JT’s fly shop

Weekly report and newsletter

I had an absolute truth in fly fishing a hatch painfully retaught to me last Saturday evening. I made a quick little trip with a couple of friends to a favorite section of a river we all fish. When we got to the spot there were already rising fish and bugs in the air. As I normally do in this situation I tied on a leader and watched for a few minutes. There were a few splashy rises that I figured were fish taking one of the 3 different caddis. I then noticed that there were a lot a sz 12 spinners in the air but high off the water. Most likely remnant March brown spinner fall. I then noticed a fish closest to me was gulping like it was taking some type of emerger. Well after 5 fly changes I decided to move a little farther below the fish and try and net what it was eating. There were some sz 18 sulphur spinners. Well by this time it was getting dark and I had just enough time to tie on an imitation and make a few casts on the third cast a nice 14” brown took the fly. That was the only fish of the evening as I took too long to figure out what was happening and ran out of light.  I skipped the step of actually looking at the water I just assumed what was in the flow instead of actually looking. Remember to always look first and assume later. You will have much more success fishing to trout concentrated on a hatch.

.

 

Report

Natchaug:

Flow is at  46 CFS (), water clear

Water temps are 65 degrees in the Am rising to about 70 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are small tan caddis sz 18, pale evening duns sz 14--16, BWO sz 18.-20 a few Sulphurs right at dark sz 16.  

Willimantic:

flow is at 85 CFS (, water is clear

water temps are 65 in the morning rising to about 70 at 3 PM

 some small midges, small tan caddis sz 18, , pale evening duns sz 14--16, BWO sz 18.-20 a few Sulphurs right at dark sz 16.  

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 12 CFS , water is clear (I would skip fishing here if possible)

Water temps are 66 am to about 72 PM

 small tan caddis sz 18, dark black caddis sz 18-20 , BWO sz 18.-20 and pale evening duns sz 16

Fenton:

Flow is at 14 CFS , water is clear ( like above I would try someplace else)

Water temps 58 am to almost 63 in pm

Pale evening duns sz 16, tan caddis sz 18, gray caddis sz 18, BWO sz 18,  look for egg layers in the afternoon.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 311 CFS )

Temps are 67to 72 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, BWO sz 18, tan caddis 18

Note with water temps up look for smallmouth as well

Salmon:

Flow is at 50 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are  67 in the am going up to 73 in pm

 there  tan caddis sz 18, pale evening

 

What to use:

Streamers try muddlers sz 10-8 the sculpins are busy doing there thing at first and last light. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish as will pheasant tails in sz 16-20.  For pale evening duns try a wet fly to begin then switch to a hen wing dry sz 14-16 For the caddis hatch use a sparkle pupa fished in the surface film. For the BWO a sz. 18 dry will work great. tan X caddis sz 16-18 BWO parachutes are working really well also sz 18-20, for Sulphurs try parachute sz 16-20 imitates both dun and emerger well.

Tight lines,

Steve’O

Weekly report and newsletter

            RODs…….When you plan to try/buy a rod bring along your own reel with the line you plan to use and test cast them before you buy. If a shop hesitates or will not let you test cast a rod, find another shop. That is just good customer service. I look at rods as a tool to get a job done. A rod that works great for one situation will be useless in another. There are some all-around rods that are good at most stuff but don’t excel at any either. 9’ 9 weight is a good all-around saltwater rod a little heavy for some stuff and light for other but will work. As will an 8’ 6” 5 weight rod for fresh water. It may be a little light for bigger streamers and too large for some small midges. But will cover most of what you will be fishing. But remember if you plan to do any specialized fishing don’t be afraid to get the correct tool for the job, it will make it that much more fun. I have far more rods than I could use in any normal season. Many of those are dedicated solely for guiding, these guide rods have two important things they are easy to cast for any level of caster and they are constructed well. They are far from top of the line rods but they are also not entry level ones. My personal rods are all very different from these rods. While the rods I use for guiding all seem to be general in size & length, I have a tool crate of personal rods from 11’6” & 12 two handers down to a 6’6” fiberglass 5wt for small streams. I tend to be very specific when I am fishing, it may be 10’ nymph rod, slow action old style dry fly rod or an ultra-fast rod for casting heavy steelhead rigs. When it comes to rods they are a real personal choice of what or how we want to fish. At this point in fly fishing history we are lucky because we have the greatest choice of great rods from $100 to $1,500 rods in all sizes shapes and colors.

