Fishing Report, June 14th, 2017

Greetings Compleat Anglers!  Here is your fishing report for June 14th.

Connecticut and Catskill rivers are finally returning to good levels and clarity following last week's deluge. Most are down to good wading levels, with an exception or two. With the warmer air temperatures this week insect activity is good, and all rivers have robust hatches. While there have been bugs throughout the day, with the warmer air temperatures, be sure to hang on the water 'till dark - there are great late hatches of Sulphurs and Drakes, and of course, Coffin Flies and other spinners. The weather is expected to turn a bit cooler today and that bodes well for helping to keep water temperatures down. In the Catskills, both the lower East Branch Delaware and lower Beaverkill are already in the mid-60's by afternoon, so please keep an eye on those water temperatures if you should be fishing those sections of river. In Connecticut, the Housatonic is also hovering on the 60's mark as well. As the WB Farmington is a tailwater, it's water temps stay reasonably cool throughout the summer.

In the Catskills, all rivers are at good levels and clear, although the West Branch and Main Stem of the Delaware are still too high to comfortably wade. Hatches for all three Delaware branches and the Beaverkill and Willowemac are similar so I'll cover all three together.  All three rivers are reporting hatches of Isos (#14); Cahills (#14 & #16); Sulphurs (#14 - #18); some lingering Green Drakes (#12); BWO (Cornutta) #14; BWO #18; Caddis (tan & olive #16-#18).  Nymphs, wets and soft hackles are also very effective, both with a strike indicator or swung. Caddis larva and pupa, Pheasant Tails, Sulphur nymphs, Stoneflies, and wets such as Hare's Ear, Dark Cahill and various soft hackles are all taking fish.

Catskill river flows are as follows:

Delaware EB at Fish's Eddy:  1100cfs at 62 degrees (Pepacton Reservoire pumping 401cfs);

Delaware WB at Hale Eddy:  918cfs at 47 degrees; 

Delaware Main Stem at Lordville:  2520cfs at 59 degrees;

Beaverkill at Cooks Falls:  441cfs at 64 degrees;

In Connecticut, both the West Branch of the Farmington River and the Housatonic River have great water clarity and are at near-perfect wading levels. In the Farmington, because it is a tailwater, water temperatures are still in the cool 50's.  There are hatches of Caddis (tan and olive, so try to confirm color!) Sulphurs (#16); March Browns (#12 & #14); and Vitreus (#14-#16). Nymphs, wets and soft hackles continue to be very effective and consistent. Best patterns are Caddis Pupa (#14-#18); Sulphur Nymphs #16; Pheasant Tails #16; Stonefly Nymphs (#8-#12); Hare's Ear and don't forget to include a few Mops in your box. 

In the Housatonic, the flow and clarity are perfect for wading. There are fish rising throughout the river. Bob Reichert fished the Housy this past week with Sal Renzuella and they had literally dozens of good fish on both dries and nymphs. Best dries are March Browns (#12-#14); Light Cahills (#14-#16); and BWO's (#16-#20). Nymphs such as the Green Caddis Pupa and Emerger, Hare's Ear, BH Prince, BH Pheasant Tail, along with Mops, Woolly Buggers, San Juan Worms and Egg patterns are all taking fish consistently.

Flows on the WB Farmington and Housatonic are as follows:

 WB Farmington at Riverton:  325cfs in the mid 50's;

Still River at Robertsville:  52cfs;

WB Farmington through the TMA:  377cfs in the mid-50's;

Housatonic at Falls Village:  763cfs in the high 50's/low60's;

And don't forget!  Both the Housatonic River in Connecticut and the Delaware Main Stem in New York are both stellar Smallmouth Bass rivers and with the advent of the warmer weather, don't miss out on an opportunity to fish for this hard-fighting gamefish. They are fantastic sport on a 5-WT fly rod!  And finally,  the Housatonic is also a great Pike fishery - so grab your 8-WT and go hunting for these aggressive predators!

In the salt, there are still good schools of Stripers and Blues marauding in the Sound - both around the beaches and harbors in the early morning and out in deeper water throughout the day. Lots of bait for them to crush and both the boaters and beach guys have been taking good numbers of schoolies with a few better fish mixed in.  Go-to flies are always Clousers, Sand Eel patterns, Deceivers, and any well-places streamer!

That's it for this week! Stop by the shop and as always, check out our fantastic inventory of all major brands of rods (Scott, Sage, Loomis, Winston, Reddington,and others); Reels (Abel, Hatch, Lamson, Hardy, Nautilus, Tibor, Sage, Ross and others); Waders, Boots, nets, accessories, flies, clothing - we have one of the best inventories in New England! If you need directions, river info, casting instruction, fly and hatch information, or just want to browse and say hi, we're here Monday to Saturday 9:30-5:00 and Sundays 11:00-4:00. Hope to see you soon!

Tight Lines!