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Northeast Fishing Report 9/4/2025
Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week cooler evening temperatures have been helping drop water temperatures and improve insect activity. On our freestones across Connecticut, flows are still holding below average with no major improvements. The tailwaters are still the best options, with hatches of Tricos on the Farmington being most of the activity. Hatches have still been a hit or miss with Isonychia, Light Cahill, and Blue Winged Olives; however, there is more activity with Flying Ants. The Delaware River is also seeing good numbers of Flying Ants, and you may encounter hatches of Light Cahill, Blue Winged Olives, and Caddis depending on where you’re fishing. The Housatonic River is still well below average and fishing well for Smallmouth, however we can expect more Trout activity in the coming weeks with cooler water temperatures. Saltwater fishing has improved along the Connecticut coastline with the arrival of more Peanut Bunker, and there are Stripers and Bluefish blitzing along the coves, beaches, and islands in the Western portion of the Sound. Towards the eastern portion there are more Stripers, Bluefish, and you may encounter pods of Bonito, especially by boat. Further East in Rhode Island and New York we’re seeing the first good push of Albies, a good sign that the Fall Run has started up. In addition, our Salmon anglers will be glad to hear the run has started in the lower section of the Salmon River in upstate New York.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows on our local rivers and streams are well below average which will warm water temperatures quickly during hot afternoons. For instance, the Saugatuck River is reading 13.2 CFS. Cooler evening temperatures will have some rivers and streams at fishable temperatures again for the morning hours, just make sure to bring a stream thermometer to check. Catch rates won’t be great due to previous extended hot and low water, which also makes the stocked trout susceptible to predation. However, you may find a few trout that have fared through Spring Stocking and the heat of the summer. We can expect improvements on some rivers and streams in September and October, which is when Fall stocking is expected. Afternoon air temperatures for this weekend will reach into the high 70s, and for more consistent fishing we recommend fishing tailwaters with colder water temperatures. Hatches haven’t been great, but you may find some Midges, a couple Sulphurs, small Caddis, and a few Light Cahills. Terrestrials, such as ants and beetles, will also be falling into the water. Streamer fishing is difficult during these below average flows, and most trout will be hunkered in the deepest pools, with the exception being well oxygenated faster water with some depth. A dry/dropper rig is also an effective searching technique.
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 well below average, with the Beacon Falls reading 70.4 CFS. Cooler evening air temperatures have also cooled water temperatures a bit. 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. Streamer fishing is another good option now that flows are high. The Naugatuck is a good alternative to beat crowds.
Farmington River
The West Branch flows on the Farmington River were recently dropped, and are below average reading 164 CFS, as well as the Still River which is adding 8.87 CFS. Water temperatures are ideal on the West Branch, fluctuating in the low to mid 60s. Temperatures downriver will be slightly warmer but fishable. Water levels will be clear and easy for wading this weekend. Hatches haven’t been exceptional; however, the main hatch is currently Tricos in sizes 22-26 during the morning. Other hatches are light; however, you may find some Tan/Olive Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahill, Midges, and Isonychia during the evenings. The insects will be small this time of year, so you will want to bring small dries and an assortment of small nymphs. Also, a consideration is terrestrials, such as ants and beetles. Nymphing will be best throughout the afternoon, when hatch activity tends to slow down. Trout are now spread into the well oxygenated faster water and all water types. During the morning hours streamer fishing can also be an effective technique. For dry fly fishing with smaller flies, we recommend a 9-12’ leader in 6x.
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 flows are still well below average at 113 CFS at the Falls Village Gauge. Water temperatures are still too warm for trout fishing, but Smallmouth fishing has been great. With the cooler evening temperatures, we can expect to trout fish in a few weeks, and more water will certainly help. We recommend streamers such as Wolly Buggers, Crayfish Patterns, and popper flies. Anglers are also opting for Carp or Pike fishing.
Saltwater
The Eastern Sound has been seeing consistent action from Bridgeport to Fisher’s Island, especially during lowlight hours and we’re starting to see more Peanut Bunker and Silversides. Stripers and Bluefish have been chasing them on the surface, and there are a few Bonito. Most activity is in the Eastern Sound, and towards Middleground. The shoreline fishing along the Western portion of the sound: Westport, Norwalk, Greenwich, has improved with Stripers and Bluefish blitzing of Peanut Bunker. Around the Norwalk Islands, Compo Beach, Old Mill Pond, and the beaches off Fairfield are seeing more action during the morning. The most prevalent bait is Peanut Bunker in 3”, Silversides, as well as small Butterfish. There are still Stripers holding in the deeper water ledges; however, surface action has been inconsistent. Are options are starting to expand for both boat anglers and waders. With the Bonito being around, we can hopefully expect Albies to move in over the next few weeks. Overall, everything is on track for a good Fall Run this year.
