Fishing Reports

Northeast Fishing Report: 9/22/23

September 22, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We have better news on the freshwater side of things, as colder evenings and mornings have pushed water temperatures down to more fishable levels, and there is plenty of water to set us up nicely for a good Fall season. However, no Fall stockings have occurred locally yet, so be sure to check back. In the next few weeks our trout fishing will see an improvement, especially in the streamer game as trout approach pre-spawn and look for larger meals to bulk up. Flows and clarity will be good for wading on all of our rivers with the exception being the Housatonic, which ideally has to drop below 1000 CFS. Saltwater has started to improve nicely around Connecticut, with some lucky anglers finding Albies mixed in with Bluefish, however the fall run is still relatively early in our area. Rhode Island continues to be the most consistent spot for Hardtails, with Long Island being a close second, however it has still been hit-or-miss. Keep an eye on forecasts for this weekend when the wind will increase Friday night and reach 20 mph on Saturday with rain. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 9/15/2023

September 15, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler Friends! Cooler evenings during these upcoming weeks should prove useful for Fall freshwater fishing, so look for improvements in Trout and bug activity soon. Due to rain, our local rivers received quite a bit of water, and the Housatonic currently has poor wading and clarity. Flow cuts at the dam have the Farmington lower than average, so be mindful of your water temperatures. Early mornings have been safe, however you should consider fishing closer towards the dam once the late morning hits as temperatures in Riverton are still reaching 70 degrees. In upstate New York the Salmon River continues to see a push of fresh Kings and Cohos daily, and the middle sections of the river are becoming more active. Meanwhile, the Delaware flows have increased which hasn’t helped the lackluster hatches this month, so consider streamer fishing until flows are more normal. Rhode Island saltwater continues to be the most productive for Albies and Bonito, and the Bass and Bluefish bite has remained consistent towards the Western Sound. The furthest West Albies were reported was off Old Saybrook, so we should see them more westerly in a couple of weeks. This weekend we are going to experience high winds from the hurricane offshore, so please use caution and pay attention to weather reports! Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 9/8/2023

September 08, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! The long awaited arrival of False Albacore and Bonito are here, with most Anglers running out East in pursuit. Rhode Island and some of the Beaches along the South Shore in New York are seeing the most action. The primary bait is small Bay Anchovies, so having a few patterns in the 1.5-2” range will have you covered. While it’s still early and finding them has been a hit-or-miss, some areas to focus on include Watch Hill, Point Judith, Charlestown, and the West Wall. Other areas to consider include Block Island, Fire Island, and Fisher’s Island, where you will also encounter Bluefish and Bass. Hot and dry weather this week make for tough conditions in our local rivers along with the Delaware and Farmington. However, rain is expected in the forecast this upcoming week, which, coupled with cooler temperatures, should improve our trout fishing. This Saturday is our Grand Reopening Party featuring representatives from major fly-fishing brands, raffle prizes, food and drinks, so stop by to say hello. We hope to see you there!

Northeast Fishing Report: 9/1/2023

September 01, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Flying ants are now on the menu with consistency during the afternoons on the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers. Trout fishing has started to improve on the Housatonic while Smallmouth fishing remains steady. Flows are currently on the drop after this week’s rain but are quickly approaching average flows. The Delaware River received more rain than our local options, and the dry fly action continues to be a hit-or-miss with anglers steadily catching some fish. Persistence is the name of the game when targeting fish 20” and over. Remember to check stream temperatures, as most of our local options will be too hot to fish during the afternoon, as are the sections below the Still River on the Farmington River. Saltwater fishing has seen an improvement, with more Stripers and large Bluefish being found blitzing on small bait, which suggests that Fall patterns have started. While it’s still early for Bonito and Albies, some anglers have found sporadic pods below bait in Rhode Island at their typical Fall hotspots. The action should only continue to improve as more fish push inshore. In upstate New York, the Salmon season has improved as most anglers are seeing a steady increase in Kings moving into the Salmon River with an occasional Steelhead or two being caught. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 8/25/2023

