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Northeast Fishing Report 11/7/2025
Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week flows are back down on our freestone options across Connecticut, and most of the fish will be hunkered in the deeper pools. There is still action to be had thanks to stocking, and most anglers are finding the subsurface fishing to be most effective with small nymphs and streamers. On the Farmington, Housatonic, and Delaware Rivers the primary hatches are Blue Winged Olives during the afternoons and evenings. All these options will have clear and fishable flows for the weekend, with the Housatonic having great flows for wading. Anglers are finding a mix of stocked and larger holdover fish. Nymphing with small flies has been the most effective option on the Farmington, but it is also worth bringing some larger stonefly patterns. All options will have improved streamer fishing as well, since Brown Trout are pre-spawn. You may come across paired up fish that are already spawning, so avoid stepping on their spawning beds (Redds). On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead are starting to dominate the lower sections of the river as the salmon runs taper off, there are also some nice Brown Trout, which have also pushed into the smaller tributaries. On the saltwater, the best action for Stripers is along the Southshore from Long Island into New Jersey. Meanwhile, the Long Island Sound has been spotty with some areas holding bait and fish on top briefly. Areas to consider are deep structure along the Northshore, and the mouth of rivers and harbor along the Connecticut Shoreline. Albies have moved out with a few scattered Bonito still remaining.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are back down on our local freestones well below average. For instance, the Saugatuck River is reading 18.8 CFS. The good news is that most options have been stocked, with the Saugatuck being stocked recently. Many options have improved for fishing as a result, and trout will be forgiving in terms of fly selection. You can expect hatches of Caddis, Blue Wingd Olives, Light Cahill, Isonychia, and some Midges. Most of the fishing will be best subsurface. It will be worth bringing streamers as stocked trout can be aggressive. Anglers are finding some nice Brook Trout. A dry/dropper rig is also an effective searching technique when fishing low water events. Stocked trout will be taking a variety of gaudy and larger flashier nymphs until the key into the natural forage.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (Overcast Days) 18-24
Adams Parachute (Attractor) 16-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Chartreuse, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Naugatuck River
Flows on the Naugatuck River are also low and holding at 190 CFS at the Beacon Falls Gauge. The good news is that the state has stocked Atlantic Salmon and trout in both the lower and upper sections, and during current conditions the deeper pools will be holding more fish. A variety of streamers will work, from Woolly Buggers to more traditional Atlantic Salmon Flies. Try swinging your fly through the pools, and sometimes varying your presentation, such as stripping you fly, will entice a grab. You may also find some trout, and similar bug activity to out local rivers and streams report. Nymphing will be effective when there is no hatch activity. The Shetucket River was also stocked with Atlantic Salmon and Trout this Fall.
Farmington River
Flows on the West Branch of the Farmington River received a small bump but are still below average. At Riverton, the West Branch Gauge is reading 162 CFS, while the Still River has dropped to 94.9 CFS. All sections of the Farmington will be clear and easy for wading this weekend. Water temperatures on the West Branch are in the low to mid 50s. Hatches haven’t been exceptional; however, you may find some Tan/Olive Caddis, larger October Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahill, Midges, and Isonychia during the evenings. The insects will be small this time of year, so you will want to bring small dries and an assortment of small nymphs, especially during average and below-average flows. Also, a consideration is terrestrials, such as ants and beetles. Nymphing will be best throughout the afternoon, when hatch activity tends to slow down. Trout are now spread into the well oxygenated faster water and all water types, and it will be worth fishing off the beaten path. During the morning hours streamer fishing can also be an effective technique, especially for the more recently stocked trout that are most aggressive, and pre-spawn Brown Trout. For dry fly fishing with smaller flies, we recommend a 9-12’ leader in 6x. As a reminder, some Brown Trout have started to spawn, so you will want to avoid fishing to paired up spawners and avoid stepping on Redds.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Larger Articulated Streamers on a sinking/sink tip line
Housatonic River
Flows on the Housatonic River are dropping gradually, and current reading 688 CFS at Falls Village which is below average. Clarity and wading will be ideal for all sections this weekend, and trout fishing will be decent as the Housatonic was stocked for the fall. Trout have been recently stocked on two occasions, and these fish will be forgiving in terms of fly selection. This means Mop Flies, Squirmy Worms, and a variety of streamers will be effective. Anglers are also still finding some Smallmouth Bass. More educated and larger holdover trout that have been in the system longer are keying in on small Blue Winged Olives and some Isonychia during the evening. For Smallmouth, we recommend streamers such as Wolly Buggers, Crayfish Patterns, and popper flies. For Trout, Blue Winged Olive dry flies and emergers, small nymphs, and larger Stonefly nymphs have been working. It will also be worth bringing streamers in a variety of sizes and colors.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Larger Articulated Streamers on a sinking/sink tip line
Saltwater
The Western Sound has seen some Stripers which will continue through November, as well as some resident fish preparing to hold over. It has been more hit-or-miss recently. Focusing on rocky coves, shallow water, the mouths of rivers, and harbors, you may find fish blitzing on Peanut Bunker. The Eastern Sound is also seeing some action from the mouth of the Housatonic to Fisher’s Island and the mouth of the Connecticut River. You may find Stripers and some larger Bluefish, as Albies and Bonito have mostly moved on. This past week the Stripers are more concentrated around key areas which include the mouths of rivers, versus the open Sound. The most prevalent bait is Bay Anchovies and Peanut Bunker.