Report

Natchaug:

Flow is at  21 CFS (), water clear

Water temps are 65 degrees in the Am rising to about 70 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are small tan caddis sz 18, yellow sallies, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.-20 and a few march browns sz 12-14

Willimantic:

flow is at 45 CFS (, water is clear

water temps are 65 in the morning rising to about 70 at 3 PM

 some small midges, small tan caddis sz 18, yellow sallies, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.-20 and a few march browns sz 12-14

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 7.9 CFS , water is clear (I would skip fishing here if possible)

Water temps are 66 am to about 72 PM

 small tan caddis sz 18, yellow sallies, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.-20 and a few march browns sz 12-14

Fenton:

Flow is at 5.1CFS , water is clear ( like above I would try someplace else)

Water temps 58 am to almost 63 in pm

Paraleps sz. 18, BWO sz 18,  gray caddis, look for egg layers in the afternoon.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 195 CFS )

Temps are 67to 72 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, BWO sz 18, tan caddis 18

Salmon:

Flow is at 31 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are  67 in the am going up to 73 in pm

 there  tan caddis sz 18, paraleps sz 18.

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well.  Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish.  The mahogany duns use a small red quill sz.18 and a sz.18 rusty spinner. For the caddis hatch use a sparkle pupa fished in the surface film. For the BWO a sz. 18 dry will work great. March brown floating nymphs emergers are good sz 12, tan X caddis sz 16-18 BWO parachutes are working really well also sz 18-20

Shop droppings:

We have some nice used rods for sale 11’6” 6 wt. Two hander , TFO pro 9’6” 5wt. with prism reel and Airflo line. A couple of bamboo rods and several NEW Greys rods left 8’ 4wt, 8’6” 5 wt , 9’ 5wt , 9’ 6 wt in the GS 2 series, XF2 11’ 7wt, XF 2 6’6” 2wt, 9’ 8 and 9 wt. salt water rods. Hardy Zane  9’ 8wt XF 2 9’ 12wt Stop in and check them out.

Tight lines,

Steve’O

Weekly report and newsletter

Over the next four or five weeks things in the bug/trout world will start to change. When the water begins to warm to high 50’s to 60’s the hatch times and concentrations of the hatches will move away from mid-day to morning and later afternoon. The number of different mayflies and caddis flies that will hatch grows the closer we get to the magic of the middle of June. The first of these mid late spring hatches is the march brown; it hatches from about 2 in the afternoon on. While not a blanket hatch they come off a few at a time for a good part of the afternoon. They are a solid size 12 with mottled tan/ brown wings and a tannish brown body. They are followed closely by the pale evening duns E. Vitreous these are a light olive yellow body fly with dun colored wings. They Like other Epeorus mayflies actually molt into an adult on the stream bottom and swim to the surface as a fully emerged adult. Swinging a sz 14 yellow soft hackle or a wet fly can be a very deadly technique for this hatch. They are followed by the first of the light cahill it is a sz 14 with a lighter tan body than the M. Ithaca which is a sz 12 and much closer to a yellow. Then come the Sulphurs E. Invaria, E. Dorothea, and E. Rotunda, the Rotunda is the first and largest of the three it is a sz 16 will begin about memorial day most years. It is followed by the Invaria a sz 18 and then the Dorothea a sz 18. Many days the duns will still be hatching when the spinners start to fall. There are several caddis mixed in most important of them is the American grannom     Brachycentrus it is a sz 14 tube case builder and unlike most caddis that will blast thru the surface film they actually ride the surface for a time so they are more available to be eaten easily by trout. Next week we will touch base on some methods to fish these hatches.

Report

Natchaug:

Flow is at  40 CFS (), water clear

Water temps are 62 degrees in the Am rising to about 66 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are small tan caddis sz 18, yellow sallies, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.-20 and a few march browns sz 12-14

Willimantic:

flow is at 78 CFS (, water is clear

water temps are 57 in the morning rising to about 66 at 3 PM

 some small midges, small tan caddis sz 18, yellow sallies, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.-20 and a few march browns sz 12-14

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 17 CFS , water is clear

Water temps are 56 am to about 62PM

 small tan caddis sz 18, yellow sallies, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.-20 and a few march browns sz 12-14

Fenton:

Flow is at 9.8 CFS , water is clear

Water temps 58 am to almost 63 in pm

Paraleps sz. 18, BWO sz 18,  gray caddis, look for egg layers in the afternoon.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 271 CFS )

Temps are 58 to 67 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, BWO sz 18, tan caddis 18

Salmon:

Flow is at 68 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are 58 in the am going up to 65 in pm

 there  tan caddis sz 18, paraleps sz 18.