Hot Flies for Summer/Fall:
Custom Tied Baby Bunker (Super Realistic!)
Bob’s Banger (Stripers and Bluefish)
Surf Candies for Bonito and Albies
Good Fly Lines for Fall:
Rio Outbound Short (Good for big flies and big winds)
Rio Striper (Good all-rounder)
Leaders:
9' 16lb Fluorocarbon Leader for Bonito and Albies
Please report any poaching to the DEEP by calling 800-842-4357.
New York
Salmon River
Salmon season has started up on the Salmon River in Pulaski, with pods of Kings and Cohos entering the river each day, most of the activity is in the lower half of the system, since the run has just started up. Fish are spread out in deeper pools throughout the lower river. Currently flows are below average and are reading 216 CFS at the Pineville Gauge, so any fish entering the system are doing so slowly until flows rise. For Kings and Cohos, we recommend using a 16-20 tapered leader with split shot rigged above a micro swivel to avoid having your split shot slide down to your fly. For flies, more aggressive fish in the lower sections will grab larger and bright colored intruders from Pink to Blue and Chartreuse. Egg sucking leeches, Woolly Buggers, Glo Bugs, and Estaz Eggs in a variety of colors will work well.
Catskills
Flows on the Mainstem of the Delaware River are below average with the Lordville Gauge reading 1020 CFS. Water temperatures on the Mainstem are now in the high 50s to low 60s, so temperatures have improved for fishing, and flows will be ideal for wading this weekend. Cooler evening temperatures have improved water temperatures on all sections, including the freestones, which currently have low flows. The East Branch flows are low, 226 CFS at Fishes Eddy, along with with West Branch reading 524 CFS at Hale Eddy. Flows will make for easy wading this weekend. Hatches have been improving, and some days have been producing great Sulphur hatches. On brighter sunny days you can expect the hatches to be best during the evening. For hatches you can expect Blue Winged Olives on overcast days, Tricos, Light Cahill, Sulphurs, Tan Caddis, and Isonychia. Often, fish will be keyed in on very small Blue Winged Olives (Pseudos in size 24-28) or Sulphurs during the afternoon. It will also be worth bringing a few ant patterns, which has been the biggest improvement this past week. Nymphing will be the most effective method when there are no hatches, while streamer fishing may be a little tougher. Sticking to streamer fishing during the morning with floating lines will pick up a few aggressive Trout during these below average flows. With current water temperatures Trout are spread out into a variety of different water types, so don’t overlook the faster riffles, especially using an Isonychia as a searching pattern towards the evening. The smaller rivers around the area still have fishable temperatures, especially during the morning. Hatch sizes will be small and trickier to fish this time of year, and we recommend a leader at least 12’ long in 6x.
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 anglers are still finding Stripers holding in deeper water ledges from Eaton’s Neck to Plum Gut, with some surface activity during lowlight hours but fish have mainly been hunkered on the bottom. Things have also improved nearshore with the arrival of more Peanut Bunker. On the South Shore surf anglers are finding some Stripers along the beaches. Stripers are a mixed size from schoolies to 30lb fish, and there are some sizable Bluefish mixed in. Most of the bait consists of Peanut Bunker. There have been some Bonito around the rips, and the first good push of Albies this past week. When searching for Stripers, lowlight hours have been best coupled with tide movement.
Rhode Island Saltwater
Striper fishing has seen an uptick this week with more topwater action on nearshore Peanut Bunker. There are also plenty of small Bluefish and Bonito to keep anglers occupied, with the first Albies being seen/caught around the Eastern most portions signaling the start of their arrival. There are some Stripers around Newport, which has been best during low light hours. Block Island is seeing good numbers of Bonito and more sizeable Bluefish with some Stripers holding in the deeper water ledges. The most prevalent bait has been Peanut Bunker and Sand Eels depending on where you are fishing. Striper fishing has slightly picked up in Providence Bay, which is a good sign for the upcoming Fall Run.