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Northeast Fishing Report 6/6/2025
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! Connecticut hatches have transitioned from Hendricksons to Sulphurs coming off the water in good numbers during the afternoon and into the evening. Most of our rivers and streams have below average flows, with the exception being the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers. Anglers fishing the Delaware River are finding some big trout on Sulphur and March Brown Hatches, with some Green Drakes and Coffin Flies showing up briefly. The evenings are best for hatch activity. We’re seeing a slower week on the Connecticut side of the Long Island Sound, with surface action being a hit or miss and more sporadic than the prior weeks. There are plenty of Sand Eels around the beaches which bode well for the early morning wade angler. Every day has been different for boat anglers, and some days large Stripers are chasing Bunker to the surface in deeper water structure. Meanwhile, the South Shore of Long Island was really heated up with big Stripers and Bluefish chasing a variety of bait on top.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows are back down to below average and coupled with warmer air temperatures this will increase water temperatures a bit. We might see a little precipitation on Saturday to help cool things off a bit. The Saugatuck River, for instance, is flowing at 45.6 CFS while the median flow for this time of year is 97 CFS. Hatches have transitioned to Sulphurs from Hendricksons, and you may also see some Tan/Olive Caddis, Midges, and Light Cahill. Ant patterns will also be working well, and we recommend blind fishing them through the faster riffles. Anglers are finding some good fishing thanks to additional Spring Stocking. During the morning fishing will be best with streamers and nymphs, once the afternoon and evening hits look for more dry fly activity. Your smaller and more imitative nymphs will work better during lower flows, and since trout have been acclimated to the natural forage. There are plenty of options now that more stockings occurred, and a stealthy approach when wading will be helpful during these low flows. 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.
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 also below average, reading 345 CFS at Beacon Falls. All sections of the Naugatuck have had their third stocking for this Spring, so there are decent numbers of fish in the system. 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
Flows are currently high on the West Branch of the Farmington River from dam release after the influx of water at the reservoir. As a result, the Riverton Gauge is reading 670 CFS but anglers are still finding good fish in the slower section and water along the banks. The Still River is just below average with flows adding 107 CFS downriver of the confluence. With the high water, streamer fishing would be a good option, especially during the morning. Hendrickson hatches are now over, which has given way to March Browns, Sulphurs, Caddis, and Light Cahill. Anglers are reporting good hatches of Sulphurs and Caddis in the afternoon and into the evening, so it is worth staying late for good dry fly fishing. 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
Currently the Housatonic River is too high for wading due to last week’s rain, the Beacon Falls Guage is reading 1490 CFS. Flows are on the drop and will take time to settle back to fishable levels for wade anglers. When levels are safe again for wading (below 1000 CFS), there should be some great dry fly activity from the afternoon to the evenings with Tan/Olive Caddis, Hendricksons, Light Cahill, and Blue Winged Olives. We can expect to see some Sulphurs soon. Nymphing and streamer fishing will work well, especially during the morning when there is infrequent hatch activity.
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
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 Bunker with Stripers chasing them around, as well as schoolies off the beaches and in the salt ponds. Overall, this week has been a little slower than the last, however every day is different as we have fish migrating through our area. Sand Eels are also showing up near shore, 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 Bluefish have also started to show up in smaller numbers, and most of them can be found further east along the coastline and towards Middle Ground. With fish migrating through, it helps to cover ground as every day has been changing.
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 been gradually dropping but are still above average levels reading 3990 CFS at the Lordville Gauge. The East Branch is seeing similar changes, reading 1880 CFS at Fishs Eddy, with the West reading 1440 CFS at Hale Eddy. Water temperatures on the Mainstem are fluctuating in the high 50s to low 60s. Anglers are still reporting some good hatches and large fish being taken on dries, which will be dependent on what area you’re fishing, but you may encounter some March Browns, Olive/Tan Caddis, Sulphurs, Green Drakes, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahills, and Gray Fox with a showing of Coffin Flies in some areas. Hatches and fish activity will be best in the evening on the sunnier days, with the overcast afternoons creating more dry fly opportunities. 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
Gray Fox 12
Green Drake 8-10
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
Fishing has really heated up along the Southern Long Island shoreline and into Montauk, with Stripers and Bluefish chasing a variety of bait on the surface. It would be wise to bring some Squid Patterns, Sand Eels, and Bunker patterns with you. Focus on rocky beachfronts and areas with rips that will stack baitfish on a moving tide. On the Northshore near Smithtown, Sand Eels have shown up in good numbers with Stripers feeding on them along the shoreline. There are large Stripers in the deeper water spots. Some days they are hunkered on the bottom while other days they are pushing bait to the surface. It would help to bring both full sinking lines as well as intermediate or floating lines. We’re also seeing a lot of smaller Bluefish along the Northshore feeding on Sand Eels.
Rhode Island Saltwater
Narragansett Bay has continued to impress, with plenty of larger bass taking topwater and chasing Bunker pods. Fish are spread out now so covering the water looking for topwater action/bait is the name of the game. 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. Around Newport, the rocky structures are now holding Stripers that have taken residency. Both wade and boat anglers have a good chance of running into blitzes along the beachfronts as Stripers migrate throughout the coastline. Block Island is also holding more bait with large Stripers in pursuit.