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Hello Compleat Angler friends, this weekend will be a little tricky for fishing in Connecticut, with Sunday having some higher winds. Saturday, however, will see calmer conditions being overcast with a chance of rain. Our dry fly anglers will want to bring some Blue Winged Olives with them, as these conditions are a recipe for an afternoon BWO hatch. All of our Connecticut options are at below average flows, which means good clarity and easy wading. The fishing has been good with plenty of options to consider after Spring Stocking. On the Farmington River anglers are finding both larger holdovers and stocked fish. Great news is that the Housatonic is at fishable levels, and so far one of the TMAs has been stocked. We’re starting to see the first of the Hendrickson hatches, which should improve in the coming weeks. On the saltwater anglers are finding good schoolie action around the mouths of rivers, harbors, and coves. You may see birds diving and fish working the surface. Most of the bait will be small besides Herring, and we’re still waiting on the arrival of the Bunker. Things are really starting to materialize!
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Our Connecticut Rivers and Streams are currently low, clear and easy for wading, for instance the Saugatuck River is 51.3 CFS (where the mean is 182 CFS). Our warmer afternoons have brought more hatch activity, mainly in the form of some Black Stoneflies, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and more recently some Hendricksons. With low clear flows expect fish to rise this weekend, so it will also help to have some emergers on hand. Streamer fishing is still working, most notably during the morning when there are no hatches. Look to fish small Woolly Buggers in a variety of colors. Nymphing will also be very effective when there is no hatch activity.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Small Black Stoneflies 14-18
Blue Winged Olives (sparse Hatch) 18-24
Adams Parachute (Attractor) 16-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Chartreuse, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
All sections of the Naugatuck River and Shetucket have been stocked this Spring, so fishing should be good for a variety of techniques. Flows are well below average with good clarity and easy wading, the Beacon Falls gauge is currently 345 CFS. You can expect hatches like our local rivers: Midges, Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Small Black Stoneflies, and Hendrickson. Also consider bringing nymphs that are listed under our “Local Rivers” section. Nymphing will be the most productive method, especially in the morning when hatch activity is lowest. Stocked fish will be forgiving in terms of fly selection, so bringing some streamers can be an exciting way to take advantage of their aggressive nature. Currently flows are on the low side for streamer fishing, but this is still an option during the morning. The Naugatuck and Shetucket are good alternatives for areas with more crowds/pressure.
Flows on the West Branch at Riverton are currently below average at 157 CFS while the Still is adding 84.5 CFS. Water temperatures at the West Branch gauge are fluctuating in the mid to high 40s, and temperatures have improved for hatches. Many areas of the Farmington River are stocked with additional stockings occurring more recently. Overall, water clarity and flows are good for fishing this weekend with easy wading. Hatches are starting to improve, you may see Blue Winged Olives, Tan Caddis, Midges, and more recently Hendricksons in the afternoon and evenings. The mornings have been better for nymphing and streamer fishing, with a variety of patterns working on stocked fish. For the holdover fish, you will want to use smaller and more natural-colored nymphs. For dry fly leaders we prefer a 9-12’ 5x-6x, and for nymphing a 9’ 5x-6x. Streamer fishing depends on the line; for sinking lines a short 5’ section of 10-15lb will work well while floating lines will require a longer 7.5-9’ leader in 10lb.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Hendrickson 12-14 (Sparse Hatches Still)
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
Flows on the Housatonic are now ideal for wading, reading 952 CFS at the Falls Village Gauge. For hatches you will encounter Blue Winged Olives on the overcast afternoons, some Tan Caddis, Midges, and we are expecting Hendricksons any day now. Now that water temperatures have warmed a bit, and flows are lower we can expect some good hatch activity. Nymphing and Streamer fishing are both producing fish, especially during the morning. The Housatonic TMA near Bulls Bridge was recently stocked, and there is a fair amount of holdover fish to keep one satisfied.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Hendrickson 12-14 (Sparse Hatches Still)
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
Migratory Stripers are still in the process of moving up the coast, so it is still relatively early for Striper fishing until water temperatures improve, however you may start to find some smaller migratory fish pushing Herring along the shoreline. On the Housatonic River, some anglers have been finding drop back Stripers fishing the mouth, however most of the fish are still staged upriver. Resident Schoolies are becoming more active in coves and harbors, so keep your eyes peeled for birds diving and surface feeding. Fishing will keep improving by the week. Clousers, Deceivers, and larger Herring patterns have been working. You may also find some fish on shallower mud flats as those tend to warm up quickly.
Hot Flies for Spring:
Custom Tied Baby Bunker (Super Realistic!)
Bob’s Banger (Stripers and Bluefish)
Good Fly Lines for Spring:
Rio Outbound Short (Good for big flies and big winds)
Rio Striper (Good all-rounder)
Leaders:
Please report any poaching to the DEEP by calling 1-860-424-3333.
Report on the Salmon River have been overall positive with more Steelhead dropping downriver, so the lower sections of river have seen an increase in activity, with most being post-spawn fish. Flows have recently dropped and are reading 680 CFS at the Pineville Gauge. Fish are spread throughout the river with some traveling and others holding, so we recommend fishing both the deeper slower pools and faster tailouts and the head of the run. Covering ground will aid in your success. Both Swinging flies with a single or two-handed rod and nymphing are working. For nymphing we recommend using 9’ leaders in 1-3X, and having a barrel swivel connecting your leader to tippet will help for faster rerigging during breakoffs, as well as offer a point where your split shot can’t slide down to your fly. For two handed rods, both Skagit and Skandi heads will work this time of year.
Nymphs:
Glo Bugs in various colors/sizes
Streamers:
Intruders/Tube Flies in various colors (Pink, Black, Purple, Blue, Olive, Brown)
Woolly Buggers 6-10 (Brown, Olive, White)
On the Delaware River the flow on the Mainstem at Lordville is currently 1310 CFS which is below average. The East Branch at Fishes Eddy is 687 CFS and the West Branch at Hale Eddy is 370 CFS. Overall, flows are lower than average on all sections. You may see some Blue Winged Olives, Quill Gordons, and Blue Quills hatching; typically, you will find Blue Winged Olives during the overcast afternoons. In addition, Apple Caddis are hatching in waves with a few Hendricksons being spotted. With flows below average you can opt to streamer fish during the morning with floating lines and weighted flies, and nymphing has been the most effective when there is no surface activity. Hatch activity has been excellent recently, with some good-sized fish rising to a variety of insects. Water temperatures are ideal, fluctuating in the mid to high 50s.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Small Black Stoneflies 14-18 (sunny afternoons)
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Blue Quills 16-18
Quill Gordon 12-14
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
Anglers are seeing improved Striper fishing for migratory fish in the Southwestern portion of Long Island along the coast to New Jersey, where the topwater bite has been great. Along the Northshore of Long Island anglers are finding some schoolies in the harbors and coves. For the migratory fish the prevalent bait is Adult Bunker and there are still a few Herring. For schoolies action along the Northshore you will want to use smaller flies, Clousers, Deceivers, and Shrimp patterns.
Holdover fishing has been good around Providence to Newport, with most of the action happening in coves, salt ponds, rivers, and harbors. There are a few migratory fish showing up along the coastline, however their numbers are still sparse. Smaller flies will be working, namely Clousers in White, Olive, Chartreuse, and Tan until larger bait shows up in numbers.
