Fishing Report

8-27-2010
What a spectacular day it is today.  Temps are in the mid 70’s, bluebird sky with a cool breeze.  The 10 day forecast looks like it was written for fishing with lots of sun, moderate temps during the days with cool nights.  The fishing is really good right now.  We received a couple of days of soaking rain which has put the streams in good shape.  As for insect activity, look for sulphurs, cahills, isonychia, olives, caddis in various sizes and colors, flying ants, and other terrestrials.

 

8-18-2010
Cool nights have brought the water temps down a bit.  There have been some isolated rain showers, but the rivers are still running a little low.  We’ve seen good numbers of flying ants over the last two days.  The ones seen so far have been very small, roughly size 22.  You can often get results with a size or two bigger that those seen on the water.  The next month should see winged ants in a variety of sizes and colors.  Can’t figure out what the trout are rising to?  Try a flying ant.

 

8-15-2010
We are still experiencing summer fishing conditions.  Air temps have certainly moderated, but water flows are low in many streams and rivers.  These conditions make it extremely important to choose the right times and places to fish.  Evening temps have been in the fifties and sixties, which keeps many streams cool enough to fish, especially in the mornings.  What we really need is more regular rain events to keep the streams and river full.

We have been fishing the Battenkill.  The mornings have been seeing some regular hatches of tricos.  Tricos hatch in areas of the river that have silty bottoms.  The hatches can be very strong.  Be sure to bring a few different fly patterns to insure success.  As the season goes on, the fish will definitely be more difficult to catch.  Also have a good supply of caddis flies, BWOs, and some sulphurs and cahills for the evenings.

The Connecticut River is a go to fishery for us at this time of year.  Because of the variable dam releases, flows and water depth can be quite variable.  Keep in mind that the water conditions depend on the releases at the Bellows Falls Dam as well as the Wilder Dam.  Flows depend on not only what flows in, but also on what flows out.  The good news is that bass can be caught at almost any flow, it’s just that some conditions are better than others.  There are huge bass in this river and our favorite way to fish for them is with surface flies.

The mountain streams are fishing very well.  Searching these remote mountain streams with a dry fly produces beautiful brook trout.  Brown trout are also in the mix. 

The White river has also been producing good fish.  The flows are all natural, and fluctuate with rainfalls.  A thermometer is a must have for that river.  Evenings are good times to fish the White.  Covering lots of water when the water temps are moderate is a good way to find the rainbows.  We have gotten reports of some large fish being caught between Bethel and Sharon.

 

 

7-26-2010
The weather has moderated quite a bit, and river water temps have decreased.  Evening air temps have dipped to about 60 degrees over the past week, and most trout rivers are in the 60 to 70 degree range during the day.  Periodic thunder storms have given us regular cool rains which have brought the rivers up to more seasonal levels.  All in all, trout fishing conditions are good right now. Hatches to look for are tricos, isonychias, BWO’s, ephorons, and several varieties of caddis.  Terrestrials are always good this time of year.    

7-15-2010
We have received well over an inch of rain.  Although it is seasonally warm, we have been given a break from that oppressive heat.  The river conditions have already improved significantly.  Let water temperatures be your guide. We are currently targeting the cooler mountain streams for brook trout and some larger waters for bass fishing.   

 

7-13-2010
Wow, has it been hot.  This prolonged heat spell has not been kind to the fishing.  Most rivers are warm and low.  We are currently fishing for brook trout and small mouth bass.  We target native brook trout in cool mountain streams.  Some of our favorite summer fishing is for small mouth bass.  This will be our focus until we get some rain and more moderate temperatures. 

 

7-2-2010
We had a great day on the water yesterday.  It was a very dramatic weather day.  We had big threatening clouds, some sun and blue skies, a strong shifty wind, and a little rain.  We decided to float the White River due to the below average temps and above average flows.  At noon, the water temp was 62 degrees and the air temp was about the same.  We caught some beautiful rainbows.  This cool weather will only last for a couple more days, so take advantage it.

 

6-30-2010
Spring has returned.  The air temps today may reach 70 degrees.  Tomorrow’s highs will be in the 60’s with a warming trend as the weekend approaches.  We have excellent water flows and temps.  Conditions do not get better than this for the end of June.

 

6-24-2010
With Tuesday night’s rain, we found that the White River had more than doubled in flow, jumping from 400cfs to over 900cfs.  The water temps also fell to the high 60 degree range.   This being the case, we decided to float a section of river.  The water was off color, with visibility of about 2 feet.  As the water cleared, we hit the best spots with streamers and were rewarded with some excellent rainbows.  Most were in that 16” range which means that they were in the river from last year of the year before.  We also have the story of the large one that broke us off and got away.  By the end of our float, the water temp was again approaching 70 degrees.  We got off the river at 9:00 pm, and by the morning, the flows had dropped 200cfs.

These opportunities are fleeting.  By tomorrow, the river conditions will be unfavorable for a float.  Lesson learned; pay attention, take a little risk (the river could have been too muddy to fish), and fish while conditions are prime.  With some more rain, the river might give us another shot.

 

6-23-2010
We received a little rain last night, and if the forecast is correct, a little more rain is expected tomorrow.  This should put the rivers and streams in good shape for the weekend. The rivers have been a little low and temperatures have risen.  The best time of the day for trout fishing has been mornings.  Of course, small mountain streams remain cold all day.  The trout fishing has been good and the small mouth bass fishing has been excellent. 

 

6-11-2010
If cool temperatures and regular rainfalls are the recipe for good fishing conditions, we have something cooking now.  Fishing conditions are currently excellent.  Sulphers, Cahills, Green Drakes, Isonychia, many types of caddis, little olives, and terrestrials are the bugs that are out and about right now.  Whatever species you like to target, now is the time to get out there.

 

6-7-2010
Over the past week, we have received significant rainfalls.  The streams are running higher, cooler, and trout fishing looks good for the next week.  For a while there, the low flows made some of the small streams so low that they were unfishable.  When this happens, on some waters, the fish are forced to move to deeper pools or tributaries.  Sometimes, they move downstream looking for riffles or bigger water. Last week produced some really nice fish.  Find the refuge holes, and you were into fish, usually several fish.  When the water levels increase, some of these fish move back, and some just stay where they are.  The task of the week will be to determine if fish have moved, and if so, where.

On May 23rd, we reported having a good day of smallie fishing on the Connecticut River.  As we mentioned in the report, we had great sight fishing conditions and were able to see how the fish reacted to our flies.  Well, we made some fly changes in hopes of hooking more fish.  The flies that got the most follows had deer strip tails, marabou bodies, and muddler heads.  They had tremendous action that interested many fish, but we wanted to increase the number of hits.  We hit the tying bench and tied some flies that produced many more hits and brought many more fish to the net.  The fly that we came up with was a variation on Kelly Galloup’s Twin Tail Madonna.  This fly has two rabbit strips hanging of the back.  It can be taken as a bait fish pattern or a crayfish pattern.  Instead of the muddler head, we tied it clouser style with large dumbbell eyes.  The weight kept the fly deeper and produced a nice jigging action.  The fly was a huge hit with the bass.  We were also surprised to pick up a couple of very large rainbow trout on the same fly.  We usually don’t spill the beans on our most productive fly patterns, but this fly is a winner.  We’ll leave it to you to figure out size, color, and the proper retrieve.  Have fun with it.

