Fishing Reports

Northeast Fishing Report: 1/26/23

January 26, 2023 6 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! No significant changes to the conditions this week, however, our rivers are on the drop after these high flows which should improve the fishing and wading. Some of our anglers are still having success fishing for Atlantic Salmon in the Naugatuck in the deeper pools. With the receding flows on the Salmon River, our anglers are seeing some good Steelhead fishing, especially towards the upper end of the river. These fish are still taking a swung fly, and nymphing continues to be the more productive method. On another note, we will be participating as a vendor at The Fly Fishing Show in Edison NJ this weekend. For those that are attending, swing by our booth and say hi!

Northeast Fishing Report 1/21/2023

January 21, 2023 6 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Due to rainstorms this past week most of our freshwater fishing is contending with high water. There are still fish to be had in the Mianus, Saugatuck, and Mill rivers, and with high flows on the Housatonic these are a more viable option. The Still River is adding quite a bit of water to the Farmington, so focusing your efforts above the Still should result in average flows. Temperatures this week are in the low to mid 30s with snow/rain showers expected. While the saltwater scene has slowed down, anglers are still steadily picking away at holdover stripers upriver on the Housatonic. Look for an improvement in the fishing and water clarity once the flows drop. On the Salmon River most anglers are reporting single digit numbers of Steelhead this past week, however with the increase in flows this will push more fish into the system.

Northeast Fishing Report: 1/13/2023

January 13, 2023 7 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! The predominant freshwater trend for this week is that flows have dropped to average levels on most of our rivers. For those fishing locally for trout, keep your eyes peeled during the afternoon: subtle takes on the surface will mean that they are rising on small midge emergers, while a splashier rise indicates they are on the adult form. Anglers are also having success fishing for Atlantic Salmon on the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers thanks to the milder winter temperatures. Conditions have also improved on the Salmon River, and our anglers are still catching fresh fish as the high flows have pushed more fish into the system. On the saltwater side the options are a little more limited, however anglers fishing the Housatonic, Connecticut, and Thames Rivers have been picking away at holdover stripers which are concentrated in the deeper sections upriver from the I-95 Bridge this time of year. We recently got in the new Sage Salt R8s which will be available next week! After casting these rods we were blown away by how light the 9wt is, and they cast incredibly well, especially the 8 and 9wt rods. We hope everyone has been able to find some fish this winter season!

Northeast Fishing Report: 1/6/2023

January 06, 2023 6 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We hope everyone had a great holiday season, and we just wanted to take the time to say thank you for your continued support, we truly appreciate it! We’re seeing high water conditions on our local rivers and streams, as well as up on the Salmon River. For those looking to the salt, Stripers are pushing up the Housatonic to hold over for the winter. Efforts should be focused north of the I-95 Bridge. On the freshwater side, flows are the most fishable at the moment on the Farmington, while the Housatonic is too high to wade. With the DSR closed on the Salmon river, anglers are fishing up river and catching a few fish, but conditions will improve once the snow melt has tapered off. Read on for the full report…

Northeast Fishing Report: 12/23/2022

December 23, 2022 7 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We hope everyone is having a great holiday season and are able to sneak out for some fishing before the cold front this weekend. Expect precipitation Friday into Friday morning with higher winds around that time. This front will bring in colder temperatures into the low 20s for this weekend. There is still some good fishing to be had in the local streams, with trout rising to emergers during the afternoon. Look to target the deeper and slower pools since water temperatures have lowered. It’s a game of low and slow, as trout will become more lethargic as their metabolisms slow. On the saltwater side, the Housatonic is holding Stripers that are staging to winter. Search for these fish upriver as well as those holding towards the mouth. Just a note that we will be condensing our upcoming reports and focusing them a bit more on areas that are still popular for winter fishing. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 12/16/2022

December 16, 2022 9 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! On the freshwater side of things, most of our rivers have lowered to an average level, and anglers that are fishing our local streams have been catching trout. With the lower temperatures and flows this will drop water temperatures a bit, so look to fish nymphs in the morning, you can expect some bug activity on warmer afternoons. On the Salmon River front, the fishing continues to be good as the water drops, and some days have resulted in double digit numbers of fish! Fresh fish are still pushing in daily. For Stripers the fall run has started to taper off around the beaches, so the best option now is searching for fish that are staging to hold over at the mouths of rivers. Both the day and nighttime hours have been producing Stripers. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 12/9/2022

