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Northeast Fishing Report 4/24/26
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! This week has felt like proper spring. Warm days followed by cold days followed by wind and rain and water. It’s all over the map, but thankfully, the fish are still up and moving around. Stocking activity remains high across the state, with local waterways getting another slug of fresh fish, as well as rivers to our north like the Housatonic, Farmington, Naugatuck, and Salmon rivers. A variety of hatches have been taking place, with small stoneflies and caddis taking the cake. We are starting to see more BWO’s, Hendricksons, both male and female, as well as Apple Caddis and Blue Quills. With rain scheduled for Saturday, things might get a bit murky on Sunday, but we need the water as levels are low across the state.
Saltwater fishing is finally starting to heat up. The mouth of the Housatonic has been producing a solid bite. The fish are taking closures on outgoing tides, but we still haven’t heard anything about fresh fish just yet, although I am sure a few are already here. With this weeks warm weather and an approaching full moon on May 1, things should open up very soon.
If you don’t want to get wet on Saturday, join us at the shop on April 25th, for our Spring Slam! We will have food, music, vendor sales, and games.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are still way down across the southern portion of the state, with the Saugatuck at 33 CFS. Small stonefly patterns have been the play, with Hendricksons and other dries starting to become effective with increased hatches. One regular the other day came in and said he smoked them beneath the bridge on small dries early in the morning, as well as tiny black zebra midges. 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 month, and fish are still eating voraciously if you catch them at the right time. 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 back down to fishable levels at 355 CFS. The East Branch, Mid Sections, and Lower Section of the Naugatuck have recently been stocked, and with lower water, you should be able to find plenty of fish eating on top with the warm weather Friday evening. As the rain settles in, I would suggest nymphs and stonefly patterns, including small conehead streamers. 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
The big news is the Hendricksons are finally a full-blown afternoon hatch, stretching from the lower river in Collinsville/Unionville, and at least as far upstream as the Campground. Anglers hit a very good hatch last Tuesday, at the peak there were duns every 1-2 feet on the water, and a bunch more in the air.
Sunny/mild days will normally see the best Hendo hatches, colder cloudy days can be much slower. The nymphs get active subsurface 2-3 hours before the main event, and can give you some great nymphing. The lower the water, the more apt you are to see rising fish. If trout are not rising, fish subsurface, I guarantee the fish are eating, just not always on the surface where you want them to be. Typically the hatch comes off between mid to late afternoon, starting around 2-3pm, and going until 4-5pm. Hatch times are not set in stone, and can sometimes occur earlier. Spinner falls (egg-laying) can happen anytime from mid morning to dusk over the riffles, even though the books say it’s an evening event. Spinners will only fall when it’s mild out, dry, with minimal wind. If it’s cold or windy you may see them in the air, but they fly back into the trees and often fall the next day in mid to late morning, before the Hendrickson fishermen arrive in the afternoon. Make sure to have Hendrickson nymphs, emergers, duns, and spinners to cover all of your bases.
Other bugs anglers are seeing include small assorted Caddis #18-22 (gray/brown, black), and also a few #16-20 Baetis/Blue Winged Olive (BWO) hatches- BWO’s are almost over. There are good numbers of wild fish in the faster water now, due to rising water temps and more bugs. The nymphing has been very good lately, the fish are feeding well underwater.
The Permanent TMA/Catch & Release (C&R) was stocked on 4/13 with a large number of trout, predominantly browns, including 1,000 larger Two Year Olds that average 14-18” and are quite fat. Fishing is getting very good. Be prepared to fish subsurface, so far that’s been the main deal in 2026. Trout are always feeding subsurface this time of year, even when you don’t see risers or bugs.
FYI there is a new state record rainbow, caught on the Farmington, it weighed 16.47#, 31” with a 21 ¼” girth. This was stocked by the state for the Riverton Derby.
Total flow below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/C&R as of last Thursday was 365 CFS (medium) as normal/median historical total flow would be 477 CFS. Riverton above the Still River (dam down to the Rt 20 bridge) is 236 CFS (historical normal/median flow would be 278). The Still River is adding in 129 CFS right below that, normal/median flow would be 199 CFS.
Flies that are working include BMAR Hendrickson nymphs #12-14, Pheasant Tails/Frenchies #12-14, Caddis larva (cased & regular), #8-10 Stonefly nymphs, smaller Walt’s Worms, Blue Winged Olive nymphs #16-18, flashy Perdigons #16-20, Rainbow Warrior #16-18, Junk Flies (Eggs, Mops, Worms, Green Weenies), various streamers (Woolly Bugger, Zuddlers, etc.). 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. Some days there can be a good streamer bite. Top colors this time of year are white, olive, tan, and black.
Hendricksons are the current glamour hatch, now that they finally started. Milder/sunny days are best of all for Hendo hatches. We’ve been seeing smaller Caddis #18-22, gray/brown ones & black ones. Some Blue Winged Olives #16-20 are hatching on cloudy/cooler afternoons, but we are near the end for that bug. Early Black Stones are about done, you may still see a few up in Riverton. Midges are a daily occurrence.
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 back down to a comfortable level, with the Falls Village Gauge reading 1010 CFS. The upper TMA above the Cornwall Bridge was stocked 4 days ago, so there should be plenty of fish, although they still might be stacked up near the stocking sites. Wild fish will be more spread out, but will be more finicky and harder to fool. Brooks near the river around Kent have been recently stocked as well. It’s primarily the besttime of year for scuds, yellow stoneflies, prince nymphs and small black stoneflies nymphed deep in the pools. More and more regular have been in the shop telling us about their success from the Housatonic, so now is the time to head north and enjoy the scenery, the fish, and the nice weather before things get too warm and crowded!
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
As of Tuesday morning, the water temperature was 48F and 52F by the afternoon. The angler density was moderate and angler success was also moderate. Some anglers had a bit more luck when there was some cloud cover. Steelhead was the only species mentioned being hooked or landed. Most anglers were in the middle of the run, with a few walking up and down the run. The current dam release as of Tuesday was 750 CFS, although there was a dam release last night.
Catskills
We’re still seeing Hendricksons, Blue Quills, Olives, and little black caddis on the Delaware River. The hatches are building so it should just get better. Nymphs and streamers are the best bet early with the hatches coming later in the afternoon. It’s early Spring still so there may be spinners mixed in with the duns during the hatch. The release from Cannonsville is 600 cfs and there is 204 cfs spilling over the top. The forecast changes a bit every time we look but we should get 1/2″ or rain tomorrow spread out over the course of the day with more rain coming overnight.
Today will be 62 degrees with sunshine and clouds mixed. Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the North.
CT Saltwater
Spring striper fishing is underway across the state, with anglers, such as the shop's own Pat Huban of Albatross Fly Fishing, finding success in areas near the mouth of the Housatonic. Please reach out to book a trip with Pat, he is a great guide!
While wind has made some trips more difficult, anglers are finding fish early morning and around dusk on small Clousers. White and tan have been the key. Fish are still very sensitive to weather changes and temp changes this early in the season, but if you find a pod of them feeding shallow, stay put, as they are moving with the bait and the tide.
The average temperature of the sound is hovering near 46 degrees, but as we approach that magic 50 degrees marker, fish should start to eat more enthusiastically. Fresh fish are due any day now, so get out and go find ‘em!