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well.  Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish.  The mahogany duns use a small red quill sz.18 and a sz.18 rusty spinner. For the caddis hatch use a sparkle pupa fished in the surface film. For the BWO a sz. 18 dry will work great. March brown floating nymphs emergers are good sz 12, tan X caddis sz 16-18 BWO parachutes are working really well also sz 18-20

Shop droppings:

We have some nice used rods for sale 11’6” 6 wt. Two hander , Greys 9’ 4wt StreamFlex, TFO pro 9’6” 5wt. with prism reel and Airflo line. A couple of bamboo rods and several NEW Greys rods left 8’ 4wt, 8’6” 5 wt , 9’ 5wt , 9’ 6 wt in the GS 2 series, XF2 11’ 7wt, XF 2 6’6” 2wt, 9’ 8 and 9 wt. salt water rods. Stop in and check them out.

Tight lines,

Steve’O

Weekly report and newsletter

Report

Well as it has been in the past couple of years rain is either feast or famine. Right now everything is getting dry. So be aware that when the water is low trout will be far more wary that normally at this time of year. Wade slow, wear drab colors, use a bit lighter rod/line if you have it , look for active fish so that you will not spook the whole pool or run by accidentally almost stepping on a trout. Look to deeper flows and water that has cover. Good luck and hope for rain. On another note I am tying flies at the May meeting of the western Mass fly fishermen’s at 7:00 PM Monday May 18^th at the Chicopee elks club go to their web page and check them out.

Natchaug:

Flow is at  44 CFS (), water clear

Water temps are 57 degrees in the Am rising to about 62 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are grey caddis,  very few Hendricksons (pink sz 12, sz 14 red quills)with small black caddis sz 18, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.

Willimantic:

flow is at 74 CFS (, water is clear

water temps are 57 in the morning rising to about 62 at 3 PM

 some small midges, Hendricksons and a few quill Gordon’s,  with little black caddis mixed as well.

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 17 CFS , water is clear

Water temps are 56 am to about 62PM

 small grey caddis. Hendricksons, look for small black caddis as well.

Fenton:

Flow is at 11 CFS , water is clear

Water temps 56 am to almost 63 in pm

Paraleps sz. 18, BWO sz 18,  gray caddis, look for egg layers in the afternoon.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 329 CFS )

Temps are 58 to 67 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, BWO sz 18, tan caddis 18

Salmon:

Flow is at 79 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are 58 in the am going up to 65 in pm

 there  tan caddis sz 18, paraleps sz 18.

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well.  Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish. For quill Gordons use a Quill Gordon Wet instead of regular dry.  For the Hendricksons remember the male and female look completely different. Makes are a full hook size smaller (14) and reddish brown, female is size 12 and a pinkish /tan color. With almost a week o emergence we will also see the spinner fall later in the afternoon, look for lazy rolling rises and hit them with a sz 12 rusty spinner.  The mahogany duns use a small red quill sz.18 and a sz.18 rusty spinner. For the caddis hatch use a sparkle pupa fished in the surface film. For the BWO a sz. 18 dry will work great. I

Shop droppings:

We have some nice used rods for sale 11’6” 6 wt. Two hander , Greys 9’ 4wt StreamFlex, TFO pro 9’6” 5wt. with prism reel and Airflo line. A couple of bamboo rods and several NEW Greys rods left 8’ 4wt, 8’6” 5 wt , 9’ 5wt , 9’ 6 wt in the GS 2 series, XF2 11’ 7wt, XF 2 6’6” 2wt, 9’ 8 and 9 wt. salt water rods. Stop in and check them out.