 

 

5-29-2010
Our heat wave broke a few days ago.  Days have been in the 70’s, nights in the 50’s.  Despite the comfortable air and water temps, we are still challenged by below average water flows.  If you visit the USGS Water website (http://water.usgs.gov), you will notice that only four rivers or streams are shown to be normal in flow.  The other rivers are designated as ‘Below Normal’ or ‘Much Below Normal’.  Fishing is still good, but the reduced flows dictate change in which rivers fish well for this time of year.  Low flows also make our river systems more vulnerable to warming up in hot spells much like the one we just experienced.  The weather forecast is calling for rain next weekend.  We sure need it.

Insect activity has been good.  Mornings and evenings have been the most productive times to fish.  The lower water levels often make the fish feel more exposed dictating the use of longer leaders and lighter tippets.  Those fishermen that are stealthy and technical in presentation should fair well.

 

5-23-2010
We spent Friday floating a stretch of the Connecticut River fishing for small mouth bass.  It was a great day of fishing.  The day was sunny and warm.  There was hardly anyone on the river.  The fishing was on the slow side, but we still had a great day.  We landed about 9 smallies; not a big number for an all day event.  But what made the day educational was the fact that we could see the bass clearly.  First of all, there were a lot of fish.  We were impressed with the numbers that we saw.  Granted, the bass were just starting their spawning cycle, and they were staging in the shallow areas.  The fish we saw were quite large.  Despite the small catch, it was amazing to see how many follows we got on our flies and how the fish reacted.  The bass were interested, and had their noses right on our flies.  In the instances where they lost interest, we were able to recast to them and occasionally hook up.  What was equally amazing was watching the tentative takes.  Often, the bass would take the fly and spit it out so quickly, there was no way to set the hook in time.  We also threw a lot of surface flies.  The takes we got were explosive.  You can be sure that we will hit this stretch of river again and use the observations of the day to fine tune our presentations.

Saturday was spent trout fishing on a local river.  We caught quite a few large trout.  We caught all our fish on nymphs.  The most productive time was in the morning when the sun was low.  We are starting to see March Browns and a few Sulphers.

The rivers are a little low for this time of year.  We are hoping for some much needed rain.  Air temps for the next week will be in the 80’s and might even see a day or two of 90 degree temps.  Summer conditions are the call for the week.      

 

5-18-2010
We had some great fishing over the past several days.  The weekend was a little windy where we fished.  That seemed to have a negative effect on the dry fly fishing.  We were able to pick up plenty of fish on nymphs.  There were quite a few people out fishing, especially on the rivers that were stocked with trophy sized fish.  The fishing pressure has made these fish a little more difficult to catch, but proper presentations coupled with the right flies have been effective.  Every day is different.  We fished the same stretch of river two days in a row with similar conditions.  The first day, the fish were difficult and it took many fly changes and location changes to put fish in the net, and the very next day, we had trouble keeping them off our flies. 

The lakes have been producing some excellent midge hatches.  We throw dry flies in the size 20 range for some beautiful rainbows.  The most common size caught is 12”, but we have been also catching fish in the 16” to 18” range.  If the wind is blowing, or if the hatch is light, fish can also be caught on streamers.

There has been some very prolific caddis hatches of late.  We see them on all rivers, but along the upper Ottauquechee River, the hatches are so thick that driving along the river, the insects just cover the windshield of your car and make quite a mess.  Most of these caddis are egg layers and carry tiny green egg sacks on there abdomens.  Besides using the proper size and color imitation, it is sometime necessary to impart the proper motion to your fly to get the fish to take.  An occasional twitch or skating motion seems to work well.  If the caddis are around, and the fish aren’t rising, try a caddis nymph or emerger to get results.    

 

5-9-2010
A cold front has hit us.  We woke to a dusting of snow and some high wind.  Yesterday, we received some much needed rain.  With moderating temps in sight, it should be a good week of fishing.

In the last week, we have fished the Battenkill River, Otter Creek, the Connecticut River, the White River, the Black River, and one of our local lakes.  We picked up fish in all but the Connecticut, which was a little to high, and the Battenkill, which was fishing slow on the day we were there. We have seen Hendricksons, Blue Quills, Quill Gordons, size 16 Blue Winged Olives, and many midge and caddis.  The hatches haven’t been huge, but if you keep moving and pay attention, rising fish can be found.  It’s all about being on the water at the right time and place.  When there is no visible activity, we have hooked up on nymphs and wooly buggers. 

 

5-7-2010
Fishing is very good right now.  Flows and temps are ideal. There is good insect activity, and the fish are active.  Most rivers and streams have been stocked with trout; many have gotten stocked with large fish in the 16” to 20” range.  Whatever you fishing interests are, now is a great time to hit the water.

 

4-28-2010
As I write this report, it is snowing steadily and the ground is frosted in white.  The temps are not expected to rise out of the thirties today.  Tomorrow will be windy with highs in the 40’s.  After that, spring will return with temps in the 70’s for the next week.

There have been reports of Hendricksons on the Battenkill and Mettawee Rivers, as well as the Otter Creek.  Despite the hatching insects, the fish have been slow to rise due to the cold water temps.  I imagine this will change with the moderating weather.  It should be a good week of fishing ahead of us.

 

4-22-2010
Yesterday, we spent the afternoon fishing on one of our local lakes.  We threw streamers in hope of catching larger trout, and the efforts paid off.  We caught a half a dozen fat rainbows over 16”, the largest of which weighed in at over 3 pounds. Despite the strong winds, we saw quite a few rising trout.  The insects on the water were predominately hatching midge.  There were also stoneflies coming off.  I know that stones are supposed to live and hatch on oxygenated river waters, but we have seen this before and the fish seem to like them.  The forecast is for sunny and warm weather for Friday and Saturday, followed by a few rainy days.    

 

10-17-2010
This week has been similar to last week with above average temps, below average flows, and above average fishing conditions for this time of year.  We fished a river on Wednesday that had a water temp of 61 degrees in the warmest part of the day.  We’ve been fishing the tributaries that flow into larger rivers and lakes and have caught some surprisingly large trout.  There have been mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, and midge in the air on the warmest of afternoons.  We have yet to see any surface activity on the rivers, but when the conditions are ideal, we have seen some rises on some of the lakes.

Things are different now.  A cold front has moved in and it has rained quite heavily for a day and a night.  The rivers are up and the water temps have dropped to much more seasonal levels.  There is rain in the forecast for most of the week.  Conditions are back to normal for the next week. 

 

4-13-2010

We are currently in the middle of the first week of fishing season and the conditions are much better than usual for this time of year.  Usually, the lakes are still iced and the rivers are swollen with snow melt.  The unseasonably warm March and early April put us a few weeks ahead.  The lakes are mostly clear of ice, most of the snow has melted and the rivers are fishable.  Water temps are higher than normal.  The stocking trucks have been out and stockings are ahead of schedule.  As for hatches, we’ve seen some stoneflies in the air along with a few caddis and midges.  There hasn’t been any surface activity, but when they are in the air, an appropriately fished subsurface imitation can get results. Searching with wooly buggers or your favorite streamer pattern is a good place to start.

 

10-2-2009

The weather has been very seasonal, on the cool side.  All waters are at ideal temps for trout fishing.

Trout fishing on the lakes have been a little slow, but we have seen the surface action pick up with this last rain.  As the lakes turn over, we expect lake fishing to improve dramatically.

The river fishing has been excellent, with some rivers fishing better than others.  The flows have been great, and the hatches have been very good.  We just had a great day of dry fly fishing.  The trout were rising all day.  Look for psuedocloens(tiny BWO’s size 26), Baetis(BWO’s size 22 with oversized slate wings), isonychia(size 12-14), and many tiny midge.  There have also been flying ants on the water. 

