Hello Compleat Angler Friends! The heat from the last two weeks seems to be winding down, and we've heard some solid reports out of the Farmington for trout and the Housatonic for smallmouth. The Sound is split between an East and a West bite, with the Eastern Sound producing considerably more bait, quality fish, and general life. The Western Sound is by no means dead, but the bite is limited primarily to reefs and deeper water. Temperature seems to be the demarcator for finding quality and quantity, with the Eastern Sound around Fishers Island, Block and Montauk hovering between 68-72 degrees. The Western sound is considerably warmer, between 71-75 degrees. While not astronomical, its clear that those few degrees are making a difference. Things should start to heat up in the Western Sound as fall approaches, but in the meantime, don't be afraid to take a drive.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows on the Saugatuck are at a comfortable 116 CFS. All the rain has definitely made fishing difficult, but things seemed to be much calmer at the moment. Rivers such as the Mianus, Mill, and Norwalk Rivers are in a similar state, although trout will be harder to find on local streams with the increased heat and humidity. Focusing your efforts on more heat tolerant species such as carp, largemouth, and smallmouth would be a good bet. As for hatches, same as always. Caddis, BWO's, ISO's, Tricoes. Streamers for larger fish holding deep.
The Naugatuck is now at 400 CFS. Same goes for this river as with other local waterways, increased heat and humidity will put unnecessary strain on trout, so finding an alternative species to pick on might be wise. If you are dead set on trout, think small and subtle. During warmer weather, trout will seek out small shaded pools and will keep their eyes up for passing hatches or the occasional terrestrial.
Farmington River
Getting good to excellent dry fly reports, especially from those fishing in the evenings, so don’t leave too early! Later in the day look for Isonychia #10-12, small Blue Winged Olives #20-24, Rusty Spinners in the same sizes, Cahills/Summer Steno’s #12-16, Attenuata #18-20, and egg-laying Caddis #18-22 (tan, black). Sulfurs are basically done in the Permanent TMA/C&R, we continue to see some hatching in Riverton. Morning bugs include Summer/Winter Caddis #18-24, Needhami Duns #22-26, Needhami Spinners #22-26, and Tan Caddis #18. Ants & Beetles are good dries to fish between late morning and early evening when there aren’t too many bugs hatching. Dry/Dropper combinations are working well for many anglers. Try combining an Isonychia Comparadun and a tiny nymph like #18-20 Baetis or a Zebra Midge to catch trout in fast water
46 degree water is coming out of the dam, which is fantastic for the 4th week of July. It keeps the river at trout-friendly water temps for a good ways downriver, but if you go far enough below the dam you will eventually run into water temps that are too high to ethically trout fish (over 68 degrees), especially in the afternoons/evenings on hotter sunny days. Sunshine is the #1 driver of water temp increases, followed closely by hot air temps. Mornings after a cool night allow you to fish further downriver, then work your way upstream to stay in cool water as the day progresses and water temps increase. Use your thermometer to guide you on how far up or downriver to fish. Riverton just above the Still River has been ranging from about 46 to 53.5 degrees. 65-68 degrees should be used as a cutoff to move upriver and find cooler water. A good strategy is to start downstream, and work your way upstream as the day progresses, and this will keep you in water under 65 degrees all day long, which will give you the best fishing and minimize stress on the trout.
The Housatonic River at Falls Village is reading 467 CFS. Streamers have been working well with smallmouth in white and pink, and craw patterns are also performing. Pike should be starting to shift into gear in the deeper sections of the river, so if you are after toothy critters, think longer, slower sections further south. Certain sections of the river have been pressured and subjected to warm water, so hiking on foot between Cornwall and Kent is not a bad idea, although the low humidity and increased flows might help shake things up. Trout are hard to come by due to the warm weather, but 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.
A few fall fish caught this week. Water temperature was 70 degrees F at dawn, climbing to 74 degrees F at noon. The flow from the dam is 185 CFS. The Pineville gauge is currently at 244 CFS
Catskills
The release from Cannonsville is 500 cfs. The rivers are dropping back to normal and the West Branch is still at a decent level for wading or floating. The mid day sulphurs are getting a bit spotty as the hatch wanes but there still are some out there. It’s also still the best shot at daytime dry fly action – especially on these sunny days. There are some olives mixed in plus a few Isonychias and Cahills. Stick to the lower West if you want to nymph. The algae has been bad up top making it a dry fly only game.
Today will be 82 degrees and partly cloudy. Wind will be 5 – 10 mph from the NW.
There is an abundant mix of bait spread between Watch Hill and Greenwich; a mix of peanut bunker, bunker, snot bait, silversides, and sand eels. We heard there was a massive cinder worm hatch in the western sound a few days ago, probably from the last new moon. A majority of fish are being taken on larger patterns at dusk and dawn, with smaller fish keyed in on smaller bait. Heading East will yield the best results, but the Western Sound should start to pick up speed once water temps drop and the fall settles in.
