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Fishing Report, July 26th
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Here is your fishing report for July 16th.
CATSKILLS
Recent rains and cooler temperatures have reduced water temps on the freestones and receding water levels will make for good fishing in the coming days. Hatches include Sulfurs, OlivesandIsos. As usual in the Summer, hatches start late in the afternoon with a good push of bugs and rising fish during the last hour of light. The hatch at dusk could include Sulfur Spinners and Rusty Spinners. During the day, Isonychiaare scattered about and can be a good choice with a #18 Pheasant Tail dropperin riffs and broken water. Ants and beetlesfished up against the banks will also be effective. The East Branch is 977cfs at Harvard and wadeable, but you will encounter tubers and kayakers. The West Branch is 951cfs and should be easier to wade as water levels recede. The upper Main Stem is cool enough to fish down to Buckingham.
The Beaverkill and Willowemoc are running high but fishable with recent rains and temperatures are in the low 60s in the am making for good conditions. Hatches include Sulfurs, Caddis and Blue Wing Olives and Pheasant Tailand Caddisnymphs (larva, pupa and emerger). The Neversink is at 244cfs with water temps in the low 60s at Bridgeville. This means the gorge will be at a good temperature to fish and could be a great choice for the next few days.
CONNECTICUT
The Farmington is your best bet in Connecticut, with cold tailwater temps and easy wading at @300cfs in the no kill area. Upcountry Sportfishing reports large browns slamming Isos in riffles and broken water. Cahills(18)and Sulfurs in the evening are the primary hatch and expect an hour of good activity at dusk. In the morning, there are tiny olives(needhami 22-26), a signature Farmington hatch and good challenge for advanced anglers. During the day, Iso, stonefly, caddisand PT nymphs work well in the riffs and broken water. If the river is crowded in the main pools, there are several productive side channels both up and downstream from the iron bridge in Barkhamstead.
The Housatonic is at a good wading level of 462 and, at 68 degrees in the morning, providing better smallmouth fishing. Streamers (wooly buggers and assortedimitations) will be effective as will large yellow stoneflies, princes and other attractor nymphs. If interested in fishing for pike in the Housy, come see Scott for the latest.
LONG ISLAND SOUND
We are in the mid summer slow time for fishing from the shore, so waders should focus on structure, like rocks, dropoffs, estuary outflows and tidal rips,for stripers. If you can get to deeper channels, it should offset high water temps in the 70s. Early morningand dusk will be the most productive times. Chartreuse Clousers on sunny days and Olive Clousers on cloudy days work well. Poppers and Crease flies may not catch as many fish, but seeing fish blow up on a surface fly is worth it. Boaters can look for schools of small bunker in open water as well as the usual structure holding fish, with a chance for larger fish in deeper channels.
Cape Cod is fishing well with fish feeding on the flats and in deeper channels. Good up to date reports can be found at saltycape.com.
Remember to check our local Fishing Reports for more detail on your favorite river.
(Jeff filling in for Len)