Picture yourself standing in a beautiful trout stream with no other fishermen in sight, surrounded by peak foliage, bugs in the air with fish rising all around you.  That sums up our last day of fishng.

 

9-5-2009

Currently, the weather is absolutely perfect for all outdoor activities.  The high temperatures during the days are in the 70’s with evening lows in the 40’s and 50’s.  The fishing is excellent, and the trout are feeding throughout the day.  The forecast for the remainder of the week is more of the same.  It doesn’t get any better than this.

 

8-31 2009

The hot spell of the last couple of weeks spiked the water temps in many of our rivers.  Wherever this happened, fishing was quite slow.  By targeting cooler mountain fed streams, we were into trout through that period.  The good news is that the heat wave has broken.  The last few days has seen daytime temps in the 60’s and evening temps in the 40’s and 50’s.  In that short time, we have noticed that the fish are much more active and feeding aggressively.  Fishing is good and the cooler weather ahead of us should keep it that way.  We are seeing good hatches of tricos, small olives, isonychia, and swarms of flying ants.  Every year at this time, winged ants are abundant and are a major food source for the trout.  Ant patterns in sizes 16-24 in black, cinnamon, and yellow imitates the naturals hatching in prolific numbers.  September and October offer great fishing and the rivers are not crowded at this time of year.  It’s a great time to go fishing.

 

8-2-2009

We’ve had a lot of rain fall in the past week and the rivers are full at this time.  The White River, Connecticut River, and Otter Creek are too high to fish and will remain so for a couple of days.  The water is up in all rivers and streams, but some of the smaller rivers are fishing well.  Water temps are ideal and the trout are in predictable places and are in great shape.  This week’s weather is looking good and fishing should be very good in just a few days.

 

7-20-2009

A few days ago, we had a guide’s fishing day and decided to hit the Connecticut River for some smallmouth bass.  The river had been high for a while and our morning was the first to have reduced flows.  We have two small boats with electric trolling motors and hit it hard that day.  What a day of fishing.  We each landed double digit numbers in the 3 pound range and many were lost to the spectacular jumps that these fish made.  All of this was on surface flies.  All in all, it was one of the best days on the Connecticut that we can remember.    

 

7-15-2009

Rivers are prime for trout fishing.  I can’t remember when mid-July has been as cool as this year.  Combine that with above average rain and you get the excellent fishing conditions that we are now experiencing.  How long will it last?  It’s anyone’s guess.  We do not take it for granted and are enjoying every day.

Insect activity has been good.  Look for sulphurs, isonychia, little olives, large stoneflies (try one as a float indicator when nymphing), caddis, beetles, ants, and grasshoppers.  

 

7-12-2009

We have been in a weather pattern that has brought much rain and below average temps.  This has done wonders for keeping our rivers full.  Usually, the flows are low and the water temps are high at this time of year, which shuts the trout fishing down in many of our rivers.  We have not had a hot spell yet and the trout are still happy and healthy and the rivers are fishing well.

We had strong rains move through the region last night which has brought up the flows.  Several of our favorite smaller rivers are in good shape, and with a favorable forecast for the week, we expect fishing to be good.

This week, I was in northern Maine fishing the West Branch of the Penobscot River.  If you haven’t been there, put it on your list.  The place is remote, breathtakingly beautiful, and chock full of brook trout and landlocked salmon.  There is more water there than can be fished in a lifetime.  We enjoyed strong hatches, excellent dry fly fishing, and even caught a hex hatch on one of the remote lakes that caused the water to boil with rising fish.  It was truly an exceptional fishing experience.

 

6-30-2009

We have been receiving periodic rains and the temperatures have been below average.  The result is great fishing conditions.  The rivers have good flows and excellent water temps and the fish are active

Once in a while we experience an exceptional day.   We just had a huge day on the Connecticut River catching small mouth bass.  Many large bass were caught with the average weighing in at around 3 pounds.  When they are on the bite like that, they charge surface flies from a distance and put up an amazing fight.  The river smallies seem to fight much harder than those in lakes. It’s quite an experience.  Check it out.
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6-23-2009

The rivers have come down significantly since the latter part of last week and the flows are excellent.  Fishing is very good and should stay that way for a while.

 

6-19-2009

Surfs up!  We received heavy rain over the last 24 hours.  Most rivers are raging right now.  The flows in the White and Ottauquechee rivers are four times that of a couple of days ago.  This is good for the long haul, but river fishing will be off for a few days.  We’ll be lake fishing today.

 

6-10-2009

We just received a timely rain which insures good flows and water temps for the next week.  Since the last report, we have fished five different rivers and have caught fish in all but one.  The most memorable was a 17” rainbow in the Ottauquechee River.  This was one hot fish that jumped seven times and put up one hell of a fight. 

Insect activity has been good with isonychia, blue winged olives, sulphers, and caddis in the mix.  There has been some good bass activity in the lakes.  This is a great time of year offering good conditions, insect activity, good flows, and some great weather.  Can’t wait to get back out there.

 

6-2-2009

The rains have stopped and most of the rivers have come down to near average flows for this time of year.  The White River is still a little high, but is fishable.  The Connecticut is still very high.  Most other rivers are good.  The rain did not stop the insect activity and there are quite a few different bugs around to keep the fish interested.  Fishing should be good throughout the week.

 

5-29-2009

We have received 2-3 inches of rain.  Most rivers are raging and many are not even fishable.  It will take several days for things to improve.  River fishing will not be good until after the weekend.

 

5-28-2009

Over the last two days, we have received some much needed rain.  The forecast for the next few days is for more rain, with temperatures on the cooler side.  This will insure good flows and water temps for a while.

The rivers are on the rise, with some running off color.  Currently, the best waters to fish are the lakes and smaller streams that have manageable flows.

 

5-23-2009

It has been a good week to fish.  Monday was cold.  Despite the fact that there was little insect activity, we still managed to catch some very nice fish.  Tuesday was much warmer, insects were all over the water…and so were the fishermen.  Some of our favorite water is getting hit pretty hard.  This weekend will surely see great fishing pressure, especially the water that has been stocked with trophy trout.

With that in mind, we decided to float the White River yesterday.  It was a great day.  The morning started with a caddis hatch.  We found rising fish splashing away after caddis pupae. Due to a rising wind, we caught most of our fish on wooly buggers and nymphs.  The river is a freestone river with gravel bars dropping into deep holes which offer limitless spots that hold fish.  We caught a bunch of trout and some small mouth bass.  The water was crystal clear, which allowed us to spot some nice fish.  We saw only one fisherman all day.  Besides caddis, there were a few remaining Hendricksons, some small Blue Winged Olives, and some March Browns.  For a wonderful experience away from the crowds, come float the White with us.  The flows are ideal right now. 

 

5-16-2009

We’ve had another few days of good fishing.  The Ottauquechee River has seen huge caddis hatches over the last few days.  The afternoon egg laying flights have been phenomenal.  If you drove up Rt 4 along the river, your car was left with caddis and tiny green egg sacks on your windshield.  These bugs are light brown with tan wings in size 16.  We are also seeing mayfly hatches midday.  Some are Hendricksons and some are a similar sized mayfly with two tails rather than three.  Hendrickson fly patterns imitate the bugs as well.  We’ve also noted that lately, the spinnerfalls have been stronger in the afternoons than in the evenings. The cooler weather shuts the insect activity down a little earlier.       