August 25, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Our freshwater fishing has improved this week with wadeable flows and better clarity. Most of our local options are now in fishable condition, however make sure to check your stream temperatures and limit your fishing to the morning hours if temperatures are pushing 70 degrees. By the afternoon most will approach that 70-degree mark, including below the Still River on the Farmington, so during the afternoon we advise fishing closer towards the dam. The overall trend is that the dry fly fishing has been lackluster, and nymphing continues to be the most productive technique. On the saltwater side of things, many anglers are eagerly waiting for Bonito and False Albacore. There have been some hotspots out in Rhode Island now with some briefly showing up in Long Island and Block Island. We should expect to see some Albies locally in the next few weeks, however it is still fairly early. In the meantime, there are large Bluefish up to 15lbs cruising our part of the sound, with plenty of bait to feed on. Topwater flies have been producing well, especially during the morning hours when blues can be seen finning on the surface. There are plenty of Stripers out East, as well as local resident fish that are in their summer lies. Conditions for local saltwater will be fair this weekend, with gentle winds reaching up to 12mph from the N-NW and sunny conditions with air temperatures reaching the 80s. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 8/18/2023

August 18, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We had big spikes in flows from this morning’s rainstorms and many of our rivers are blown out. Unfortunately many of our local rivers and streams have also seen temperatures at 70 degrees and above, so they're currently unfishable. The Farmington looks to still be fishable at this time but be mindful of the high water temperatures and make sure to get out there early. Water is coming out of the dam at 67 degrees. On the saltwater front the Striper and Bluefish bite remains consistent. Blitzing fish tend to be an early morning game before they hunker back down in deeper, cooler water. This time of year can also be productive for night fishing with larger flies in Black/Purple. Read on for more...

Northeast Fishing Report: 8/11/2023

August 11, 2023 12 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We had a spike in flows from rainstorms this past week but flows are now back down to average levels and clarity. Unfortunately our local rivers and streams have seen temperatures at 70 degrees and above, so they're currently unfishable. However there are plenty of other options available, and the Smallmouth bass fishing has been excellent on the Housatonic for example. Many anglers are catching double digit numbers on small Wooly Buggers, and these fish are great fighters! Carp are also stacked in coves and back bays, which provide a unique opportunity for sight fishing. The Delaware and the Farmington are the most viable options for trout, as the water there is still at fishable temperatures. On the Farmington we recommend looking further up towards the dam as the day progresses since the lower section of the river will be too warm by the afternoon. On the saltwater front the Striper and Bluefish bite remains consistent. Blitzing fish tend to be an early morning game before they hunker back down in deeper cooler water. This time of year can also be productive for night fishing with larger flies in Black/Purple. Read on for more...

Northeast Fishing Report: 8/4/2023

August 04, 2023 11 min read

Greeting Compleat Anglers! Despite the heatwave and influx of dirty water in the Sound from our heavy rains, the Striper and Bluefish bite has held up. It continues to be a great season especially for this time of year. Most of the large 40” and over Stripers are going to be holding in deeper water structure given the heat, however they can be seen crashing bait on top during first light. Your Bunker imitations are going to be the best bet this time of year, and there are Bluefish hanging around and eager to take topwater flies. Rocky structures have been holding Stripers around the Norwalk Islands, and some of the Westport beaches have been seeing schoolie Blues and Stripers blitzing on bait towards the evenings. While flows and clarity have improved on most of our local streams, hot water temperatures are making the small stream options unfishable for the time being. However, now is a good time to think of Carp or Smallmouth fishing on the Housatonic. The water temperatures above New Hartford on the Farmington are still fishable, and they should improve now that water overflow has stopped spilling at the dam. The dry fly action has seen a lull but will hopefully improve with the normalized flows. Sulphur hatches on the Delaware remain decent with some Isonychia, Cahill, Caddis, and Ants in the mix. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 7/28/23

