Your Cart is Empty
Fishing Report
LOOKING TO UP YOUR GAME OR FIND SOME NEW IDEAS TO TAKE YOUR FISHING TO THE NEXT LEVEL? CHECK OUT OUR COMPLEAT JOURNAL FOR TIPS, TRICKS, AND INFO FROM THE FIELD.
Fishing Report, November 3, 2017
Fishing in Long Island Sound continues to be strong. Before Monday's storm, fish were stacked onto the beaches from Stamford to Fairfield chasing peanut bunker in the wash - and us beach bums were crushing them. This morning I fished Compo Beach in Westport for the first time since the storm. (I wanted to fish Sherwood Island State Park but it was closed due to damage from the storm.) The Peanut Bunker were still there and so were the Bass. These are mostly schoolies with a few good fish underneath the fray. I saw a couple of bass that would have been in the 20lb+ category but the dozen fish I took were all schoolies.
Read More
Fishing Report, Friday, October 20
The last few days have been great October "Blue & Gold" days to be on the water - either salt or fresh! The good news is that the unseasonably warm air temperatures have made it lovely to be on the water. But the bright sun adds a level of difficulty to fishing our freshwater rivers, many of which are already low and clear, making for some fidgety fish, although at this time of year, it doesn't affect our saltwater fishery quite as much. And this spate of great weather is said to continue through the weekend so wherever and however you fish, now is the time to get out and take advantage of it!
Read More
Fishing Report, October 13th ("Friday The 13th"!)
The flow from Cannonsville Reservoir on the West Branch has been yo-yo-ing up and down from irresponsible and schizophrenic releases by the state; add in the additional color from the reservoir turning over (as air and water temperatures drop) and you've got a drastically varying flow, milky color and added weeds and leaves - all of which make for some challenging conditions on the West Branch and Main Stem.
Read More
Fishing Report, September 28th
In the Catskills, the Upper Delaware System is enjoying a temporary reprieve due to the increased release from the Cannonsville Dam in order to meet flow perimeters downstream. The current flow from Cannonsville is 1027cfs - great for the West Branch and great for the Main Stem. Both rivers are running cool and are in great shape for floating and wading. The West Branch has some color and as a result, streamer fishing has been pretty good. Today (September 28th) the DRBC Regulated Flow Advisory Committee will meet in Trenton, NJ and will announce new flow proposals for the coming years (FFMP 2017). This is a crucial meeting and will determine the health of the Upper Delaware River fishery and the economic health of the river towns and people that surround it for the coming years. Friends Of The Upper Delaware has been a huge advocate for this amazing ecosystem and has been key in lobbying for increased flows and a healthy river system. Stay tuned for a special report on the decisions that this committee proposes.
Read More
Fishing Report, September 21st
It has been on-and-off in the Catskill rivers. The decree parties that control flows for the Cannonsville and Pepacton reservoirs have continuously failed to reach agreement as to a healthy flow plan and thus flows have been cut back on the West Branch and East Branch of the Delaware which is affecting both the West Branch and Main Stem Delaware. Flows have been extremely low and coupled with the Indian summer-like warm weather, water temperatures in the Main Stem, lower East Branch, and lower West Branch have been in the high 60s-low 70s so the fish are definitely stressed.
Read More
SPECIAL REPORT 9/14! ALBIES IN THE EASTERN SOUND
Attention Compleat Anglers! There are Albies in the Eastern Sound from Groton to Niantic!
Read More
Fishing Report, September 13th
The Catskill rivers are cool and somewhat low, and fishing is good but challenging. I just returned from two days on the Main Stem of the Delaware where I had amazingly beautiful fall-like weather and some gorgeous, powerful Rainbows. At this time of year all the Catskill rivers are seeing the same basic hatching - there are Isos (#14), Olives (#18), Cahills (#14), Caddis (#14), Tricos (#20-#24), spinners (#14), White Flies (#14) and ants and beetles. Most of these flies seem to be hatching sporadically (except for the Tricos) , and the fish are rising sporadically as well - a lot of "one-and-dones" and fish cruising in the flats that are hard to pin down. But with persistence, good fish will eat and it can be tremendously satisfying to hook up with a great fish that you have put a lot of time and patience into.
Read More
Fishing Report, September 8th
Greetings Compleat Anglers! Where did summer go? It can't be September already, the fishing season just started!
In the Catskills, fishing has been good. Occasional rain over the past week has mitigated the lower designated flows on the Delaware system in Cannonsville and Pepacton. Cool days and nights have kept the water temperatures in the 50s making for happy trout
Fishing Report, August 23rd
In the Catskills, first the good news! The weather for the next ten days shows air temperatures to be in the 50s at night and in the 70s during the day, with partial cloud cover, no rain in the forecast and light winds. Water temperatures should drop nicely as this unfolds signaling some potentially good hatching and great fishing! Kind've an "early fall" gift.....
Read More
Fishing Report, August 17th
Catskill and Connecticut rivers are all in deep summer conditions. For the most part, at this time of year, summer bugs are pretty similar across all rivers.
In the Catskills, daytime dry fly fishing on the Delaware West Branch and East Branch is better on the upper sections of both rivers - above Hale Eddy on the WB and above Harvard on the EB (obviously this is where you'll find the coldest water.) If you're fishing nymphs on the West Branch, its best to stay below Hale Eddy as the algae drift above Hale Eddy is bothersome to say the least.
Fishing Report, August 9th
We are in summer conditions for both Catskill and Connecticut rivers. However, we have been fortunate to have had on-and-off rains and some unseasonably cool weather which has kept the rivers in better shape than usual and reduced the stress on the trout. In general, dry fly fishing in all rivers is best from evening into dark and beyond. In many cases, the best hatches occur just before dark, so don't give up and leave the river too early. Depending upon the river, there is also some hatching in the early mornings but it generally phases out as the sun gets higher on the river.
Read More
Fishing Report, August 1st
Well, I'll begin by saying that I hoped to post a pic of a Tigerfish from my African trip - I had four hours last Saturday morning to get the job done, but I couldn't close the deal. We were on Lake Jozini in Pongola, South Africa - but there were just no fish around! However, as compensation, I'm posting two pics of some other inhabitants of the Lake that accompanied us on the float - a herd of Hippos and some African Crocodiles....so cool and different to fish along side of these. And the game, the scenery, the people, the country were truly amazing!
Read More