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Hello Compleat Angler friends! Scattered rain this past week has helped keep flows slightly above average on our local rivers and streams, which should make for some ideal conditions for this weekend. In addition, Trout were recently stocked in select areas, so a variety of techniques will be working, especially streamers. Water temperatures and flows will have Trout holding in a variety of water types. The Housatonic has dropped near fishable levels and there have been some great afternoon and evening hatches. The Farmington River also has ideal levels and anglers are finding stocked, holdover, and wild fish. Primary hatches will be Olive/Tan Caddis, Light Cahill, Blue Winged Olives, and a few Hendricksons still hatching in some rivers. Meanwhile, the Delaware river is seeing more hatches of March Browns. On the saltwater, fishing is at its peak with a ton of options available. For our wade anglers the coves, beaches, and salt ponds are holding Stripers blitzing on smaller bait, and we will see an improvement in Sand Eels numbers in a few weeks. Boat anglers are finding large Stripers along the coastline and deeper water structure on Adult Bunker pods. We’re also seeing a few Bluefish start to push into the Sound. For our freshwater anglers, keep an eye on the weather as we can expect some more rain this coming week. For our saltwater anglers keep an eye on the wind, as we have some windy days which will taper off soon.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Rain showers throughout Connecticut this past week have kept flows above average going into this weekend. The good news is while most are high, they’re not blown out so we will have good trout fishing for this weekend. For instance, the Saugatuck River is flowing at 155 CFS (while median historical flow is 113 CFS). In addition, some rivers and streams were recently stocked, in fact, some have received over three rounds of stockings so far this Spring. We can expect fishing to be good in these rivers for the weekend, and with plenty of water trout will be spread out in a variety of water types once they acclimate. For areas that were more recently stocked bring some Woolly Buggers in different colors, as well as some flashier nymphs. They will be more forgiving in terms of fly selection. Areas that weren’t hit by the stocking truck will be a little trickier, so we suggest bringing some more imitative flies that match our local hatches. For hatches, you can expect a few Hendricksons still, Midges, Tan and Olive Caddis, and Light Cahills. Other dries to consider are some terrestrials, both Ant and Beetles. Both streamer and nymphing techniques will work well when there is no hatch activity, especially in these above average flows.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (Overcast Days) 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
The Naugatuck River has seen a larger increase in flows and is currently flowing at 1090 CFS at Beacon Falls, which is about two times the median flow. We recommend waiting until flows drop for easier wading. The Naugatuck has received its third round of stocking for this Spring, so there should be plenty of fish to find when flows start dropping. Fishing streamers while flows are still high can be an effective technique, especially for the most recent stocked fish. Nymphing will also be effective when there is no hatch activity, and using patterns suggested in our local rivers and streams report will work well. In addition, you can expect to see sparse numbers of Hendricksons, Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and Tan/Olive Caddis hatching.
Flows on the West Branch of the Farmington River at Riverton increased a bit this past week and are currently steady at 301 CFS. Water temperatures have dropped a bit, fluctuating in the mid to high 40s. The Still River is adding 199 CFS, and with both gauges reading slightly above median flows, wading and clarity will be good. Some areas have received their fourth round of stockings for this Spring, so there is high fish density of both stocked and holdover fish. The more recently stocked fish will take a variety of patterns, while the holdover fish you will have to work for and use more imitative and smaller patterns. Fishing streamers in a recently stocked area can result in some aggressive action. For hatches the most prevalent insect is Tan/Olive Caddis, a few March Browns, and Midges. The mornings have been better for nymphing and streamer fishing, with a variety of patterns and colors working. 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:
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
The Housatonic River has seen improvements with flows approaching more fishable levels, and currently the Falls Village Gauge is reading 1130 CFS. These flows are wadable, however use caution when navigating the river. There has been a lot of hatch activity, with Hendricksons being the primary late afternoon to evening hatch. In addition you will see some Tan/Olive Caddis, Midges, and Blue Winged Olives. Nymphing and streamer fishing are both working well, especially during the morning when there is infrequent hatch activity. You will find both stocked fish from spring stocking, as well as holdover fish from the past Fall, so there are plenty of trout spread throughout the river.
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
Larger Stripers and more numbers have taken residence along the Connecticut coastline, with fish still migrating through into deeper water locations. Around the coves, islands, and harbors there are also pods of Bunker with Stripers chasing them around, as well as schoolies off the beaches and in the salt ponds. Overall, there are a ton of options, and we are at the height of Spring Striper fishing. Sand Eels are also showing up near shore, and their numbers should improve for shore anglers in the next few weeks. Mornings and evenings with tide movement are your best bets, and some anglers are finding some good night fishing. Some Bluefish have also started to show up in smaller numbers, and the most of them can be found further east along the coastline. Herring have started to move out of the rivers which has slowed fishing a bit at the mouth of the Connecticut River.
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.
Flows have dropped the past week on the Mainstem of the Delaware River, with the Lordville Gauge currently reading 3270 CFS which is still above median flow. Water temperatures are fluctuating in the low to high 50s. On the East Branch in Fishs Eddy, flows are 1630 CFS and are also slightly above the median level. The West Branch at Hale Eddy is also slightly high at 1110 CFS. Hatches have been consistent throughout the afternoon and into the evening, with good hatches of March Browns, some Blue Winged Olives, Sulphurs, Gray Fox, and Light Cahills depending on what section you’re fishing. Both streamers and nymphing have been working well during the morning, and current water temperatures have trout spread out into a variety of different water types.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Gray Fox 12
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
Sand Eels have been showing up along the North Shore and Stripers and Bluefish are starting to key in on them along the beaches, which is a great improvement for wade anglers. There are also plenty of Bunker pods along the coast with Stripers Blitzing on them making for some great topwater action. For boat anglers making fish deeper on the sonar, using a full sinking line to get deep has been effective until Stripers push bait to the surface. Anglers fishing the South Shore beaches and bays are finding schoolie fish to 30lbers along the beachfront and in the bays chasing Bunker and Sand Eels, with plenty of Bluefish mixed in.
Narragansett Bay has continued to impress, with plenty of larger bass taking topwater and chasing Bunker pods. Along the beachfront and deeper ledges more Bluefish are starting to show up. There are also plenty of Squid which signals Stripers keying on Squid Patterns in the rips with full sinking lines. Both wade and boat anglers have a good chance at running into blitzes along the beachfronts as Stripers migrate throughout the coastline.