Tight lines,

Steve’O

Weekly report and newsletter

One of the most essential skills in river/stream fishing is wading ( some smaller streams stalking). When you plan your approach to fishing any piece of water whether first time there or 100 time there you need to keep three things in mind.1) what is my best wading strategy for the conditions and the water I am on. Example many of the medium sized rivers here in Connecticut have an almost bowel effect to them. Due to ice movement in winter and heavy run off at time the middle of the channel is the deepest. So don’t just wade into the middle to fish downstream or up.  2) one of the things many of us either don’t understand or forget is that when we wade we cause a disturbance, when the water is high or fast it is not much of an issue but if it is slower water or lower flows lift your feet-don’t drag them it does make a noise trout can “hear”. Try to not make too many ripples on a calm pool, it will alert the trout to your presents. They may not spook but will be far more cautious when moving for the fly. Lastly be courteous, don’t pocket fish ( fall in just behind someone fishing up or down and actually push them) also remember you are  not the only person fishing a piece of water, if your fishing wets or a streamer don’t just wade right down the middle of the river for half a mile. You will move or spook every fish you don’t catch if you catch any when all the trout scramble downstream alerting every other trout that there is danger. One other note if you closer to the bank your shape will be broken up and you can get closer to the fish. Larger rivers, Farmington, Housie, and Shetucket are not as critical as they are larger rivers I am talking about the Willimantic , salmon and that size water.

Report

Natchaug:

Flow is at  75 CFS (normal), water clear

Water temps are 52 degrees in the Am rising to about 58 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are grey caddis, Hendricksons (pink sz 12, sz 14 red quills)with small black caddis sz 18, mahogany quills(paraleps) sz. 18 , BWO sz 18.

Willimantic:

flow is at 157 CFS ( normal), water is clear

water temps are 54 in the morning rising to about 57 at 3 PM

 some small midges, Hendricksons and a few quill Gordon’s,  with little black caddis mixed as well.

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 31 CFS , water is clear

Water temps are 54 am to about 56 PM

 small grey caddis. Hendricksons, look for small black caddis as well.

Fenton:

Flow is at 20 CFS , water is clear

Water temps 53 am to almost 56 in pm

Paraleps sz. 18, BWO sz 18, Hendricksons, gray caddis, look for spinners in the afternoon.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 50 CFS (this is about the limit of fishable high water)

Temps are 50 to 59 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, BWO sz 18, tan caddis 18

Salmon:

Flow is at 193 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are 50 in the am going up to 58 in pm

 there Hendricksons on esp. spinner fall, tan caddis sz 18, paraleps sz 18.

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well.  Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish. For quill Gordons use a Quill Gordon Wet instead of regular dry.  For the Hendricksons remember the male and female look completely different. Makes are a full hook size smaller (14) and reddish brown, female is size 12 and a pinkish /tan color. With almost a week o emergence we will also see the spinner fall later in the afternoon, look for lazy rolling rises and hit them with a sz 12 rusty spinner.  The mahogany duns use a small red quill sz.18 and a sz.18 rusty spinner. For the caddis hatch use a sparkle pupa fished in the surface film. For the BWO a sz. 18 dry will work great. I

Shop droppings:

We have some nice used rods for sale 11’6” 6 wt. Two hander , Greys 9’ 4wt StreamFlex, TFO pro 9’6” 5wt. with prism reel and Airflo line. A couple of bamboo rods and several NEW Greys rods left 8’ 4wt, 8’6” 5 wt , 9’ 5wt , 9’ 6 wt in the GS 2 series, XF2 11’ 7wt, XF 2 6’6” 2wt, 9’ 8 and 9 wt. salt water rods. Stop in and check them out.

Tight lines,

Steve’O

Weekly report and newsletter

this time of year the small grey caddis & green caddis will hatch sporadically throughout the day. When this happens the best way to fish is using a small grey or light green wet fly or soft hackle fished on the swing. If you see bulges use an unweighted fly swing it to the area were the bulge was. If the fish are not showing swing the fly into tail outs. At the end of the drift use a little rise of the rod tip to get the fish to take.

Report

Natchaug:

Flow is at 117 CFS (normal), water clear

Water temps are 50 degrees in the Am rising to about 55 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are black and brown stones sz 16-18, Hendricksons (pink sz 12, sz 14 red quills)with small black caddis sz 18.

Willimantic:

flow is at 216 CFS ( normal), water is clear

water temps are 50 in the morning rising to about 55 at 3 PM

small stones black and sz 16-18, with some small midges, Hendricksons and a few quill Gordon’s,  with little black caddis mixed as well.