December 08, 2022 8 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! After our stint of rain this week the rivers are running high. While the Housatonic is stained for the next few days, the Farmington should have fishable clarity, especially as flows from the Still River drop. On the saltwater, Bass have started their migration which means the bite has been winding down in some areas. The Western sound has still been producing fish, while things are considerably slower on the Eastern side. Our holdover fish are starting to stage at the mouths of rivers and salt ponds to winter over, so areas to consider are the Connecticut and Housatonic Rivers. We have been hearing some great reports from New Jersey as well. Our Salmon River anglers have had another week with high water, however those that have been braving the conditions are still catching impressive numbers of fish. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 12/2/2022

December 02, 2022 10 min read

Hello Compleat Anglers! While the weather has been cooling down there is still some fishing to be had, and the fall run has been holding on for another week. The striper migration has been strong so look for blitzing fish off the beaches, bays, and mouths of rivers. The winter wonderland is melting on the Salmon River, which has produced high flows. The good news is that those flows are now on the drop, so look for the conditions and fishing to improve. There was some great fishing to be had before the melt! We’re seeing good conditions on the Farmington with average flows, however the Housatonic is running high so use caution wading. We have some cool emails ahead for the holiday season. Along with our Holiday Deals, we are creating collections of our favorite gear from this past season that we personally use and have received great feedback from our customers. These collections will include everything from Winter Fishing, Saltwater, Freshwater, Fly Tying, and Beginner Gear. Stay Tuned!

Northeast Fishing Report: 11/25/2022

November 25, 2022 9 min read

Happy Thanksgiving Compleat Angler friends! We hope you are all enjoying a happy and healthy holiday season paired with some good company and food! If you’re able to sneak out in between the festivities, the most notable fishing is our local saltwater bite, especially near Stratford and the Housatonic river where Bass have been feeding heavily. Westport and Norwalk coves have also been fishing steadily. Weather windows have proved tough to get out there, so a little forecast planning can go a long way. The freshwater scene is all about the Blue Winged Olives now and into winter, and the average fly size has been #20-26. Focus on the afternoon hours and into the evening if you’re planning on some dry fly action. Otherwise, streamers and nymphs will continue to produce.

Northeast Fishing Report: 11/18/2022

November 18, 2022 10 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Our Saltwater bite hasn’t changed significantly so the Fall Run is continuing into this week. The same goes for the Freshwater fishing, with the most noticeable change being state stocking of Seeforellen Strain Brown Trout in some of our lakes and ponds. These are larger browns in the 15-20lb class. Local streams and rivers are benefitting from the most recent rain with improved flows, which bumps the Farmington flows to a more average level for this time of year. Read on for all of the details!

Northeast Fishing Report: 11/11/2022

November 11, 2022 9 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Cold temperatures are back, and Old Man Winter is starting to put some frostbite into our fingers early in the morning. With that said, the local saltwater bite has continued into this week, but look for the fishing to start tapering off in the next couple of weeks. Overall, we have had a fantastic fall run! For this weekend we have some nastier weather in store with rain and high winds, so pay attention before you decide to head out there. Plenty of Striped Bass are blitzing near shore, so pack a couple different sizes of Peanut Bunker imitations. Our anglers have been catching trout consistently on our local rivers, which has mainly been a nymphing and streamer game. We can certainly use the upcoming rain. Our New York neighbors are still seeing Olive hatches in the afternoon. The brown trout fishing has been exceptional on the Great Lakes tributaries and rivers, and the Steelhead fishing has been improving daily. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 11/4/2022

November 04, 2022 9 min read

Hello Compleat Angler Friends! We have beautiful weather in store for this weekend, so we hope you’re able to escape and spend some time on the water. No significant changes from last week, which is good news on the saltwater front because the local bite is hot. Our local freshwater fisheries are seeing lowering flows with the lull in rain, however the fishing remains consistent. It’s all about the Blue Winged Olives now as other hatches start to taper off, both locally and in the Catskills. If you’re planning a trip to the Salmon River, Steelhead are starting to be caught further upriver, which should spread the fishing out. Read on for more!

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