Your Cart is Empty
Northeast Fishing Report 6/19/2025
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! Scattered rain throughout the past week has flows holding slightly above average, however we can expect this to change as we have hot and dry weather coming into next week. Anglers are finding some fish in the local rivers and streams, with a few rising to dries, however, it has been slower when compared to earlier this spring. The Housatonic and Farmington have seen good dry fly activity with both receiving hatches of Sulphurs, Light Cahills, Caddis, and more recently a few Isonychia. The Delaware river is also making for some happy anglers on their float trips, who are finding some large trout willing to rise for dries. We recommend bringing an assortment of flies, as fish will change what they’re keying in on. On the Saltwater, anglers are finding some great Striper and Bluefishing in the Sound most days, while a few days have been trickier. Anglers near the shore are still finding schoolies along the beaches on Sand Eels, while boat anglers are finding larger fish around shallow and deep structure on Adult Bunker, Sand Eels, and some Mackerel. For our boat anglers, bringing some intermediate, sinking, and floating lines will have you ready for any scenario you encounter.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows on our local rivers and streams are still hovering slightly above average from the small amount of rain we’ve had this past week. For example, the Saugatuck River is flowing at 84.5 CFS. This is subject to change as we are approaching hot and dry weather for next week. Compared to early spring, fishing has been slower, but anglers are still finding a few trout each day. For the primary mayfly hatches you will encounter Sulphurs and Light Cahill, with some Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and Tan/Olive Caddis. Dry fly fishing will be at its peak during the afternoon and into the evenings. Ant patterns will also be working. With the flows above average, a variety of nymphs will be working from larger and flashier to smaller and more imitative. The same can be said for streamers, and the streamers fishing will tend to be best during the morning. Anglers are finding some good fishing thanks to additional Spring Stocking. For dry fly fishing and nymphing we recommend a 9’ 5x-6x leader, while a stouter and shorter leader will be beneficial for streamer fishing. Trout will be spread out into a variety of water types, so we recommend fishing faster riffles along with the deeper and slower pools.
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
Naugatuck River
The Naugatuck River is flowing at average levels for this time of year, with the Beacon Falls reading 352 CFS. The Naugatuck has been stocked a few times since this Spring, so you will find some decent fishing. You will encounter similar hatches that were outlined on our local rivers and streams. 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. The Naugatuck is a good alternative to beat crowds.
Farmington River
Flow were cut back on the West Branch of the Farmington River, and the Riverton Gauge is currently reading 207 CFS which is below average. The Still River, however, is slightly above average and adding 183 CFS. Overall flows will be good for fishing this weekend. Water temperatures are fluctuating in the low to mid 50s. Hatches mainly consist of Tan/Olive Caddis and Sulphurs, mainly in the afternoons and evenings. You may also encounter some March Browns, Midges, Light Cahill and now terrestrials are working well (Ants, Beetles). During the evening hours there are also a few Isonychia hatching in the faster water. 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. The Farmington has plenty of fish from stockings and holdover Trout, and they will be spread out in a variety of water types. 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.
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 have held up for wading and will have ideal conditions for fishing this weekend. Flows are currently 1040 CFS at Falls Village. Hatches are great during the afternoons and into the evenings, with March Browns, Light Cahill, Sulphur, a few Alder Flies, and Isonychia in the evenings. Other dry flies to bring include Tan/Olive Caddis, Midges, and Blue Winged Olives for your overcast days. Nymphing and streamer fishing will work well, especially during the morning when there is infrequent hatch activity. In addition, hoppers and ant patterns will be working.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
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
Saltwater
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 new Bunker with Stripers chasing them around, as well as schoolies off the beaches and in the salt ponds. There are some large Stripers patrolling our shoreline, so you have a shot at finding fish 40” and over. Sand Eels are also showing up nearshore, so if you’re fishing along the beaches or on the flats, we recommend bringing some for the morning hours. Mornings and evenings with tide movement are your best bets for Schoolie action on the beachfronts, and some anglers are finding some good night fishing. Some larger Bluefish have also started to show up in numbers, and most of them can be found further east along the coastline and towards Middle Ground. The Race is also producing some big Stripers and a few Bluefish. With fish migrating through, it helps to cover ground as every day has been changing. Notable areas include Penfield Reef, Compo Beach, and along the Norwalk Islands. Overall, Striper fishing has had its highs and lows this past week, however there are plenty of fish around.
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.
Catskills
Flows on the Mainstem of the Delaware River have increase from this past week’s rain, and is above average at 3530 CFS. The East Branch is also high, reading 2000 CFS at Fishs Eddy, as well as the West Branch which is 918 CFS at Hale Eddy. Water temperatures on the main are fluctuating in the high 50s to low 60s. Wading will be difficult this weekend however flows are ideal for a float trip. During the afternoon and into the evening you will find Sulphurs, Cahill, Caddis, and now Isonychia. Anglers are finding some large trout willing to hit dry flies. Bringing a variety of flies and switching often will aid in your success to determine what they’re hitting, and you may encounter different hatches on different stretches of river. In addition, anglers are finding March Browns on some of the sections. Both streamers and nymphing have been working well during the morning, and current water temperatures will 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
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 Saltwater
On the Northshore of Long Island the Striper and Bluefishing has been holding up strong with a new wave of fish showing up chasing Sand Eels, Bunker, and Mackerel. Topwater action has been great during tide movement and low light hours. Fishing shallow around rocky structure has been working as well as the deeper water ledges. On the Southshore, fish continue to move East along New York and Long Island with similar bait and topwater action. You can find some good fishing on the whole South Shore and into Montauk. You may encounter more Bluefish in the smaller sizes and up to 10 pounds. It would help to bring both full sinking lines as well as intermediate or floating lines, and some wire.
Rhode Island Saltwater
Providence has been a hit or miss recently with some Stripers being found as well as Bluefish on top up to 10 pounds. Block Island has been seeing good action with larger Stripers and the occasional Bluefish. In Newport big Stripers are also being found chasing adult Bunker near the mouth of harbors and coves. Narragansett Bay is holding more Bluefish than Stripers, and there is plenty of topwater action. When fishing deeper water rips, it will be a good idea to bring squid flies paired with full sinking lines. Overall the trend this past week is that the outgoing tide has been producing more action.