 

5-13-2009

The fishing has been excellent this week.  The weather has been ideal.  Water levels and temps are perfect.  We have had prolific hatches of Hendricksons and caddis which have resulted in some great evening action. All this has brought many fish to hand.  To top it all off, there’s fewer people fishing than usual.  Now is the time to hit ther rivers.  Whether for a full day or a few hours, let us share this fishing opportunity with you.       

 

5-9-2009

We have received some much needed rain over the last few days.  Even though the rivers rose a little, they are still lower than average for this time of year.  The rivers that we have been fishing are still running clear, and fishing is good.  Hendricksons are hatching on some rivers.  Yesterday, we fished over a light hatch of Hendricksons.  There were duns during the day with a spinner fall in the evening.  The hatch is not very strong yet, and the fish have yet to key into them.  We are anticipating some excellent dry fly fishing in the coming weeks.  Other insects are also emerging.  Look for yellow stone flies, a variety of caddis, and midges.

 

5-1-2009

Welcome to Vermont Angler’s 2009 fishing report.

We are a couple of weeks into the season and the fishing is quite good for this time of year.  We’ve had excellent trout fishing on some of the local lakes with some large trout in the mix.  Whenever the wind dies, we chase fish that rise to stoneflies, a few caddis, and a variety of midges.  Lately, the action has been steady.

The rivers seem to be lower than usual for this time of year.  Most rivers are running clear and are fishable.  Wading will not be a problem.  Insect activity is good.  We are coming into the most productive time of the year.  Get out there if you can.    

 

9-5-08

We have had excellent weather of late.  The evenings have been cool and the days have been sunny and warm.  The warm days may push water temps above the 70 degree mark in some rivers, but cooler weather is on the way there is good fishing to be had.
The trick of late is figuring out where the fish are.  Anyone that has fished regularly over the summer has an advantage.  If a river or stream had hard times with flows or temps over the summer, often the fish move to better conditions.  Usually that would be upstream to headwaters or tribs, providing that there was enough water to do so.  The migration could also be to spring holes or well oxygenated riffles.  If the stream feeds a lake or deep pond, the trout will seek the refuge of cooler deeper water.  Consequently, there is currently some prime water devoid of fish, and other waters that will produce.  If you fished through July and August, it’s not hard to figure out.  If not, my advice is to hit many spots, keeping in mind which waters might have held fish all summer.

 

8-16-2008

There have been swarms of flying ants in the air.  The birds are on them and the fish are too.  They are dark in color and about a size 20 in size.

The rivers have cleared and come down nicely.  The trout have been on the bite and we have caught many, some of which have been large.  As high off-colored waters clear and drop, we generally have great fishing.  The fish are hungry and they feel secure in the good flows.  Hit it at the right time and you could have a great day.  We have seen the trout migrate into tributary waters during the last few weeks and have scored in waters that usually are too skinny at this time of year.  Wooly buggers, grasshoppers, ants, beetles, caddis and our favorite searching nymphs have been the productive flies.

 

8-9-2008

We received several inches of rain this week which caused flooding throughout the state.  Many rivers are currently off color and running too high to fish.  Some of the smaller rivers are running clear, but water levels are high.  The Connecticut River is at ten times its average flow for this time of year.  The White River is at a dangerous level for wading and running off color below Bethel.  The Battenkill is at eight times its average flow.  The Ottaqueeche is fishable.  It should be a few days before things improve.      

 

 

7-27-2008

This past week has brought tremendous amounts or rain, in fact, there were flood warnings throughout the state.  Things have calmed down some.  The rivers are clearing and dropping.  With chances of thunderstorms still in the forecast, fishing conditions will vary with the region.  Currently, smaller streams, lakes and ponds will be the best fishing options.

Before this spate of water, trout fishing was slow due to the low and warm water levels.  To find cool water, small mountain streams were the target.  Most trout caught were beautiful smaller fish. On the other hand, the smallmouth bass fishing was excellent, with 2-4 pound bass being the common catch.  Most of these fish were caught on surface flies, making the experience very visual and exciting.  I can’t wait for the rivers to drop so that we can hunt these strong healthy bass again.  Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed. 

 

 

7-7-2008

The past couple of weeks have been kind to us.  We have received several rainstorms and the weather has been cool.  Many rivers are still running cool, and the flows are average for this time of year.  Things have slowed some, but we are still catching trout.  The bass fishing is good, most of the action on surface poppers.  Generally, if you hit the right place at the right time, there are plenty of fish to be caught.

 

 

6-11-08

Well, the heat spell is broken, some rain has fallen, and the fishing is good.  There have been quite a few hatches going on lately.  We’ve seen March Browns, Cahills, sulphers, large and small BWO’s, and tons of caddis.  Today, the fish were gorging themselves.  Not many fish rising, but the slightly off colored water was the ticket for fishing wooly buggers.  The weather forecast looks cooler for the next week with a chance of thunderstorm on the weekend.  It seems like we are back on track.

 

6-8-08

We have had nothing to complain about.  The fishing has been excellent.   Hopefully, this heat wave that has us in it grips will not do too much damage.  Our concern is that the water levels are unusually low for this time of year.  We expect water temperatures to rise over the next week, driving trout fishermen to the higher smaller streams in search of cold water.  Another option is to target warm water species.  Fish early mornings and you will find the temps cooler and the fish more actively feeding.  Targeting lakes will also expand your opportunities.    

 

 

5-26-08

This weekend we floated the Connecticut River and the White River.  We were after small mouth bass on the Connecticut, and although we caught a few, fishing was slow.  It may be a little early.  We will try again when things warm up a little.  The White River float proved to be productive with many rainbows caught.  Most of the fish caught were stocked rainbows.  We did see many large fish, but the bite was off.  The river is in beautiful shape.  The water was gin clear and the low flows allowed us to see many fish on the bottom.  Usually we see good numbers of rising trout at last light, but there was little surface activity.  Regardless, we had a beautiful day on the river and caught some nice fish.

 

 

5-23-08

I’m happy to report that fishing conditions are optimal for this time of year.  The rivers are showing ideal water temps and the flows are a little low, which makes wading the rivers easier and the fish more accessible.  The lake fishing has also been very good with reports of good catches.  Most of the stocking has been completed, and some very large fish have been seeded in many lakes and streams.  The weather for this weekend looks great.  Now is an excellent time to wet your line.  Good Luck.

 

 

5-16-08

It happened last year at exactly this time, and it’s happening right now.  Put it on your calendar.  Where we fish, May 15th marks the middle of the Hendrickson hatch, which lasts a little over a week.  Fishing is excellent.  The mornings are spent nymphing and fishing streamers, and the afternoons and evenings offer great dry fly fishing.  As long as the weather cooperates, the same will happen next year.  The bugs emerge over slightly different periods depending on the river fished, so you can actually chase the hatch.  We fished them in the Catskills two weeks ago, they were on the Mettawee last week, and they are here now.

 

 

5-14-08

Great day on the river.  Hendricksons came off all afternoon, followed by a good spinnerfall.  Fished dry flies all day and caught lots of large trout.      

 

 

5-11-08

We’re starting to see more bugs on the water.  Depending where you fish, Hedricksons have been present.  They have been around on the Otter Creek and the Mettawee for about a week now, and are just showing up on the Ottauquechee and the Black Rivers.
This is one of my favorite hatches.  The hatch comes off at a civilized time, usually mid afternoon, and if you miss it and the conditions are right, you can catch the spinner fall in the evenings.  Another thing that is nice about them is that they are large, size 12-14, which makes the take easy to see.  This time of year also has some great caddis hatches.  The caddis will also hatch during the days, with large egg laying flights at last light.  If you leave the river before dark, you might be missing out.

