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Northeast Fishing Report 12/5/2025
Hello Compleat Angler friends! The weather is getting chillier, and with that trout are starting their winter behavior. Metabolism will slow, and they will move into deeper and slower pools. Subsurface techniques will be more effective, as they will be less willing to expend energy. Our freestones across Connecticut are clear and wadable with below average flows. Persistent anglers have been catching fish primarily nymphing, and a few more aggressive fish have been taking streamers. Flows are also below average on the Naugatuck River, and more Atlantic Salmon were stocked recently. Flows are slightly below average on both the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers, which will have good clarity and easy wading this weekend. While water temperatures will result in diminished hatches, you may see some Blue Winged Olives hatching during the late afternoon and into the evening. Brown Trout have mostly finished spawning and are aggressive towards streamers; however, there are a few stragglers paired up so you will want to avoid fishing to them and stepping on their Redds. As a result of spawning, egg flies will also be working well. Flows have dropped a bit on the Salmon River in New York, creating ideal conditions for Steelhead fishing. Anglers are finding both Brown Trout and Steelhead spread throughout the entire river. Both swinging flies and nymphing will be effective methods.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows had a small spike from this past week’s rain on Connecticut freestones, and they are currently dropping. For instance, the Saugatuck River is reading 40.3 CFS. Lower than average but slight improvement over last week. 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. 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 stocked trout can be aggressive. 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 also seen an increase and are now dropping to 238 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. 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 have been constant throughout this week and are slightly below average. At Riverton, the West Branch Gauge is reading 260 CFS, while the Still River is dropping and currently 82.4 CFS. All sections of the Farmington are ideal for fishing and wading this weekend. Water temperatures on the West Branch have dropped into the low 40s. Hatches haven’t been exceptional; however, you may find some Tan/Olive Caddis, 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 throughout the afternoon, when hatch activity tends to slow down. Look for improved hatches in the late afternoon and into the evening. 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, 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 also remained consistent throughout the week, with the Falls Village Gauge reading 609 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 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
Salmon River
Flows on the Salmon River have gradually dropped throughout the past week, and are now slightly below average, reading 989 CFS at the Pineville Gauge. Both clarity and wading will be ideal for this weekend. The salmon run has reached its end, which has given way to Steelhead and a few Brown Trout now spread throughout the entire river. We can expect an increase in Steelhead numbers entering the river after a high-water event. With current flows, there will be a mix of fish holding and traveling, so they will be in a variety of water types. 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 bright colored intruders from Pink to Blue 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.
Catskills
Flows on the Delaware River are below average on all sections, with the Mainstem reading 1030 CFS at Lordville with water temperatures down to the low 30s. The West Branch at Hale Eddy is reading 275 CFS, while the East Branch is reading 536 CFS at Fishes Eddy. Hatches have been slowing with a drop in water temperature, but you will find some small Blue Winged Olives emerging, as well as Midges. Fish are now in their Winter holding lies, fishing the deeper and slower pools subsurface will be an effective method. On brighter sunny days you can expect the hatches to be best during the late afternoon. 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 while flows are low you may find some post spawn aggressive trou with streamers. Brown Trout have started spawning but you will still want to avoid fishing late spawners and stepping on their Redds. As a result, egg flies will be working, and you will find post-spawn fish aggressive on streamers.
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