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COMMENTS:
Flow is verylow, it's been a while since I've seen it at this level, we are currently still under 100cfs total flow. Water temps have been running in the mid 60's in the AM this week, but you will see them rise on hot sunny days- Monday afternoon at 1PM I got 71 degrees for a water temp in Riverton, only 2 miles below the dam. Fortunately cooler weatehr moves back in Friday, with long range highs in the 70's, and lows in the 50's. Be extra stealthy under current condtions- longer leader (12' or longer), longer (3'+) & lighter tippets (5x-6x for nymphs, 5x-8x for dries), and make sure you wade carefully, stay low, and lay your fly line down softly. Terrestrial patterns (esp. beetles & ants) can be very effective here in late Summer. Heavy fishing pressure this Summer has "educated" the trout, so it helps to think outside the box, and good presentations are very important right now under these conditions. If you normally fish a 4 or 5 weight rod, consider dropping down to a #2-4 rod, especially if you fish dries on flat water- the lighter line give you a more subtle delicate presentation, and I think the more supple, thinner fly line also helps you to attain a drag-free presentation. Lighter rods also do a better job cushioning lighter tippets & keeping small hooks in the trout's mouth. I think lighter tippets help sometimes not so much because the trout cannot see them, but rather because the increased flexibility helps to present your fly more naturally. Lengthen your tippet out to get a better/longer drag-free float on flat water with smaller dries. Tricos are hatching well in the early AM in the TMA. Water temps can vary depending upon the time of day and how far below the dam you are, and they can rise quite a bit on hot, sunny days. As you head down to Canton, Collinsville & Unionville, Sumemrtime temps can siometimes crack into the 70's at moments on warmer days, making upriver the generally better choice during hotter weather. The other thing the Summer weather has done is bring out the "hatch" of tubers & kayakers- mornings and evenings are the best times to avoid them. Warmer weather is also making terrestrial insects a good choice as they are very active, and a lot of trout are rising at moments. Many anglers miss seeing these often subtle rises, especially in riffled water. I'm a big fan of beetle & ant patterns, they are very effective in the Summertime on Farmington trout, in fact on trout everywhere for that matter, especially at midday when the hatches typically are slow. You can also blind fish attractor dries. As mentioned above, Tricos are hatching well in the early AM in the TMA, and Iso's are hatching well now up and down the river, typically in late afternoon to evening in the faster water. The Summer brood is big, they can easily be a #10-12, so have appropriately large flies with you, but by Fall they are down to a #14. I've had great luck with a #10-12 Parachute Adams over the years on Iso hatches. Don't neglect Iso nymphs, they can be very effective from mid/late afternoon on- I don't tend to do well with them in the mornings or early afternoons though. prob 'cuz they don't get active until the latter part of the day. TMA has been VERY crowded at moments lately, esp. on the weekends and late afternoon/evenings, pressure is lighter outside of it, especially as you go downriver. Early to mid mornings can buy you some elbow room too. In the TMA, look also Cahills/Summer Stenos hatching in the evenings. Caddis, mostly tan/brown and black are hatching up & down the river, esp. in the mornings- size can range from about a #14 down to a #20. Don't be afraid to venture outside of the TMA, there are plenty of trout up & downstream for miles, and less angler pressure. Angler catches this season have included quite a few in the 20" and over class, some real whoppers in the 22-24" range, with a good number of 16-18" fish too. As far as nymphs go, try various caddis patterns (larva & pupa) #12-18, brown Serendipities #14-18, Princes #10-20, Isonychia #10-14, PT's #14-22, Micro Mayflies #16-18 (brown, olive), Fox Squirels #8-16, Stoneflies #6-16, and Midges #16-24- see Best Bets above for more specific recommendations. Those in the know have been picking up some 20" plus holdover & wild browns here and there. Streamers can also do well at moments, esp. on bigger trout. I like patterns with lots of built in motion, flies utilizing marabou, rabbit strips & rubber legs- Buggers, Zonkers, SlumpBusters, Marabous, etc. You might be surprised at how effective they can be, and it's a nice break when you've been doing too much nymphing & staring at strike indicators 'till your eyes cross. In terms of fishing tactics, it really helps to think outside the box and fish where & how others don't, esp. on days when it's crowded. The 2 year olds were stocked in the C&R section in late April, creating