We fished the Ottauquechee yesterday looking for some holdovers.  We fished a hole we know holds fish in the upper river and had no luck.  The water temp was 58 degrees.  Next we hit a hole seven miles downstream and the water temp was 63 degrees.  The warmer water was the ticket and we picked up a beautiful large rainbow.  A few miles and a few degrees seemed to make the difference.  This is a perfect example of the benefits of using a thermometer when you fish.

 

 

5-6-08

Today was one of those days.  Air temps were near 70 degrees.  Water temps made it into the high 50’s.  Fishing was excellent.  We hooked a couple of dozen fish and landed over a dozen, the shortest was about 16” long.  The action was the heaviest from 2:00 – 5:00 when the water was the warmest.  As soon as the river fell into shade, the action slowed down.  We took most of the fish on streamers.  It is great to feel thump of a large fish whacking a streamer.  Can’t wait to get out there today.

 

 

5-4-08

Things are warming up and the rivers are coming down.   Bugs are in the air and the fishing is good.  Water temps are hitting the low 50’s on the warmer days.  We’ve picked up some large fish on nymphs and streamers.  The midge hatches on the lakes are bringing fish to the surface on the calmer evenings.  Fishing should improve as the conditions become even more favorable.         

 

 

10-11-2007

We are in our most spectacular time of the year.  The fall foliage is peaking right now and we are seeing the most vibrant colors that we have seen in many years.  The leaves aren’t the only colorful things around here.  The brown trout and brook trout are lit up in their spawning colors.  Knowing that there is only a few more weeks of fishing makes these days even more special.

Over the last couple of months, we have been challenged by drought conditions and the rivers have run about as low as we have seen them.  We are still fishing, just not necessarily in the same spots.  The fishing for bass is still strong.  The trout are on the move and we’ve picked up some very nice brownies.  The brook trout are aggressive this time of year.  The lakes are fishing well for all species.  As the fall wanes, so will the fishing so get out there and finish the season with some style.

 

 

7-13-07

Over the past week, we have received thunderstorms almost every day, some of which were quite heavy.  As a result, trout fishing is much improved since the last report.  All rivers are running cooler and flows are medium to high for this time of year.  We are finding fish in places that usually don’t produce in July.  The Connecticut River is the last to clear after storms.  It is running high and brown.  The White River is still a little high, but most others are running at levels found in early June.  It won’t last long, so get out there and enjoy. 

 

7-9-07

We’ve received periodic thunderstorms and cool weather recently, which has the temps in the rivers and streams below 70 degrees.  Although the rivers are still on the low side of things, there is good trout fishing.  The Black River is very low, but at the proper time of day, rising fish can be found and caught.  The temps in this river are marginal but fishable.  The Otter Creek has been fishing very well.  Tiny olives have been coming off regularly.  Sulphurs, Isonychias, small caddis, stoneflies, and terrestrials have also been very effective.  We fished North Hartland Reservoir and caught plenty of bass and trout.  The small mouth bass fishing on the Connecticut River has been good.  Poppers and deer hair bugs produce explosive takes, while subsurface flies are often taken more subtly. As long as things stay cool, fishing will continue to be good.

 

6-27-2007

Every once in a while, you hit conditions perfectly and have a day where everything works for you.  This was that kind of day.  We floated many miles on the Connecticut River and had the best small mouth bass fishing that we have ever had.  The flows were low and clear, there was nobody around and the bass were eager.  We caught many, most of which were in the three pound range.  Sight fishing conditions were excellent and the action was nonstop.  Can’t wait to go again, maybe tomorrow…

 

6-24-2007

The trout fishing is still very good.  Unusually cool temperatures over the last two weeks have extended the trout fishing in most of the waters that become marginal at this time of year. Although we have gotten regular rains, there have been no big storms lately. The result is most rivers are at medium to low flows which make the fish very accessible.  The weather forecast for the next few days is for some hotter weather, and then things are supposed to cool down again.  Get out there and enjoy. 

 

6-13-07

The rivers are fishing very well.  Cool weather has kept the water temps in the ideal zone for trout.  Although we have been receiving a little rain, water levels are low.  The fish are becoming difficult wherever there is heavy fishing pressure, so we have been targeting some waters that see less fishing traffic with some excellent results.  It won’t be long before things warm up and we target some of the smaller, cooler rivers and streams.
Flies that are working for us are march browns 10-12, assorted caddis 14-20, stonefly nymphs 8-12, cahills and sulphers 14-16.  This time of year, we are fishing the riffles that we know hold fish with an assortment of dry attractors.  This is working well, especially on heavily fished waters.  By showing the fish a variety of flies that they haven’t seen, we are sometimes rewarded with explosive takes.  Searching with a dry and covering lots of water will often bring up fish is spots that you would not expect to hold trout.

 

6-6-07

We have received some much needed rain.  There was some localized thunder storms which hit some areas really hard.  The Ludlow area received strong rains which raised the Black River to levels that were too hard to fish.  Things have come down some, so expect good flows by Friday or Saturday.  The White River is a little high and dropping fast.  The Ottaquechee River is fine.  We checked out the Connecticut River yesterday and found it high and off color with very slow fishing.  Earlier in the week, we spent a couple of days fishing the West River in Jamaica and had some really good fishing.  The water temp there was up to 68 degrees in the afternoon, but should have cooled down with the rain and cool weather.  The insect activity on the water lately has been march browns sz10-12, sulphers sz14-16, caddis sz16-20, stones sz14-16 crane flies and assorted midge.  The conditions for the weekend should be good to excellent.

 

5-29-07

Over the last week and a half, we have done allot of fishing.  We’ve fished the Black River, the Connecticut River, the White River, and Lake Champlain.  The flows and temps in the rivers are excellent at this time.  The Black has seen more dry fly action than it usually does.  Last year saw above average flows all season long.  We believe that there are more insects hatching because of this. The White is at the perfect level for wade fishing.  It is also an excellent time to drift that river.  We are seeing much better fishing in the lower White than above Bethel.  The Connecticut is warming up.  We’ve picked up some large bass in that river.  We had a perch bite like we’ve never seen.  We normally don’t fish for perch, but we’ve picked up many that were over a foot long, and when they school up, it’s nonstop action.  Lake Champlain was very good.  Large and small mouth bass are active and the pike bite is on.    

 

5-15-07

The rivers have come down very fast over the past two weeks bringing levels down below average. 

The Black River is fishing well.  There has been fishing pressure.  There have been some very good Hendrickson hatches and spinner falls over the last week.  BWO’s in sizes 16 and 18 are still around.  We are also being to see a variety of caddis and small yellow stoneflies in the air.  March Browns should be hatching soon. 

The lakes are seeing excellent midge activity whenever the wind calms down.  In most cases, the tiniest of flies presented on or just below the surface can take these risers (that is if you can get close enough to present to them).

We checked out the Connecticut River, and targeted the setbacks which tend to warm up first.  The water temp in these areas was 70-75 degrees.  We were looking to sight fish to carp, but they weren’t there.  We did manage to catch a few smallies and some very large perch.  We saw a few pike, chased some wakes in the shallows and enjoyed the day.  This fishery is warming up and showing some activity.

