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Northeast Fishing Report 5/8/26
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! Fishing across the state continues to stay strong despite the intermittent bad weather and cooler temps. Striped bass are being found with more regularity around the river mouths and harbors. Trout, both wild and stocked, are taking a variety of offerings in all the major rivers, with more stocking taking place each day. Even smallmouth and largemouth bass fishing has picked up as they move shallow to start or finish their respective spawns.
Hatches for the most part are the same as they have been, with emergers, BWO’s, Hendrickson's, and some caddis on the main menu. The rainy conditions on Saturday might make things difficult, but today and Sunday are looking good.
There is no shortage of fishing available right now, with conditions only due to improve as the month continues. Get out there and have fun!
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are back down again, with the Saugatuck flowing at 34 CFS. Hendricksons and Emergers are still the preferred presentation. We should start to see a few BWO hatches any day now, so plan accordingly. Both the lower and the fly-only section of the river have been stocked within the last seven days, so there are plenty of fish to go around. The Mianus, Mill, Housatonic, Naugatuck, and Hammonasset rivers have all been stocked again in the two weeks, and fish are still willing to take dry flies on warmer days, but streamers, midges, and nymphs have been the play. With the upcoming weather, hopefully water levels continue to rise and give trout the chance to spread out a bit.
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 at a comfortable 455 CFS. The East Branch, Mid Sections, and Lower Section of the Naugatuck have recently been stocked. With more seasonally appropriate/cooler weather this weekend, I would suggest nymphs and Emerger 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 good news is May Caddis hatches are starting up. Usually there is a lull between the Hendrickson hatch and the onset of Caddis, but not this year. They are light but all the way up through the Permanent TMA/Catch and Release, and up to just below the Still River. Peak Hendrickson hatch has rapidly moved upstream and is now above the Still River in Riverton. Tan Caddis #16 are taking over as the main hatch on most of the river, and it should only get heavier by the weekend. Sunday looks like the best hatch day with sun & clouds and highs in the upper 60’s. We’ve been seeing Caddis hatch between about 10am and mid afternoon, and they come back and egg-lay in the evenings (look for splashy rises).
Other bugs we are seeing include small assorted Caddis #18-22 (gray/brown, black), and also a few #16-18 Baetis/Blue Winged Olive (BWO) hatches- BWO’s are almost over and mostly upriver. Cloudy/cooler afternoons are seeing some smaller BWO’s in the #20-22 range. There are good numbers of wild fish in the faster water now, due to rising water temps and more bugs.
The current total flow below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/C&R this morning is at 308 CFS. Riverton from the dam to the Rt 20 bridge is 157 CFS, and a little below that the Still River is adding in 151CFS and still going up from the recent rain.
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
The Housatonic at Falls Village is reading at 936 CFS, which is similar to where things were last week. Fish have been rising to Hendrickson’s, but cold weather has pushed most feeding subsurface. Sexy Walts, Big Prince Nymphs and streamers have been working well. They just stocked the river again, so there are plenty of trout around. The Shepaug is in perfect condition, however, steep rock does have the ability to limit those sections of the river near the Washington Rod and Gun Club. The Hendrickson hatch should continue to gain intensity as weather warms and water levels stay consistent. We’ve heard good things about the sections of the river near the Bulls Bridge, up to Kent, and portions of the river near Cornwall. For those smallmouth enthusiasts, we are starting to see more anglers in the shop gearing up to fish for bronzebacks, so if you are like me, don’t turn your nose up at the opportunity! Smallmouth fight like hell, take a variety of flies, and are a godsend in the summer months when high temps and low water push trout low.
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
Overall, angling success was described as slow today with a fair number of smallmouth bass making up the day’s catch. Of the anglers that I spoke with, none reported success on steelhead. The current dam release is 750 CFS and it is forecasted to remain there. The gauge at Pineville is currently at 936 CFS.
Catskills
The West Branch at Hale Eddy flow is up slightly from yesterday's rain. The release from Cannonsville is 902 CFS with 53 CFS spilling over the top. There is some color to the water out front but it is fishable. The Beaverkill and East Branch flows bumped more than the West. All of the rivers have peaked and are dropping this morning. We may see the West Branch rise slowly as the spill increases. Hendricksons, blue quills, olives, apple caddis, Dark Brachycentrus, and March Browns are still in play.
CT Saltwater
After last week’s full moon, fresh striped bass are starting to flow into the sound with more regularity. Matt and Pat Huban of Albatross Fly Fishing got on a great bite yesterday morning by canoe, with stripers hammering river herring imitations. As for bait, small stuff is in play such as the usual silversides, but river herring are everywhere. I took a walk in the Mianus River last week just above the dam and had herring swimming between my feet. The outlook for the next two weeks is more of the same. Weather should remain consistent, meaning bass will keep doing their thing. If you do get out, early mornings and evenings have been the best when the corresponding tides sync up. This time of year, outgoing flows bring warm water and bait into the sound, which will greatly increase the chances of catching a bass.