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 48 CFS , water is clear

Water temps are 50 am to about 53 PM

Small stones and some small grey caddis. Hendricksons, look for small black caddis as well.

Fenton:

Flow is at 33 CFS , water is clear

Water temps 50 am to almost 54 in pm

Should have decent stones egg laying about now. Hendricksons, gray caddis, look for spinners in the afternoon.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 849 CFS (this is about the limit of fishable high water)

Temps are 50 to 56 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, small stones

Salmon:

Flow is at 193 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are 49 in the am going up to 56 in pm

Some caddis and yes Pat S there Hendricksons in the river now.

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well. Small stone fly imitations in sz 16-18 to match the hatching stones ( dark brown/ black) . also try small dark wet flies later in the afternoon fished just under the surface upstream, this imitates the drown egg laying stones. Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish. For quill Gordons use a Quill Gordon Wet instead of regular dry. The Epeorus nymphs actually shed their shuck on the bottom and rise as an almost fully formed adult. Warmer day they will only sit for a short time then take off so the wet fly swung to bulging trout works wonders. For the Hendricksons remember the male and female look completely different. Makes are a full hook size smaller (14) and reddish brown, female is size 12 and a pinkish /tan color. The males usually hatch first then the females will come off. Try a red quill parachute early the switch to a female colored dry once that stops working. With almost a week o emergence we will also see the spinner fall later in the afternoon, look for lazy rolling rises and hit them with a sz 12 rusty spinner.  

Shop droppings:

We have some nice used rods for sale 11’6” 6 wt. Two hander , Greys 9’ 4wt StreamFlex, TFO pro 9’6” 5wt. with prism reel and Airflo line. A couple of bamboo rods and several Greys rods left 8’ 4wt, 8’6” 5 wt , 9’ 5wt , 9’ 6 wt in the GS 2 series, XF2 11’ 7wt, XF 2 6’6” 2wt, 9’ 8 and 9 wt. salt water rods. Stop in and check them out.

Tight lines,

Steve’O

As promised I am letting you know that the Hendrickson’s have started on the Natchaug and the Fenton rivers. spent a good chunk of today (Saturday) fishing over a decent hatch of them. I got my fish on a mix of nymphs, emergers and parachute hendrickson dry. The main part of the hatch was from 2-4 Pm just when the water hit 54 degrees. fished until about 5 but did not see any spinners. Spoke to a guy I know who had fished the Fenton and had some sporadic hatching of hendricksons earlier 12-1. There were also some small dark caddis sz. 18, small black stones and some grey midges. fish seemed to be keyed in to the hendrickson female . As I could not get a take on a size 14 red quill. Got good action on hendrickson colored Klinkhammer, hendrickson colored nymphs in size 12.
tight lines

Weekly fishing report

So Winter is back for a bit after all the rain earlier this week. Rivers were up for a good part of the week but are down and fishable again. We have been getting a ton of calls asking about the Hendrickson hatch – it has not really started yet. Water temps are just now reaching the point where they hold in the 50 + degree range so with some sun we may see them this weekend. Will keep everyone updated. Speaking of hatches : I have done a few presentations over the winter and have been doing my version of a hatch guide. The ONE biggest thing to remember is don’t just wait for dry fly action fish the whole hatch. Which means to nymph fish before the hatch starts, the larva are active for hours before the actually hatch. Use nymph patterns that look closer to the actual insect hatching and not just general patterns. Yes general patterns will work but one that looks like the actual bug will be better. Remember that the 3 keys are, presentation, pattern and habitat.

report

Natchaug:

Flow is at 276 CFS (bit above normal), water clear

Water temps are 50 degrees in the Am rising to about 52 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are black and brown stones sz 16-18

Willimantic:

flow is at 379 CFS ( about 75 -100 CFS above normal), water is clear

water temps are 48in the morning rising to about 52 at 3 PM

small stones black and brown sz 16-18, with some small midges mixed as well.

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 108 CFS (a bit high), water is clear

Water temps are 49 am to about 53 PM

Small stones and some small grey caddis.

The small pool by the fire house on rt 89, the RT 89 bridge and memorial park remain decent access points.