July 28, 2023 11 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! The heat is on but thankfully it’s going to be short lived. The fishing should improve by Sunday with more favorable temps in store. Flows continue to be erratic, but are generally on the downswing across the board. The highest is the Housatonic and the Farmington and the Naugatuck are getting closer to wadable water. Our suggestion would be to stick with our local rivers in the early part of the day in order to minimize stress on the fish. Not much has changed regarding the Sound. With the full moon approaching some may have the worm hatch on their mind, and with any luck that will lead to some great night fishing. Fingers crossed! Bass have been chasing bait up high which means that topwater and flies presented with intermediate sinking lines have been working well. There have still been large bass hanging around deep water structure and also chasing bunker near shore. Anglers that are covering ground searching for fish have been the most successful in their efforts. Flows are currently at good levels for floating the Delaware River, specifically on the West Branch, where the main hatch continues to be Sulphurs. Make sure to check flows and temperatures before deciding to fish, as a little planning will help you have a safe and successful day. The weather should improve in the Catskills Sunday, and should hold up throughout the early part of the week. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 7/21/23

July 21, 2023 12 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Another week of high flows continues, with some areas being more fishable than others. Our Connecticut rivers that are currently the highest include the Housatonic and Farmington, which are currently at unsafe levels for wading. Our suggestion would be to fish our more local rivers, which are currently above average but fishable. Another option that has been holding strong for this time of year is saltwater fishing. Bass have been chasing bait up high which means that topwater and flies presented with intermediate sinking lines have been working well. There have still been large bass hanging around deep water structure and also chasing bunker near shore. Anglers that are covering ground searching for fish have been the most successful in their efforts. Flows are currently at good levels for floating the Delaware River, specifically on the West Branch, where the main hatch continues to be Sulphurs. Make sure to check flows and temperatures before deciding to fish, as a little planning will help to have a safe and successful day. The weather should improve after our thunderstorms on Friday, and should hold up throughout this upcoming week. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 7/14/23

July 14, 2023 12 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Significant rain early in the week caused many of our rivers to blow out and most are still quite high. Many areas issued flood warnings and unfortunately, with thunderstorms in the forecast for parts of the region over the next few days, anglers may have to wait a bit longer for things to settle down to more fishable levels. Hopefully when they do and when the turbidity clears, the water temps will be a bit cooler and prolong what has been a pretty good season, especially this deep into the summer. Striper fishing remains consistent, with many schoolies still claiming territory around the islands and coves. Bunker are pushing closer into the harbors and nearshore, and during the early mornings you may see large Bluefish or Stripers blitzing on them. Also, some of our night fishing friends have been doing well in many of the coastal tributaries from the shore. The consensus is that every day has been different, some days are lights out while others not so much. Rhode Island is still experiencing large numbers of adult Sand Eels nearshore and larger Stripers have moved into the area. Overall, there are still plenty of great angling options if you are looking to get out on the water right now. Read on for more…

Northeast Fishing Report: 7/7/2023

July 07, 2023 12 min read

Hello Compleat Angler friends! After rain and release our river flows are looking more promising for this upcoming week. With that said, keep an eye on water temperatures as most of our local rivers will heat up during the afternoons. Water on the Farmington River is up, which is good news for our streamer aficionados. Smallmouth fishing on the Housatonic has been great however flows are over 2000 cfs which makes for stained water and tough wading. Striper fishing remains consistent, with many schoolies still claiming territory around the islands and coves. Bunker are pushing closer into the harbors and nearshore, and during the early mornings you may see large Bluefish or Stripers blitzing on them. The consensus is that every day has been different, some mornings are lights out while others not so much. Rhode Island is still experiencing large numbers of adult Sand Eels nearshore and larger Stripers have moved into the area. Overall, there are still plenty of good options especially considering the hot temperatures we’ve had. Read on for more…

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