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Northeast Fishing Report 4/17/26
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! We hope you have been taking advantage of the warm weather this week. Stocked and native trout are taking a variety of offerings across the state, from black stoneflies and hendricksons, to wooly buggers and nymphs. With conditions drier than usual, many of these trout are hunkered beneath bridges, in deep pools, and rocky cuts. Targeting them in lower light has been the key, and some fish are starting to eat on top with increased hatch activity. On the saltwater front, I imagine we are only days away from hearing about fresh striped bass in the Sound, but some anglers have already tried their luck with holdovers in salt ponds, estuaries, and local river mouths. The weather this weekend will bring back more seasonally appropriate temperatures, and hopefully some rain, but that shouldn’t impact any trips you have planned.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are still way down across the southern portion of the state, with the Saugatuck at 42 CFS. Small stonefly patterns have been the play, with hendricksons and other dries starting to become effective with increased hatches. Small conehead streamers in darker brown or tan have also been effective, with trout taking them on the pause when stripping the fly upstream, imitating a struggling baitfish. The Mianus, Mill, Housatonic, Naugatuck, and Hammonasset rivers have all been stocked in the last two weeks, so fish shouldn’t be hard to find. 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 way up to 926 CFS. Be cautious. 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
At 9am on the 13th, the dam release was increased by 70 CFS, bumping the Riverton USGS gauge at the Rt. 20 bridge from 89 CFS to 159 CFS, giving us a total flow below the Still River of 252 CFS, a medium level and unusually nice for mid April when flows are typically high. The Still River is contributing 93 CFS to the total flow. Normal/median historical total flow for today would be 543 CFS.
Fishing season is in full swing now. Friday, 4/10, they cut the dam release from 300 down to 90 CFS for the Derby/Opening Day weekend. Total flow below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/C&R was 182 CFS on Monday morning, normal/median historical total flow would be 543 CFS. Riverton above the Still River (dam down to the Rt 20 bridge) is only 89 CFS (historical normal/median flow would be 264), but as mentioned above they should be bumping it back up this morning, probably 200+ CFS. The Still River is adding in 93 CFS and slowly dropping right below that, normal/median flow would be 279 CFS, we could use some rain again. Riverton is 42 degrees, it reached 48 degrees on Sunday afternoon. Unionville USGS is low at 317 CFS, the normal/median flow for Unionville would be 1,050 CFS for today.
I’m guessing we will see the Hendrickson hatch starting up soon, possibly by the weekend. We’ve been seeing some Baetis/Blue Winged Olives #16-20, more so on cooler/cloudy afternoons (they don’t like warm/sunny days), and there were a lot of #20 gray/brown Caddis in the air over the weekend.
It’s still mostly a nymphing & streamer game, but the dry fly fishing will be picking up. Everything outside of the Permanent TMA/Catch & Release (C&R) has been stocked 1-2x already, with more to come soon. The Permanent TMA/C&R will probably get stocked this week or next week. The stocked trout are biting well, and if you find a pod of them you can rack up some numbers. The holdover & wild browns are harder to catch, but of a large average size. The best overall tactic of late has been nymphing with flies in the #14-20 range.
Baetis/Blue Wing Olives #16-18 are hatching currently, they are an afternoon deal and can bring trout to the surface in slower water. You can also fish nymphs imitating them. Early Black Stoneflies #14-16 are almost over, you are most likely to see them upriver. Flies that are workning include Caddis larva (cased & regular), Blue Winged Olive nymphs #16-18, nymphs #14-20 (Midges & Mayflies), flashy Perdigons #16-20, Rainbow Warrior #16-18, Junk Flies (Eggs, Mops, Worms, Green Weenies), various streamers (Woolly Bugger, Zuddlers, etc.)- fish them all slow & deep. In the mornings (roughly 7am to 10am’ish) you may find some trout rising to Winter Caddis, and during cloudy afternoons, there may be a few trout rising to Baetis/BWO’s. Strikes to nymphs can be VERY subtle, so set the hook on anything. Remember, “hook sets are free”. Some days there can be a good streamer bite. Top colors this time of year are white, olive, tan, and black.
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 up a bit, with the Falls Village Gauge reading 1520 CFS. Brooks near the river around 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. It’s primarily the best time of year for scuds, yellow stoneflies, prince nymphs and small black stoneflies nymphed deep in the pools.
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 water temperature this morning was 45F and this afternoon was 49F. The angler density was low, success was slow, and visibility was about 2 feet. The morning anglers stated that small jerk baits were successful. Steelhead was the only species noted. The current dam release is 1800CFS and is currently scheduled to stay at that flow until 11:59pm on 04/16/2026. The gauge at Pineville is at 2420CFS. Tonight: Heavy rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall possibly over one inch. Tomorrow: Rain showers in the morning then thundershowers in the afternoon. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Tomorrow Sunrise: 6:22 am Tomorrow Sunset: 7:48 pm