Fenton:

Flow is at 68 CFS , water is clear

Water temps 48 am to almost 52 in pm

Should have decent stones egg laying about now.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 1200 CFS (this is about the limit of fishable high water)

Temps are 48 to 52 flow is clearing

Should see some decent grey caddis sz 16 -18, small stones

Salmon:

Flow is at 402 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are 48 in the am going up to 52 in pm

Small stones and some scattered caddis

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well. Small stone fly imitations in sz 16-18 to match the hatching stones ( dark brown/ black) . also try small dark wet flies later in the afternoon fished just under the surface upstream, this imitates the drown egg laying stones. Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish. Remember this time of year fishing the seams is more important than any other. The feeding trout will be in this slower moving current where they can feed without expending the energy of fighting the fast current.  Also on larger pools where the current is moving faster than normal look for the back flowing current eddy on the outer edge, it will carry a ton of food to the fish and they don’t have to stress too much to feed there.

Tight lines,

Steve

Weekly fishing report

Welcome to trout season 2105: Saturday dawned clear and fairly cold and the wind eventually picked up. Most reports we got in to the shop were of very slow fishing for everyone. I headed to the Willimantic river about 9 am water was way up and far too cold to expect too much in the way of fish activity. Hope was not disappointed after almost 6 hours I had had 1 lone take that I missed. My fishing partner for the day Sergei managed one on a streamer. Sunday I fished one of the many many small streams here in Northeast Connecticut and managed 3 decent trout in about 2 hours. All on nymphs fished in the slower seams of current.  Water temp had come up to 48 degrees   and there was a mix of small black and brown stones flying around. I did notice that not many were on the bank and most were laying eggs so these guys maybe slowing down. Stop in the shop and check out what we have on special all Grey’s rods and reels are 20% off. We also have some really good used equipment for sale as well. We have a 1935 Thomas 8’2” 5wt. bamboo for $300.00, Grey’s GRXI 11’6” 6wt. spey/switch rod ( see Jt) 9’6” 5wt. TFO pro series , with a 4/5 machined TFO prism reel and Airflo line for $120.00 great wet fly / indicator nymph rod, 10’ 4wt. Greys StreamFlex rod $160.00 excellent euro nymph rod. Remember we have Hardy rods/ reels, TFO rods , Hatch reels, 3tand reels, Rio and Airflo lines.

report

Natchaug:

Flow is at 199 CFS (bit above normal), water clear

Water temps are 47 degrees in the Am rising to about 52 at 3 Pm.

Right now there are black and brown stones sz 16-18

JT had a guide trip there yesterday and they did well with buggers and nymphs.

Willimantic:

flow is at 372 CFS ( about 75 -100 CFS above normal), water is clear

water temps are 45 in the morning rising to about 52 at 3 PM

small stones black and brown sz 16-18, with some small midges mixed as well.

Mount Hope:

Flow is at 81 CFS (a bit high), water is clear

Water temps are 46 am to about 50 PM

Small stones and some small grey caddis.

The small pool by the fire house on rt 89, the RT 89 bridge and memorial park are decent access points.

Fenton:

Flow is at 56 CFS , water is clear

Water temps 45 am to almost 50 in pm

Should have decent stones egg laying about now.

Shetucket:

Flow is at 1250 CFS (this is about the limit of fishable high water)

Temps are 48 to 52 flow is clearing

Salmon:

Flow is at 270 CFS, flow is clear

Water temps are 48 in the am going up to 52 in pm

Small stones and some scattered caddis

What to use:

As always buggers sz 8-10 in black, olive or a thin mint will work well. Small stone fly imitations in sz 16-18 to match the hatching stones ( dark brown/ black) . also try small dark wet flies later in the afternoon fished just under the surface upstream, this imitates the drown egg laying stones. Streamers like 6-8 grey ghosts and black nose dace will work as well. Bow river buggers sz 6-8 will produce as well. For nymphs try black hares ears sz 14-16, Riffle stones sz 8 fished dead drift as always will take fish. Remember this time of year fishing the seams is more important than any other. The feeding trout will be in this slower moving current where they can feed without expending the energy of fighting the fast current.  Also on larger pools where the current is moving faster than normal look for the back flowing current eddy on the outer edge, it will carry a ton of food to the fish and they don’t have to stress too much to feed there.

Tight lines,

Steve