with nymphs. On the saltwater scene things have slowed a bit this past week from Fairfield to Greenwich. Most of the Striper and Bluefish action has been mid-sound and into Stonington where the primary forage is Sand Eels and Adult Bunker. While July started out hot in Rhode Island and Long Island, things have slowed to a steady pick of Stripers and Bluefish each day, with anglers bringing single digit numbers to hand.

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Hello Compleat Angler Friends! This past week we received some much-needed rain for our local rivers and streams. With that said, temperatures will most likely have not cooled enough to justify fishing for trout. If you decide to fish, check your stream temperatures in the morning, and if temperatures are below 68 degrees, you’re in the clear. Otherwise, the Farmington River has good fishable temperatures and flows now, and the fishing has been good, especially the dry fly options. During the morning hours nymphing has been the most effective before your hatches start. Another great option is Smallmouth Bass on the Housatonic River which has been fantastic. Both larger streamers and poppers are now worth bringing, and some larger Bass have been brough to hand. Other considerations are Carp and Pike fishing, which hold up strong all summer even in higher water temperatures. The Delaware River also has fishable flows and temperatures on the West Branch if you’re planning a Catskills trip. Generally, the overcast weather has been more productive for dry fly fishing, as you are more likely to see Blue Winged Olives hatching. Other considerations to bring include Sulphurs and Isonychia. On the Saltwater scene, not much has changed which is good news because Stripers are still up and crashing Sand Eels and Bunker. The wade fishing has been trickier; however, the morning hours have schoolies and small Bluefish chasing Sand Eels near the Westport and Fairfield beaches. Overall, saltwater fishing has held up and there are still options and fish to be had.

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Hello Compleat Angler Friends! This week we have no new developments on our freshwater scene, local conditions remain hot and low. The best option for trout in our state currently is the Farmington River which still has good fishable temperatures, flows, and hatch activity. The Sulphur hatch, which has moved upriver a bit, is still impressive in the late afternoons and evenings, while the Blue Winged Olive hatches have been equally as good. Anglers are doing well on both nymphs and dry flies. The other option is the West Branch of the Delaware River, which has slightly below average flows but fishable temperatures and hatch activity. The Smallmouth bite has been fantastic on the Housatonic River, so it’s time to break out those 6 and 7wts, rigged with both streamers and poppers! On the freshwater side our wade anglers are seeing a lull in nearshore Striper activity with higher water temperatures, however some mornings are producing schoolies on Sand Eels off the beaches. Our boat anglers fishing deeper water are still seeing consistency with Stripers and Bluefish up top during the lower light hours of the day. Fish have been on a variety of bait, from Sand Eels to 4-6” Bunker. Many larger fish have started to push further East, so fishing around Rhode Island and Long Island has remained consistent.

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