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Northeast Fishing Report 4/10/26
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! April is off to a killer start, with stocked trout, prespawn largemouth, and even a few holdover stripers hitting flies across the state. With the DEEP’s prolific stocking program in full swing, people are staying busy on local rivers, where trout are keyed in on small black stoneflies and subtle streamer presentations. Largemouth are moving into shallow water as temps climb, clobbering larger presentations as they move through the prespawn. We’ve even heard whispers of a few holdover stripers starting to take offerings in the Hudson and the Housatonic.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are way down across the southern portion of the state, with the Saugatuck at 45 CFS. Anglers have been talking a big game about small black stonefly presentations working statewide, with fish also taking small stonefly patterns on top. The key has been to skate them across flat sections approaching a riffle. The Mianus, Mill, Housatonic, Naugatuck, and Hammonasset rivers have all been recently stocked. I got into a nice batch of brookies, browns, and rainbows on a local river the other night, all keyed in on small, brightly colored conehead streamers. I won’t say exactly where, but any body of water right now is probably teeming with stockies. Again, consider subtle patterns that match local hatches, or pairing down your presentation. A dry/dropper rig is an effective searching technique, and 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
The Naugatuck is down to 426 CFS. The Beacon Falls section of the river was just recently stocked in the last two weeks, so fresh fish should be hungry and willing to take a variety of flies as they spread out and acclimate to the water. I would suggest nymphs and stonefly patterns, including small conehead streamers. When searching for stocked trout, they will typically hold close to stocking sites, which are available on the DEEP website. Try targeting pools and pocket water along the banks, as well as deeper water at the end of riffles or shallower runs. Targeting structure this time of year is key.
Farmington River
Looks like nice weather for the weekend, with highs in the upper 50’s, sunny Saturday with a mix of sun and clouds on Sunday. Total flow this week has been in the low 400 CFS range. Riverton above the Still River is just under 300 CFS, they will likely cut it back to 150-200 CFS for Saturday. With the Still River added in, that would put the total flow in the Permanent TMA/C&R in the range of 275-300cfs for the weekend.
Rising water temps are picking the fishing up, especially where they recently stocked. You still have to work hard and grind for the bigger holdover and wild browns. Quite a few fish are holding in faster water now, it’s definitely not Winter fishing anymore. The recent stockers are mostly rainbows that average about 13-15”, with some 16” and many pushing the 1.5-2 pound mark. They fight HARD. There are also brook trout and brown trout in the stocker mix. Above the Permanent TMA/C&R in Riverton has been stocked once so far, it should get hit again sometime this week before Opening Day (Saturday 4/11). Below the Permanent TMA, it has now been stocked twice, with more to come. The holdovers & wild Brown Trout have been a large average size (16-19”, with some in the 20” plus range). Not surprisingly, the brutally cold Winter we had is making the hatches start later than normal- the Baetis/BWO’s were about 2 weeks late.
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 have dropped considerably, with the Falls Village Gauge reading 1410 CFS. Upper sections of the river near Kent have been recently stocked, and we are hearing good things about small black stonefly hatches, and some scattered reports of BWO’s, although it is a bit early. Small is best this time of year, so nymphs might be the way to go. We are hearing whispers about holdover striped bass moving into the mouth of the river. The water temperature is low, bouncing between 42 and 48 degrees depending on the tide. As we approach that magic 50 degree mark, bass will start to push up shallow to feed. Might not be a bad idea to keep an 8 or 9wt. setup handy, as well as a few weighted clousers in white, pink, or chartreuse.
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
New York
Salmon River
The Salmon River is at 1160 CFS, a good, fishable level for the first time since the dam release closed the fishing section of the river on March 31st. No reports have come yet, since the opening took place yesterday at 5:45am. Tight lines, and good luck!