Fishing Reports

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We hope you enjoyed a slight respite from the bone chilling conditions this week. Enjoy it while it lasts, because we are diving right back into the cold this weekend. While reports from our regulars have been slow, we do know that most Connecticut freestones have briefly thawed in sunny areas and near faster moving water. Thawed enough to wet a line? That’s for you to discover and to let us know! We are always hungry for customer photos of your time on the river, skunk or no skunk, so DM any fishing related content to our Instagram, @compleat_angler_ct. 

Hello Compleat Angler friends! We hope you’ve been able to stay warm this week. Temperatures have been brutal, but thankfully the cold weather hasn’t slowed down our intrepid presenters. The gents from African Waters and Alphonse Fishing Company put on a fantastic event this past Monday, and on Saturday, we have a tying event with Rhody on the Fly (Brandon Gomez) who will be walking through some jaw-dropping hollow and tube fly demonstrations. Check out our calendar for more info!

With the thermometer where it is, the fishing has been hard to come by. Matt and Pat from the shop hit the water in Easton yesterday in search of native brookies and struck out, but besides their willingness to brave the cold, we haven’t heard much from our regulars. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. Low and slow is the name of the game. We are looking down the barrel of some upsettingly low temperatures, so if getting in the river doesn’t sound appealing, maybe now is the time to focus on tying some flies for spring.  

Hello Compleat Angler friends! Are you prepared for SNOWMAGEDDON? Things are shaping up to be quite nasty on Sunday, with some snowfall totals topping out at 16 inches in areas across the tristate. To add insult to injury, it is going to be bitterly cold, so if you are hitting the river on Saturday, pack an extra pair of long johns. Above all else, be safe! We are hosting an event that is sure to warm the blood on Monday, 1/26, at 7pm with some great folks at Alphonse Fishing Company and African Waters, so feel free to swing by once you’ve dug out the car. 

On the fishing front, there hasn’t been much change since last week’s report. As we love to say this time of year, low and slow is the name of the game. Some anglers are still finding stocked Tiger Trout in the Mianus, which are taking nymphs and streamers bounced along the bottom. Again, on a warmer day you may see some Caddis and Midges hatching from late morning into the afternoon, but don’t hold your breath with the upcoming forecast. Both the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers are still at clear and wadable levels for the time being, but that could change with the weather on Sunday.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! Unfortunately, the weather for this weekend looks cold and wet, with a high of 38 degrees on Saturday and a high chance for precipitation (snow, rain, sleet) across most of the state. That doesn’t mean you won’t find trout, but you might be a bit soggy if you try! Per usual, low and slow is the name of the game. Some anglers are still finding stocked Tiger Trout in the Mianus, which are taking nymphs and streamers bounced along the bottom. Again, on a warmer day you may see some Caddis and Midges hatching from late morning into the afternoon. Both the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers are at clear and wadable levels for this weekend. For the short-term, slush and shelf ice aren’t an issue thanks to the recent increase in air temperatures. On the Salmon River in New York, flows have increased, but they are looking down the barrel of a potential winter storm. You will find Steelhead spread throughout the system, especially holding in the deeper and slower pools.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! The good news for our winter anglers this weekend is warmer air temperatures will continue into the latter part of next week. On our freestones that were stocked during Fall, anglers are still finding a few trout each day, with some Tiger Trout mixed in. The fishing has been primarily sub-surface with small nymphs with jig streamers also working. During these warmer days, however, you may see some Caddis and Midges hatching from the late morning into the afternoon. Both the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers are at clear and wadable levels for this weekend. For the short-term, slush and shelf ice isn’t an issue thanks to the increase in air temperatures. On the Salmon River in New York, flows have increased from snow melting but are still fishable on all sections of the river. You will find Steelhead spread throughout the system, especially holding in the deeper and slower pools.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! Our weekend weather forecast in Connecticut is expected to be cold, so if oy decide to venture out we recommend bringing a good layering system. Our smaller freestones have remained low and clear, and there are still some trout from Fall stocking. Catch rates will be diminished as well as hatches, so we recommend fishing with an assortment of small nymphs in the deeper slower pools. Flows increased on the Farmington River, and levels are now close to average. There are also flow improvements on the Housatonic River, and most sections will still have easy wading. Streamer fishing can also be a good option since Brown Trout have finished spawning and looking to regain weight. Both streamers stripped slowly, swung, or jigged through a run will entice fish with their slower action. On the Salmon River in New York, temperatures are cold with quite a bit of snow received. Flows have increased to above average levels. Slush will be an issue in the morning on lower sections of the river, however there are still a few Steelhead entering the system. Further upriver fish will concentrate in the slower and deeper pools, and it will be worth fishing these areas methodically. Winter fishing will have diminished catch rates; however, there will be a small bite window which is usually when water temperatures are at their peak for the day. As a result, trout activity will be at its peak during this time.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week we have few changes to our local freestones; flows are still low and are unaffected by snowmelt. Snowmelt will drop water temperatures a bit as that cold water enters the rivers. You may see some small Blue Winged Olives and Midges hatching during the afternoon; however, hatches will be diminished with these colder water temperatures. Nymphing will be the most effective technique followed by streamer fishing. For nymphs, consider bringing small imitative selections (sizes 18-24). In addition, egg patterns will still be working now that the majority of Brown Trout have finished spawning. For streamers, you will want to try swinging flies on a floating or sink tip line. Jigging streamers can also be effective because they present a slower and more enticing action to lethargic fish. Trout fishing during colder temperatures will result in finding a narrow bite window during the day, usually when water temperatures are at their highest. During this time bug and trout activity will be at its peak. Overall, fish deeper pools methodically, and don’t be discouraged as catch rates can generally be lower during Winter. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead and Brown Trout are spread throughout the system, and anglers are finding single digit numbers of Steelhead each day on average. Nymphing with egg patterns and stoneflies will be most effective, however aggressive fish will still willingly take a swung fly.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! As the weather gets colder, we’ve slimmed down our fishing report to relevant areas with winter fishing potential. Winter will have its own unique challenges when trout fishing in Connecticut. Fish will be more lethargic and tend to favor the deeper slower pools and runs. They may become more active during the afternoon, and when water temperatures are warmest some will forage in the faster part of the run. Water temperatures will also be coldest during the early morning, so we recommend waiting until the late morning into the afternoon when trout will become more active. You may find small Blue Winged Olives and some Midges hatching; however, they may be diminished. Fishing slowly and methodically in likely holding areas will be the key to success, and there can be a bite window on some days in which trout activity is at its highest. Overall, flows are below average on our local freestones, as well as the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers. Small nymphs and jig streamers will be working best this time of year. On the Salmon River in New York, flows were cut which means Steelhead are now in their holding lies spread throughout the river. Focusing on the deeper pools is a good start. Anglers are finding a few fish each day, as well as some nice Brown Trout.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! The weather is getting chillier, and with that trout are starting their winter behavior. Metabolism will slow, and they will move into deeper and slower pools. Subsurface techniques will be more effective, as they will be less willing to expend energy. Our freestones across Connecticut are clear and wadable with below average flows. Persistent anglers have been catching fish primarily nymphing, and a few more aggressive fish have been taking streamers. Flows are also below average on the Naugatuck River, and more Atlantic Salmon were stocked recently. Flows are slightly below average on both the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers, which will have good clarity and easy wading this weekend. While water temperatures will result in diminished hatches, you may see some Blue Winged Olives hatching during the late afternoon and into the evening. Brown Trout have mostly finished spawning and are aggressive towards streamers; however, there are a few stragglers paired up so you will want to avoid fishing to them and stepping on their Redds. As a result of spawning, egg flies will also be working well. Flows have dropped a bit on the Salmon River in New York, creating ideal conditions for Steelhead fishing. Anglers are finding both Brown Trout and Steelhead spread throughout the entire river. Both swinging flies and nymphing will be effective methods.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week our Connecticut freestones have seen an increase in flows but are still below average, a slight improvement from last week. Anglers are still finding trout from Fall stockings. Now that water temperatures have dropped lower, winter techniques will start becoming more effective. This means methodically searching the deeper pools, using a low and slow approach drifting nymphs. Egg flies will also be working now that Brown Trout are completing their spawning. On the Farmington and Housatonic Rivers, which all have fishable flows for this weekend, will also be seeing some small Blue Winged Olives emerging towards the late afternoon. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead fishing is alive and well with fish being spread throughout the entire river. Flows have dropped, and now most sections will have easier wading, but the river is still high. As a result, search a variety of water types, as there will be Steelhead both holding and traveling, and you may find some nice Brown Trout as a bonus. On the saltwater, the Long Island Sound has winded down, with schoolies still blitzing on occasion. Areas to focus on include the mouth of river, coves, and harbors. Late morning can result in finding some Stripers hitting Peanut Bunker on the surface. Holdover Stripers are now staging and moving upriver into their respective winter spots. Rhode Island is experiencing similar circumstances, meanwhile the South Shore of Long Island and New Jersey still has good numbers of migratory fish.

