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Northeast Fishing Report 12/19/2025
Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week we have few changes to our local freestones; flows are still low and are unaffected by snowmelt. Snowmelt will drop water temperatures a bit as that cold water enters the rivers. You may see some small Blue Winged Olives and Midges hatching during the afternoon; however, hatches will be diminished with these colder water temperatures. Nymphing will be the most effective technique followed by streamer fishing. For nymphs, consider bringing small imitative selections (sizes 18-24). In addition, egg patterns will still be working now that the majority of Brown Trout have finished spawning. For streamers, you will want to try swinging flies on a floating or sink tip line. Jigging streamers can also be effective because they present a slower and more enticing action to lethargic fish. Trout fishing during colder temperatures will result in finding a narrow bite window during the day, usually when water temperatures are at their highest. During this time bug and trout activity will be at its peak. Overall, fish deeper pools methodically, and don’t be discouraged as catch rates can generally be lower during Winter. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead and Brown Trout are spread throughout the system, and anglers are finding single digit numbers of Steelhead each day on average. Nymphing with egg patterns and stoneflies will be most effective, however aggressive fish will still willingly take a swung fly.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are now low, clear, and cold on our local Connecticut freestones. For instance, the Saugatuck River is reading 18 CFS. Levels remain unaffected by snowmelt over the past few days; however, snowmelt will drop water temperatures by a few degrees. The good news is that most options have been stocked for this Fall. Many have some trout as a result, and they are now acclimated and eating smaller and more natural nymphs as they enter their winter behavior. You can expect hatches of Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, and some Midges. Most of the fishing will be best subsurface, however, with hatch activity being diminished due to colder temperatures. It will be worth bringing streamers as you may still find an aggressive fish or two. Jigged streamers or a slow enticing retrieve is recommended. A dry/dropper rig is also an effective searching technique when fishing low water events. Now that water temperatures are colder, trout metabolism will slow down. You will want to focus on the deeper pools, fishing low and slow, as trout will become less willing to expend energy. Having a double nymph rig will give trout options in size and pattern, as well as improve your sink rate when using nymphs with bead heads.
Dry Fly Hatches:
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 have been consistently low and are holding around 154 CFS at the Beacon Falls Gauge. The good news is that the state has stocked trout in both the lower and upper sections, and during current conditions the deeper pools will be holding more fish. In addition, more Atlantic Salmon were recently stocked, and will be holding close to areas they were put in the river since there were no high-water events. 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. Atlantic Salmon will be tougher to find now, as high water events will cause them to travel downriver. You may also find some trout, and similar bug activity to our 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 were dropped this past week. At Riverton, the West Branch Gauge is reading 114 CFS, while the Still River is adding 54.1 CFS. All sections of the Farmington will have good clarity and easy wading this weekend with below average flows. Water temperatures on the West Branch will cool a few degrees from snowmelt. Hatches haven’t been exceptional; however, you may find some small Blue Winged Olives, and Midges. 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. Nymphing will be best for most of the day, and with temperatures being cold in the early morning look to start fishing when water temperature warms a bit. During winter fishing there will be a narrow bite window throughout the day, usually when water temperatures are at their warmest, so look for an increase in trout activity during the afternoon. Some trout have started to hunker down in the deeper pools now as water temperatures continue to drop, so it is worth fishing the deeper pools methodically with nymphs. During the morning hours streamer fishing can also be an effective technique, both stripped slow and jigged, 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, while the majority of Brown Trout have finished spawning, you still will want to avoid fishing to paired up late spawners and avoid stepping on Redds. As a result, egg flies are also working well this time of year.
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 down a bit compared to last week but are holding steady, with the Falls Village Gauge reading 451 CFS. 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 stocked on two occasions this Fall and are now acclimated and keyed in on the natural forage. Since water temperatures have cooled, they will be more lethargic and holding in the deeper and slower sections. Mop Flies, Squirmy Worms, egg flies, and a variety of streamers will be effective; however, you will want to bring smaller and more imitative nymphs as well. Anglers are also still finding a few Smallmouth Bass. More educated and larger holdover trout that have been in the system longer are keying in on small Blue Winged Olives in the late afternoon and evenings. For Smallmouth, we recommend streamers such as Wolly Buggers, Crayfish Patterns, and popper flies.
Dry Fly Hatches:
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
Salmon River
Flows have been holding below average on the Salmon River this past week and are currently 482 CFS at the Pineville Gauge. Both clarity and wading will be ideal for this weekend. Steelhead and a few Brown Trout now spread throughout the entire river. Steelhead will be in their holding lies during current flows, preferring the deeper pools. As such, you will want to fish these likely areas slowly and methodically, especially with cold water temperatures. Most anglers are finding a few Steelhead each day. For Steelhead, we recommend using a 9’ 3x 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 different colored intruders such as Pink, Blue, Black, Purple, and Chartreuse swung on single and two-hand rods. Egg sucking leeches, Woolly Buggers, Glo Bugs, Squirmy Worms, Stoneflies, and Estaz Eggs in a variety of colors will work well. Steelhead and some nice Brown Trout have moved into the smaller tributaries as well.