a lot of instant big fish experts, Lol. Just like last season, there are a lot of 16-19" holdover browns (and some even bigger 20-22" plus specimens). Under "normal" water conditions, assorted nymphs in small to medium sizes work, as do various streamers (esp. in low light, higher water & after a good rain)- play with different colors to see what what works best at any given moment, it changes with streamers. Remember that in addition to the Housy, we also do guided fishing trips on the Farmington. While the Farmington is known for producing dry fly fishing all year long, don't neglect fishing nymphs & streamers, especially if you want to tie into some truly large trout, or if there are no fish rising, or the conditions are less than optimal. Under "normal" conditions, try your favorite nymph pattern and trail a smaller dropper pattern in the #16-22 range behind it (Midge Pupa/Larva, Brassie, Zebra Midge, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear, Micro Mayfly, RS2, WD-40, Serendipity, Copper John, etc.). Try also throwing streamers on a sink-tip line, Teeny-type line (130 to 200 grains depending on flow), or a Sinking Leader (Rio, Airflo, etc.). No hatch-matching to worry about when you are chucking streamers. Try various colors and patterns until you find what works at a given moment. Don't be afraid to fish big streamers, #2-4, they work! During bright weather with low, clear water, sometimes smaller patterns in more natural tones (such as olive or tan) and slimmer/sparser ties produce better- experiment with colors, the trout will tell you which one is right. Day in and day out, try White or Natural Zonkers and White Buggers #2-12, they are consistent producers on the Farmington. Brown (one of my favorite streamer colors just about anywhere), Black, and Olive are good colors also. Try also some tried-and-true older patterns such as Baby Brown Trout, Muddlers, Mickey Finn, Grey or Black Ghost, etc. Trout see plenty of Woolly Buggers nowadays, but many of the older patterns aren't fished too much anymore, and the fish aren't as wise to something that they don't constantly see and get punished with. This also applies to nymphs, wets (definitely a neglected fly category, but they still are very, very effective if fished properly), and dries, esp. in heavily fished rivers like this one. And remember, old patterns that are still around usually survived the test of time for a reason. A Black Ghost is one of the all time great streamers anywhere there are brown trout, and it can be tied as a featherwing (the standard), a marabou, a bucktail, or even Zonker style. Something about the combo of white, black, a splash of yellow, and some silver flash really appeals to browns.
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When fishing dry, accuracy and drag-free floats are essential. Try lengthening your tippet to help combat drag. This often works better than dropping down to ridiculously light tippets. Make sure your tippet doesn't straighten out completely when it lands on the water- if it does, you have instant drag. I believe the main reason lighter tippets seem to sometimes catch more fish is because it is easier to get a drag-free float due to the greater limpness/flexibility and the fact that a lighter tippet is less apt to straighten out completely due to lesser mass(it just doesn't transfer energy as well as a thicker tippet). Instead of using a standard 18-20" or so tippet, try using 3 or more feet. Adjust the length so your tippet lands in S curves- if it straightens completely, lengthen it, if it piles up shorten it. It will give you the same effect as dropping down about 2 sizes on your tippet. As you go to smaller, lighter flies, you will have to reduce your tippet size, but try lengthening it before you go super-light. Be sporting and use a tippet that will allow you to land the trout in a reasonable amount of time.
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If no fish are rising, don't neglect to try nymphs, from big #8 Golden Stoneflies down to small #22-24 nymphs. Hare's Ears, Golden Stones, Brassies, Princes, Disco Midges, Pheasant Tails(deadly), Midge Larva/Pupa, Caddis Larva, WD40's, RS2's, Copper Johns, etc., are all possibilities. Pheasant Tails, in various sizes, are very effective on this river(and most others, for that matter) at almost any time- a #16-20 is a go-to fly under normal conditions- I like it with a flashback or beadhead to help the trout find it.
Streamers can be deadly at moments, especially if you like to catch bigger fish. Most people are so hatch oriented on this river, they don't fish them much. For best results, use on a sink-tip or some sort of sinking line- they are MUCH more productive fished like that. No need for light tippets with these flies- think 0x-3x, depending on fly size mainly, but also on water clarity and light conditions. ************************************** |