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Hello Compleat Angler friends! This week we have no significant changes to our Connecticut trout fishing, and all of our freestones have been holding below average flows. Hatches have been slowing down, but the main insects you will see include Tan Caddis, Midges, and Blue Winged Olives during the afternoon. Subsurface has been the best option, both nymphing and streamer fishing. On the Farmington River, you will want to bring your smaller nymphs as well as some egg patterns now that Brown Trout are spawning. The Housatonic River will be similar, and flows will be ideal for fishing and wading this weekend. Anglers are finding trout on all techniques, including dry flies when there are hatches of small Blue Winged Olives. On the Salmon River in New York, Steelhead have moved throughout the entire river now, and they’re still entering the estuary. Flows are high so we should see a nice push of fish into the river as a result. On the saltwater, there are some schoolies on some Peanut Bunker near the coves and harbors, and one will find them blitzing during the later morning with tide movement. The best action is still along the Southshore down to the Jersey Coastline, which is holding larger migratory Stripers. The most prevalent bait is Bunker and Sand Eels.

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Our local freestones have been holding steadily below average over the past few weeks throughout Connecticut. With stocked fish acclimated, it will be worth bringing some smaller nymphs, and you may find trout rising infrequently to Blue Winged Olives, Midges, and Tan Caddis. The Farmington River has increased flows on the West Branch, and clarity and wading will be ideal for the weekend with flows just shy of average. Cooler water temperature will result in better subsurface fishing during the morning and into the afternoon. Later during the day you may find some fish rising on small Blue Winged Olives, unless you’re lucky enough to encounter an October Caddis hatch, which are still occurring infrequently. The Housatonic River also has ideal flows leading into the weekend, and Blue Winged Olives are the primary hatch. When there are no hatches, streamer fishing and nymphing will be the most productive. On the Salmon River, Steelhead are now the primary fish entering the river, along with a few nice Brown Trout. There are still a few late Kings and Cohos running; however, most are staged upriver and into the tributaries. The primary nymphs this time of year will be egg flies, as salmon are spawning. Swinging flies will also work as fresher fish tend to be most aggressive. Fishing in the Long Island Sound has been spotty, but there are occasional Striper blitzes on Peanut Bunker. Areas to focus on include the Norwalk Islands, and along the Westport shoreline and into Bridgeport. On the right tides it will also be worth fishing the structures along the Northshore. The best Striper action continue along the Southshore, from Jamaica Bay and into New Jersey.

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