Your Cart is Empty
Northeast Fishing Report 7/10/26
Hello Compleat Angler Friends! We hope you had a fun and restful July 4th! Fishing in the western Sound has slipped into the summer doldrums, while the recent rainfall has helped improve the trout and smallmouth bite across our rivers to the north. The evening dry fly bite has been very productive on rivers such as the Farmington, and for stripers, the eastern sound is still reliably producing quality bass, although they are starting to push deep with the warmer temperatures.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows on the Saugatuck are still favorable, with the current CFS at 60.7. Trout have been extremely picky with the low, clear water, so hopefully this should open up the bite a bit more. Local hatches are still consisting of Sulphurs and Caddis, and evening dry fly fishing has been productive ifyou can locate the trout, which have been very skittish with all the heat and weather changes we've had.
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 has risen as well, now at 206 CFS. Again, increased flows will help with the bite, for everything from smallmouth to trout. Hatches are the same, Sulfurs and Caddis but trout have been selective during the day, so aiming for an early evening or morning window would be best.
Farmington River
The river finally received much needed rainfall between Saturday 7/4 and Tuesday. Ironically, summertime rain temporarily boosts water temps on the Farmington. The Still River is 135 CFS and Riverton is 119 CFS at the USGS gauge by the Rt 20 bridge (Hitchcock/Riverton Self Storage), so the Still is contributing more than 50% of the flow. The total flow below the Still River and in the Permanent TMA/C&R is 254 CFS. The water is coming out of the dam in the mid 40’s, which is great for the second week of July.
There have been fairly good Isonychia (“Iso”) hatches until about 12:30. Mops have been good, but overall anglers are doing best on smaller nymphs in the #18-22 range. That is typical in July & August. Bugs include Isonychia, Sulfurs, and Attenuatta. There have been a lot of Blue Winged Olives (BWO’s) around lately, from about #18-24, with the smaller sizes being overall more prevalent.
Don’t forget about Terrestrials, especially Ants & Beetles, they are very active in the summer. If they are not rising (often the case), go subsurface with nymph & wet flies/soft hackles, blind fish an Attractor dry fly, or do a Dry/Dropper rig with a nymph 18-24” under a buoyant/visible dry. Don’t go too heavy if you are nymphing during low water conditions (often the case this time of year), or you will hang bottom constantly and not catch fish. Plus you don’t need to dredge bottom this time of year. Streamers are at their best during first and last light, and at their worst in the middle of a bright, sunny day. Mousing at night is a good option for big brown trout, keep your leader very short and heavy.
Sulfurs are a mix of #16 Invaria and #18 Dorothea- make sure you have BOTH sizes, trout can be picky on that. Sulfur hatches are trending more toward #18’s now. Typically an evening hatch, but the further upriver you are the more the chances you may see an early to mid afternoon hatch of them. Assorted Caddis going from #16-24 (tan, olive/green, black, gray) are major players. Most Caddis hatching occurs from about mid morning to early afternoon, and then the adults come out in the evening to egg-lay in riffly water. July is the peak Isonychia (“Iso”) month. Isonychia are a big #8-12 fast water bug that typically emerge between late afternoon and dark. You can even blind fish them over likely looking fast water. This is one of my absolute favorite hatches. Iso’s will continue right into the mid fall time period, but they get smaller as the season progresses, and the color changes from brownish to more of an olive color. #10 is about average for them currently, but some are bigger, some are smaller. Other bugs in the mix include #14 Light Cahills in the evenings, and #18-24 and smaller Blue Winged Olives (evenings, cloudy afternoons). Look also for #18-20 Attenuata in the eves, and Needhami #22-26 spinners & duns in the mornings, along with the Winter/Summer Caddis #18-24.
Dry/Dropper with a Caddis dry and a trailing weighted pupa 1-2’ below can be an effective combo during a Caddis emergence- they usually take the pupa, and the dry acts as a suspender/indicator, but sometimes they eat the dry. Frequently the better dry fly action for Caddis is when they come back later in the day to egg-lay, usually in the low light of evenings. And sometimes swinging wet flies/soft hackles is the way to go when Caddis are hatching and/or egg-laying. On average, they are much better/faster swimmers than Mayflies, which is why the takes to them are often violent and trout will sometimes jump out of the water. They also tend to be most active in faster, broken water like riffles, pool heads, pocket water, etc. When fishing Caddis dries, sometimes the fish want them dead-drift, but frequently they won’t eat it unle
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 River at Falls Village is reading 738CFS, which is fairly high. the water might be a bit turbid, so wade with caution, and stick to the banks. Smallmouth fishing is active and lively throughout the river. Plenty of people have been in the shop picking up craw patterned flies, and when I was in Kent a few days ago, the entire river bottom was crowded with crayfish. Sightcasting to big bronzebacks is an amazing way to switch up your approach during summer months, and helps give pressured trout a much deserved break. Craw flies, poppers, hoppers, and streamers will all be effective, and might even scare up a nice brown.
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
No quality report this week, warm water and low catches.
Catskills
The release from Cannonsville is 500 cfs. Yesterday’s thunderstorms never materialized so we’re starting off today about the same as yesterday. Wunderground is calling for some clouds today but it’s pretty sunny this morning. The best daytime action will be closer to the dams in the coldest water. If you want to nymph or swing wets stay a little lower to avoid the algae in Deposit. Sulphurs, Cahills, Isonychias, olives, and some caddis are all out on the water. Blind casting Cahills and Isonychias can be effective when there isn’t a hatch.
Today will be 82 degrees and cloudy. There is a chance of a stray shower or thunderstorm. Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the North.
What’s Hatching:
Dark Blue Wing Olive – #16 – 18 – Baetis vagans
Sulphur – 16 – 20 – Ephemerella dorothea
Tan Caddis – #16 – 20 – Hydrosyche sp
Light Cahill – #14 – Epeorus vitreus, Ephemerella invaria, Stenacron spp.
Slate Drake – #12-2xl – 12 – Isonychia bicolor
CT Saltwater
Striper fishing in the western sound continues to be mostly a deep water boat game. Increased temperatures and frequent thunderstorms have moved most bass to the reefs, so if you are going to target bass, prepare for a grind. Things out east toward Watch Hill Montauk, and Fishers Island are a bit better, with schoolies and quality fish feeding actively on sand eels close to the beach and in the rips. As we approach the heart of the summer doldrums, things might get tough, but don't be discouraged. Aiming for early mornings and night bites have produced the best results for anglers hungry for striper. Fly patterns consist of sand eel imitations, clousers, half N halfs, and hollow flies.