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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, March 27th
Although water temperatures are cold, fishing has been hot in local streams and rivers. The Mianus has been fishing very well, with lots of fish taken on a variety of nymphs and a few taken on top with dries (little black stoneflies) later in the day. Several anglers have reported taking large numbers of fish! Also, the Saugatuck has been very productive through the TMA Fly-only section.
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Fishing Report: March 21, 2018
Before I begin the report a quick reminder: DON'T FORGET TO BUY YOUR (NEW) CONNECTICUT TROUT STAMP! Even if you already have a current license you need the trout stamp in addition. Several anglers have told me that they've already been checked while on the river, so it is wise to have one. (They are available online, even if you have already purchased your license online.) And the monies collected go straight towards maintaining the Connecticut hatcheries.
Fishing Report, December 6th! Salmon River & Feeders and much more!
In upstate Western New York, the Steelhead and Lake-run trout fishing stays hot! The Salmon River through Pulaski has been fishing well, and up to now, the weather has, for the most part, cooperated. Right now the Salmon is flowing at 450-610cfs through Pineville with a water temperature of 39 degrees. Yesterday, the afternoon was warmer, calm and dry with a decent amount of hookups and numerous multi-fish anglers.
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Fishing Report, November 21st
The late fall/early winter is beginning to have its way with our Catskill and Connecticut trout rivers. Although you can fish through the winter in certain sections of the branches of the Delaware, and also in the Farmington and other rivers (although all these river systems become catch and release only until next spring) dry fly action becomes limited as most of the hatches are now underwater as the nymphs mature and await their spring and summer debuts. On all these rivers there are still a few Olives that can be found with an occasional fish on them, as well as winter Caddis. And yes, there are always calm winter days when you can happen upon a flat where, magically, there are heads to be had. But most consistent trout fisherman are fishing small nymphs (BWO #20, Caddis larva and Pupa #18, Copper John #18-22, Zebra #20-#24, BH Pheasant Tail #18-#24, Prince #18-#24 which are producing most of the action.
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Fishing Report, November 10th
Long Island Sound: Although we're in the deep freeze today, the past week was actually rather mild and there has been some great fishing both in our rivers and in the Salt as well. If you were able to get out on a beach (any beach) on L.I. Sound this past week, chances are you were rewarded with some off-the-hook Striper fishing. I spent three days at Sherwood Island where action off the beach was lights-out. The peanut bunker were pinned along the beach and the Stripers were on them. Perfect conditions for a fly-rodder as 20-30 foot casts were the maximum distances you had to throw. With the full moon, the high tides were massive, and best action early in the week seemed to be a couple of hours before high tide.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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SPECIAL REPORT 9/14! ALBIES IN THE EASTERN SOUND
Attention Compleat Anglers! There are Albies in the Eastern Sound from Groton to Niantic!
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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.
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