Hot Flies for Summer/Fall:
Custom Tied Baby Bunker (Super Realistic!)
Bob’s Banger (Stripers and Bluefish)
Surf Candies for Bonito and Albies
Good Fly Lines for Fall:
Rio Outbound Short (Good for big flies and big winds)
Rio Striper (Good all-rounder)
Leaders:
9' 16lb Fluorocarbon Leader for Bonito and Albies
Please report any poaching to the DEEP by calling 800-842-4357.
New York
Salmon River
Flows are increasing on the Salmon River and are just below average with the Pineville Gauge reading 747 CFS. Salmon are mainly concentrated in the upper portions as the run is slowing down, meanwhile Steelhead and some nice Brown Trout are entering the river and are the primary catch in the lower sections. For Kings and Cohos, we recommend using a 16-20 tapered leader with split shot rigged above a micro swivel to avoid having your split shot slide down to your fly. For flies, more aggressive fish in the lower sections will grab larger and bright colored intruders from Pink to Blue and Chartreuse swung on single and two-hand rods. Egg sucking leeches, Woolly Buggers, Glo Bugs, and Estaz Eggs in a variety of colors will work well. Kings are now spawning in a variety of locations throughout the river and are now into the smaller tributaries. We are currently in transition to Steelhead, and when nymphing Stoneflies, Egg Flies, and Squirmy Worms are good options to have. Anglers are also having success swinging flies on single or two-handed rods.
Catskills
Flows on the Mainstem of the Delaware River are below average but slowly increasing, with the Lordville Gauge reading 1130 CFS. Water temperatures on the Mainstem are now in the mid-40s, and flows will be clear and still fishable by drift boat while a little high for wading this weekend. The East Branch flows are below average, 615 CFS at Fishes Eddy, and the West Branch is also below average reading 306 CFS at Hale Eddy. Hatches have been improved, and some days have been producing great Blue Winged Olive hatches. On brighter sunny days you can expect the hatches to be best during the evening. For hatches you can expect Blue Winged Olives on overcast days, Light Cahill, Tan Caddis, and Isonychia. Often, fish will be keyed in on very small Blue Winged Olives (Pseudos in size 20-28) during the afternoon. Nymphing will be the most effective method when there are no hatches, and streamer fishing will be improved with higher flows. Sticking to streamer fishing during the morning with floating or sinking lines will pick up a few aggressive pre-spawn Brown Trout. Hatch sizes will be small and trickier to fish this time of year, and we recommend a leader at least 12’ long in 6x.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Larger Articulated Streamers on a sinking/sink tip line
New York Saltwater
The South Shore of Long Island into New Jersey has been seeing the best Striper action as of recent, with Peanut Bunker and Sand Eels being the primary bait. Along the Northshore there are Stripers blitzing on Peanut Bunker along the shoreline. Larger Bluefish are being caught along the Southshore. There are a few Stripers being caught on the East End towards Montauk although numbers haven’t been phenomenal. There is still good Striper fishing in the bays. Anglers are still finding Bonito blitzing, however the Albies have slowed as the run nears its end.
Rhode Island Saltwater
Anglers are still finding some pods of Albies and Bonito scattered across the shoreline, however weather windows have been tricky to find. Striper fishing in the bays and mouth of rivers has been holding steady, while the oceanside has been hit or miss. Some days will have Stripers on bait in deeper water structure as they migrate through or start to settle into the winter holdover spots.