 

 

5-9-07

The rivers are all fishable and water temps are excellent.  We have had excellent fishing this week with good numbers of fish coming to hand.  The Black River is putting up some large trout, most caught on nymphs and streamers.  We’ve seen BWO’s hatching in good numbers, mostly sizes 16 and 18.  There have been small stoneflies in the air, along with a good variety of midges.  We set up a nymph trap in the river and check it a couple of times daily.  The largest populations in the trap tend to be smaller nymphs (sizes 16 and smaller) of all varieties.  We also find a variety of stonefly nymphs of all sizes, and some larger mayfly nymphs.  Hendricksons have not made an appearance yet, but they should be hatching soon.  There are also great numbers of cased caddis.  They are large and are the stick building variety.  Many of the trout caught have abrasions on their mouths from foraging among the rocks for these caddis.

For those looking for some dryfly action, the lakes have had great midge hatches and the trout are rising in big numbers when the winds die down.  Fish in the 10” to 15” range rise freely to these tiny insects.  This fishing is challenging, but quite rewarding when the conditions are right.

The weather for the near future looks excellent.  Now is the time to hit the rivers.  The next two months are our favorite times to trout fish.  See you on the water.

 

4-18-07

Prior to opening day, the weather could be described as that of February rather than April. Last week saw mountain snowfalls measured in feet. Skiers were boasting that the powder was dry and very deep. Temps were consistently below freezing and the rivers were low with temps in the 30’s. Few were lured out to fish. The second day of the season saw a foot of snow fall in the mountains, followed by 2 days of rain and severe winds. Now the rivers are raging, many are in flood stage. Most lakes are still ice covered. Needless to say, fishing at this time is very slow. The forecast for this coming weekend calls for temps in the 60-70 degree range with more moderate weather for next week. The rivers will see strong runoff for a few more days followed by warming temps and good fishing levels. Despite the slow start, expect the fishing to turn on soon.

10-13-06

It’s been a while since we posted a report. The fishing has been excellent. All through September, there has been unusually good insect activity, perfect water temps, good flows, and many fish caught. The flying ants were around for weeks, the midge hatches on the lakes have been consistently good, and there have been great hatches of mayflies and caddis on the lakes and streams. The Connecticut River has been seeing white fly hatches the likes of which we’ve never seen before. The blizzard of white mayflies at dusk makes it difficult to fish because each square foot of water is covered with dozens of naturals. There have been too many of them on the water, which makes it hard to get the fish to notice imitations.

The bass fishing on the Connecticut is still good, but has paled in comparison to the largemouth bass and pike fishing on Lake Champlain. The pike come out of the water at surface presentations, often cutting the line with their teeth, and 4-5 pound bass are not uncommon.

Over the last 2-3 weeks, reports of larger than average trout abound. The brownies are on the move, and every week we hear of 3-5 pound fish being taken in small streams that flow into larger rivers and lakes. The periodic rains that we have seen lately have allowed these fish to enter these streams which are otherwise too low. Large fish are not guaranteed, but they are there and they are being caught, and if you put in the time, you might tangle with one.

The last two weeks of trout season are ahead of us, and this season seems to be ending well. Try to get out there a couple of more times for a memorable end of the season.

 

9-4-06

Fishing has been excellent recently. All streams and rivers are at good temps and the fish are active. The Battenkill has seen consistent and prolific trico hatches and has produced some excellent fishing. It’s hard to imagine how many fish feed on these tiny mayflies.
The Black River has seen some good isonychia hatches. The trout slash at and chase the swimming nymphs and are also eager to take the dries. The lakes have seen strong midge hatches and the trout are eagerly rising to these tiny insects. The flying ants have been in the air by the thousands and attract fish to surface feed. Suphurs, tiny olives, and caddis are also hatching at this time.

Despite the ideal conditions and good activity, we still run into people that are having a tough time hooking up. The fishing is good right now, but not easy. The waters are gin clear and low, and the fish have been predated upon all summer long. They are the survivors; their nervous and spooky tendencies are what have kept them alive. If you approach with stealth and present your flies without drag, without allot of false casting, and present properly on the first cast, the fish are easily caught. If you wade right into shallow pools indiscreetly, wave your rod around in the air, beat the water with repetitive casts, and drag your fly, you will come away thinking that there are no fish. At this time of year, to catch fish, you have to be on your game. Good Luck.

 

8-18-06

There are certain insect emergences that mark the progression of the season. Trico hatches usually begin in mid August and continue into September. These tiny white winged, dark bodied mayflies can trigger aggressive trout feeding. The males normally emerge in great clouds in the evening and overnight on bankside vegetation. The females emerge in the very early morning. The males fall back to the water after mating where they are eagerly sucked up by lurking hungry trout. The females fall back later after laying eggs. The massive hatches and spinner falls turn the trout into surface feeders. We seen these insects on the water recently, and we have also spotted lots of trout feeding on them. The Battenkill is known for its tricos, and now is the time to hit it. Usually, an early half day will cover the action. We have seen tons of wild brook trout during these morning events, and the possibility of a good brownie taking your fly does exist. It’s a great visual to see pods of fish lined up and feeding hard. Every day is different, some days seeing more action than others. It is a great hatch that everyone should check out.

 

8-12-06

The weather has taken a turn for the better, at least for trout fishing. The last two nights have gotten down into the 40’s and the daytime temps have been in the 60’s and low 70’s. As a consequence, the river temps are cooler than the have been since June. The White River is holding in the 60’s and the flows are moderate. The same is true for most rivers in central Vermont. Take advantage of these conditions.

In the next couple of weeks, we should see emergences of flying ants. The fish go nuts for them. Don’t be caught out there without some good imitations. There are generally several varieties. Imitations should be small (18-24) and generally cinnamon is a good color. Tricos have been seen lately, and the hatches should only get better as time goes on. Sulphers are also around. Terrestrials are good right now. Caddis are also a good bet. Good Luck.

 

8-8-06

We’ve spent two more days on our new found lake and it is wonderful. Each day brought a different experience. On day one, I went out by myself to do some exploring. I checked out the cold inflows. I was wrong about the brookies. Instead, I was hooking up with some nice rainbows, ranging in the 12”-14” range. Before the day was over, 13 trout were brought to hand, all on dries. Several others were lost. The fish were eager to eat if the presentation was correct. I also tried to see what other species could be found. I came up with perch, tons of baby bass, sunfish, and rock bass. During the day I saw several large mouth bass, but they would not be caught. They are not as eager to come to the fly as small mouth bass are. All day long, I had the lake to myself. On the ride back to the boat launch, the lake was glass and the fish where rising and jumping all around me.

On the second day, Doug and I spent 7 hours fishing. The wind was blowing down the lake, churning up white caps in the most exposed areas. When we first arrived, we spotted a bald eagle soaring on the wind currents. It was curious about us, and circled closer and lower until it hovered 25’ above our heads. We could see every feather, it’s eye motion, and it’s smallest movements. It hung there for a minute and then moved off.
As we motored down the lake, we spotted another larger eagle. It was fishing and moved down the lake with us. The ospreys were not happy with their presence, and were screeching at them. Our bald eagle hung with us and made an unbelievable aerial maneuver, lowered its legs, and with open talons, dropped on a bass not 50 feet from us. The experience was unbelievable, and we hadn’t yet started to fish. That day brought 15-20 trout, over 50 perch, and other small fish. We saw some large bass, but again could not catch them. All in all, we probably caught about a hundred fish. We like our new lake.

