Hello Compleat Angler friends! No momentous changes this week in terms of flows and weather. However, planning your winter fishing around the warmer and sunnier days can result in finding some Winter Caddis hatches in the morning followed by Midges. Anglers having the most success, however, are fishing subsurface with nymphs and jigged streamers. For nymphing, generally small imitative flies will work, especially your Midge patterns. It is still worth bringing some egg patterns and Mop Flies, as those can entice additional fish. Trout fishing can be slow during the winter, but you can find a bite window in which the fishing improves, which is generally when water temperatures are at their warmest in the afternoon. With that said local temperatures will be in the teens for this upcoming week, so bring some warm layers if deciding to fish. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead conditions are of a similar tune; temperatures will be in the teens with snow throughout the week. On the colder mornings slush is prevalent on the lower sections of river, while areas from Pineville to Altmar are still clear. Anglers that have been grinding are finding a fish or two each day.

Read on for more...

Hello Compleat Angler friends! The cold winter weather continues, and with that cold water temperatures and sluggish trout. This week brings no momentous changes in terms of fishing, however with the colder water you will want to adapt your techniques and approaches. Focusing on sections of the runs that have slower flows will help since trout are more lethargic. Slower metabolism in cold weather means they will feed or move to a fly less often, so it helps to have a methodical approach. Spending more time picking apart an area means there’s a better chance your fly will appropriately present itself to fish. All local rivers and streams have good clarity and easy wading since flows are below average. The Housatonic River is also back down to fishable levels, and the Farmington has average flows. While hatches are diminished you may find some Winter Caddis hatching during the morning, followed by Midges in the afternoon. The best techniques are currently subsurface, either nymphing or fishing jig streamers. The Salmon River in New York has cold conditions for Steelhead fishing, with slush being an issue in the lower stretches of river. Altmar to Pineville is still fishable with below average flows. Anglers are finding a few fish each day, however, catch rates have been slower. Your best techniques are nymphing with Egg Flies or Stoneflies, and swinging streamers.

Read on for more…

Hello Compleat Angler friends, we hope some of you were able to take advantage of the warmer weather last week, and congratulations to all those anglers that have found their first fish of 2025! Temperatures are colder this week, but the sunnier days are helping warm temperatures just enough during the afternoon to create a bite window when trout are most active. Most anglers sre having good results when nymphing, however you may encounter some morning Winter Caddis hatches or fish willing to rise to Midges throughout the day. Anglers that are fishing local are finding fish holding from Fall stockings, namely on the Mianus, Saugatuck, and Mill Rivers. Putting in the time and fishing slow and methodically are key ingredients for winter fishing since Trout are more lethargic. Anglers fishing the Farmington have been finding some nice quality fish on small nymphs and streamers fished slowly or jigged. For our Steelhead Anglers, the cold, wind, and snow are elements you will have to battle this weekend and into next week. If deciding to fish a good layering system is a must. Flows are above average on the Salmon River, which means that fish will be traveling and pushing into the system. Anglers braving the elements and putting in their time are being rewarded with a few fish each day. Fish are spread throughout the entire river from the DSR into Altmar. Stay warm out there!

Read on for more…