 

8-7-06

The weather over the past week has been quite a mixed bag. There were a few days in there that were cool and clear. There were a few days that were brutally hot. We also receive some heavy rains. Consequently, the conditions are variable depending on the area and waters that you fish.

This week we spent some time in the Connecticut Lakes region of New Hampshire. Very heavy rains with periods of good weather caused some flooding. Most of the rivers and streams were over their banks with muddy water. The tail waters below the dams were slightly high, clear, and fishable. We were able to catch rainbows, brookies, and a 15” landlocked salmon on dry flies. We also spent a little time in Lake Francis. I’ve never seen more bait in fresh water, and although we saw a few large fish chasing bait, the action was sporadic and we did not hook up. The rivers are still high, and I imagine it will be a few days before things stabilize.

We also fished some local mountain streams on several occasions throughout the week. It’s amazing how these streams run cold through any weather. Brook trout fishing is good, all fish being caught on dry flies.

Yesterday was also a good day. We explored a lake that we never fished before and were surprised to pick up some nice rainbows. There were also some cold streams off the lake that holds brookies. Again, all the fish took dries.

This time of year is often challenged by warm water conditions. Find where the waters run cold and you will probable find some fish. Good Luck.

 

7-27-06

Despite the heat, we have been getting some very good fishing. We’ve been out several times since the last report, and we’ve caught rainbow and brook trout with regularity. The flies that are producing are mostly dry flies and dry/dropper rigs. Terrestrials are often the first flies that we will try, but we’ve also been getting hits on a variety of caddis patterns. Even large stimulator flies are bringing fish up. We are very careful to fish only cooler waters, which puts us on smaller streams. There were a few cold nights that brought the temps down to fishable levels on some larger rivers, the trick being to get out early before the water heats up.

The bass fishing is excellent. We’ve produced good numbers of smallmouth bass of good size on a couple of occasions this week. Yesterday, a small bass in the 1 to 1.5 pound range was hooked. We were surprised to see a pike come up from the deeper water and grab our bass. The pike was about 3 feet long and held our bass crosswise in his mouth and would not let go. We fought the bass/pike pair for a minute before the pike released our fish. All this was on a short line and in plain sight. Many more bass in the 2-3 pound range were caught. The conditions were favorable for some sight fishing, so were able the see the many of the fish eat. The flies that produced were clouser minnows, hard poppers, kiwi muddlers, and a fly that we tie called the cheater.

 

7-21-06

Last night we went fishing for smallmouth bass again. Will someone please pinch me and wake me up. Again, we had an afternoon that you dream about, taking double-digit numbers of large bass. It’s just too good to be true. The water was like glass and we were the only ones there. If you are interested in trying your hand at this, give Doug a call. We fish out of a large squareback canoe with an electric trolling motor. There is only room for one fisherman and the guide. The only requirement is that you must have good casting skills to reach the fish. So far, this has been the most consistent fishing for large fish that we have experienced in some time.

 

7-19-06

A couple of days after the huge rain, the waters dropped and cleared and we fished the areas that fish well in these conditions. The big rivers were still too high, so we hit the lakes. The inflows were running strong, but were clear. It’s amazing the activity we encountered in places that, before the rain, held no fish. Fish were taken on every cast and there was quite a mix. From the same small water, we took rainbow, some up to 15 inches, smallmouth bass, rockbass, and some large baitfish. If you were to check out these areas today, you would catch nothing.

Bass were the target of today, and we went back to the Connecticut River for some smallies. It didn’t take long to get into a few, but things seemed a little slower than our last trip. As the sun climbed higher in the sky and lit the shallow areas, we could clearly see bass in the shallows, and the fun began. We cruised the shore and sight fished to bass after bass. We watched the fish take notice of our flies. Some would approach cautiously and we would tease them into taking, and some would just charge up and alligator our flies. If we missed one, we could sometimes circle around and pick him up on the next pass. We caught good numbers of large bass and learned from our observations. We learned how they react to different flies, we learned some new holding areas, and we found out how fast a fish can take your fly and spit it out without feeling anything on the rod or line. We can’t wait to do it again.

 

7-13-06

Between noon yesterday and noon today, we received between 3 to 4 inches of rain. We’ve had lots of rain this year, but never that much in such a short period of time. The rivers are totally out of control and the streams are unapproachable. The only fishing to be had is in lakes and ponds. I was also surprised to see that some lakes are brown with silt from muddy inflows. For example, between Killington and Ludlow, there are five lakes and only one is clear. The others are brown and not fishable. It will be a few days before things settle down. The first to clear will be the smaller streams. Usually as this happens, the trout feed heavily. Hit it at the right time and you might score.

 

7-9-06

We decided to fish the Connecticut River for smallmouth bass and had a best every day for river smallies on the fly rod. We landed over 15 bass, with only one under 2 pounds. These fish fight much harder than the lake smallies that we’ve caught this year, which is why we lost quite a few larger fish. It’s amazing how these river fish jump. The other amazing thing was how many fish we saw following our flies that didn’t take. The flies that worked were olive wooly buggers, olive sculpins, Puglisi everglade patterns, and clouser minnows. We found that the fish preferred earth tone colors without a lot of flash. If the river continues to put up bass like this, you can be sure we will be fishing it often.

 

7-11-06

We’ve fished every day this week and the fishing has been good. The summer weather is finally upon us. It has been hot and clear for a while now. There is a distinct change in the fishing conditions. The fish have seen some pressure, the waters are lower and gin clear, and the temps are rising. What this means is that, even though the fish are there, stealth, good technique, and time on the water are requirements for success. The waters that get too warm in the summer to trout fish are just now reaching marginal temps at the end of the hottest days. Soon, we will be focusing on the cooler flows of mountain streams. Fortunately, the flows are still higher than normal for this time of year, so we probably have a week or two left in the larger rivers for trout fishing. The best times to trout fish are early and late in the day for cooler temps and lower light conditions. Smaller and more realistic fly patterns are working better because the fish are more selective in the lower and clearer waters. The hatches are slowing, and terrestrial patterns are more effective.

The White River is floatable and easier to wade at these lower flows. A couple of days ago saw afternoon temps at 69 degrees and the river is still fishing well. The Black River is starting to warm up. Doug snorkeled in all our favorite holes and the larger fish are mostly gone. There are still some fish to be had, and we know exactly where they are. The brookie streams are putting up some nice fish. The bass fishing is full on and will become more important as the season progresses.

 

6-26-06

We’ve just had several days of good weather and good fishing. This week we hit a couple of remote mountain streams for brook trout. We were not disappointed. These streams are crystal clear cascading freestone streams. In each case, we never saw another person, and the trout we absolutely beautiful. They tend to be small, usually 4”-8”, but occasionally, a 10” monster will come to hand. Vermont is rich with these brookie streams and these wild fish are fun to catch.

We also fished the Black River. Although it is fishing well, the trout are getting tougher to catch. We attribute that to over harvesting and fishing pressure. Nonetheless, we are still catching some beautiful fish in the Black.

It’s been pretty buggy on the water recently. We are seeing sulphers, a variety of large stoneflies, large and small olives, and caddis. Terrestrials are becoming more important, so don’t forget your beetles and ants.

The last 24 hours have brought driving rains and the rivers are full again. Rainfall totals were between 2.5 and 3.5 inches and more is expected. I’ve never seen it so wet, and although the trout like it, it makes it tough to hit some of our favorite spots. The upside is that streams that are normally too low and warm to fish this time of year are running cold and high and will fish well in coming weeks.

 

6-22-06

Fishing is really good right now. The water temps are good. The warm water species are on the bite. The lakes are still cool enough to still have good surface action on trout. The conditions on the White River are good for floating, and conditions are cooler with better flows than are normal for this time of year. In general, you can be sure that fish are active. So get out there and have some fun. Good luck.

 

6-15-06

Today we spent the day on the Black River. The flows were very fishable, a little on the high side. The benefit of all our rains is that flows and temps are ideal, starting at 57 degrees in the morning. When we left the river at two, the temps were in the mid 60’s. The fish were in their usual places and were quite active. We caught several large rainbows and brownies, and to our surprise, we also caught a 10” brookie. The flies that worked for us included green rockworms, a soft hackle wooly worm, and assortment of small caddis nymphs, and some small pheasant tail nymphs.

Last night we were on Echo Lake. We chased rising trout all evening and had a great time. Even the lake temps are running cool. The surface temp was 60 degrees at 6:00 pm.

The White River is flowing at 2200 cfs in Hartford. The upper river is very fishable, but the lower is still a little higher than what is ideal.

The brookie fishing is also very good right now, with certain mountain streams producing some browns and rainbows as well.

 

6-13-06

We finally got a couple of days of warm, sunny weather. For the 10 days prior to that, it rained, sometimes torrentially. The rivers are running high right now, and coming down slowly. Consequently, lake and pond fishing has been the call. Although we have seen plenty of action, even the lakes have been a little unpredictable. This is a great time of year because the bass come in shallow to spawn. The fish move to make their beds when the water temps are ideal, and we have had unusually cool temperatures. For a period of about three weeks, these fish are aggressive and shallow, making the flyfishing exceptional. The trick is to be at the right place at the right time. We’ve been out about a half dozen times recently, and along with the bass, we are picking up pan fish, pickerel, and trout. The trout rise whenever the lakes are calm. Poppers and streamers are working for the bass, and tiny midge patterns are what the trout are taking.

The White River has been raging all spring, and the high water has kept us from drifting it. It should be down and floatable next week. The temps are ideal and the fish are unmolested. We are looking forward to fishing it.

If you are looking to fish some streams, the headwaters have cleared and dropped and are fishing well. The larger waters are producing, but wading is difficult, as is getting the flies deep enough for the fish to see. The long-range forecast is good and the fish are hungry. The next few weeks should be awesome.

5-28-06

The fishing on the Black River has been like you read about. The flows are perfect, the water temps have been between 55 and 65 degrees and the water is crystal clear. We fished with Mark, Don and Rod, and those boys got it done. The fish count was in the 20’s with most fish in the 16”-18” range.

The river will fish well until the waters become too warm. If we’re lucky and get the right weather, June fishing will be good. The river is being fished regularly and many trout are being harvested, so hit it soon for the best results.

The Black is only 10 minutes from the shop. Stop in for some flies or advise. If we’re not there, we’re probably fishing.

5-26-06

With all this rain, we have been off the rivers for over 2 weeks. We had a free day, and decided to float the White River. Usually, we like to float below Bethel, but all the branches were still brown with silt. From Bethel down, the river was off color. The river was still running high. The water temp in the morning was 50 degrees, rising to 57 by afternoon. Three of us, all accomplished fishermen, fished six miles of river above Bethel and not a bite was had. Everyone we spoke to had similar luck. I imagine the fish were a little beat up by the raging flows, and things should stabilize soon.

The ground is so saturated with water from the rains that the rivers are coming down very slowly. Fishing the smaller rivers is the best bet right now, but fishing is improving daily. We’ve recently had excellent results on the Black River.

The insects that are on the water right now are March Browns, a variety of caddis, small yellow stoneflies, large black stones, large olives, and a variety of midges.

5-24-06

An unusual thing happened this morning; the sun came out. The sky is blue and the forecast is good. I’ve heard that parts of the state have received in excess of 10” of rain. This should give us good flows and good water temps for some time. The rivers are still swollen, but are coming down. We hope to float the White River on Friday. River fishing should be excellent by the weekend. The lakes are be fishing well right now. Good luck.

5-17-06

I haven’t seen this kind of rain in years. It’s been raining for a week now, most of the time, it’s been pouring. All the rivers are raging and the steams are very swollen. Many lakes are off colored due to runoff.

Despite this tough weather, we found some time to hit one of the lakes and had an awesome afternoon. The place was deserted. The skies were very dramatic, with storms visible in the distance. Our hopes were for some bass, but instead, the largest pickerel that I’ve seen was brought to hand. After that, the winds dropped and we rigged for trout. The black flies were out, so using suitable imitations, we picked up some nice rainbows. We fished till last light with thunder in the distance.

We are looking at rain through Tuesday with temps on the cool side. The good news is that the water table is getting a much-needed recharge, so we should benefit in the long run. The rivers won’t be fishable for a while. Give the lakes a try if you get a break in the rain. They can be quite productive this time of year.

5-11-06

We’re back. We’re pleased to report that the fishing is very good right now. The rivers are generally low, which tends to pool up the fish. The lower waters sometimes make it possible to spot your fish. Nothing beats sight fishing. Of course, the fish can see you too. Remember to approach carefully, and you will score more often.

The air temps have been in the 60’s during the days. The leaves are coming out on the trees, and the bugs are in the air. We’ve had Hendrickson hatches that are still going on in places. I saw my first March Brown last week. Stoneflies, Caddis, and Midge are commonly seen on the water.

The Otter Creek and the Black River have received their annual stocking of large fish. The fishing is excellent in those areas. We’ve had good fishing on some of the tribs of the Otter. These waters are far less crowded and we’ve come across some large fish. The lakes have been producing some phenomenal midge hatches, and when the winds are quiet, we have great dry fly fishing. Stalking and sight fishing to rising trout is the best. We have a high lake that we fish and it has produced bass, trout, pickerel, and a bunch of smaller warm water fish. It’s fishing well now and the bass are just now starting to spawn.

The forecast for the next few days is for rainy weather with temps in the 50’s. Showers are expected for the next week with temps moderating.

 

4-14-06

River and Stream Conditions: This winter has been nothing like I’ve ever seen. The lack of snow pack mixed with lower than average rainfall has left the rivers running lower than normal. We still have fluctuations in flows, but not as extreme as usual. The snow is gone in all but the highest places. Expect water temps to rise faster than the normal. We can expect good fishing to come sooner this year.

Currently, conditions are improving, but fishing is still a little slow. The ice is gone in all but the highest of lakes. The lakes around here have seen surface temps up to 45 degrees. We have already enjoyed some dry fly action on midges and black stoneflies. The rivers are dropping and the temps are rising. In full sun yesterday, parts of the Black River hit 50 degrees. The Ottauquechee River is in the 40’s during the days and the flows are fishable. The White River is high, causing difficult and dangerous wading conditions.

 

4-8-06

Opening Day. Air Temp: 40’s. Water Temp: High 30’s. The conditions were quite difficult. The water was running high, and the temps were low, but Joe wanted to give it a try. We targeted some local lakes and concentrated at the inflows and outflows. The moving currents there tend to collect food, and the trout need not exert much energy to feed. There is also the possibility of some large trout moving in from the depths of the lakes. The ice was not fully out of the lakes yet, and the boat allowed easy access. The day produced several rainbows in the 12”-14” range. As you would expect, there was also the larger fish that got away. The productive flies were Olive Wooly Buggers, Purple Wooly Buggers, and Mercury Midges. All in all, it was a great day. Well done, Joe.