Cornwall Bridge
Water Level 5/21/12- 883cfs & dropping per USGS
Water Temperature Mid 50's in early AM, rising most afternoons
Water Clarity About 3+ feet in AM & increasing steadily
Release Schedule Natural Flow
Current Hatches -Sulfurs
-March Browns/Gray Fox
-Green/Olive Caddis (w/ grey wing)
-Tan/Brown Caddis (w/ tan wing)
-Olives (cloudy days)
-Light Cahills?- maybe
-Golden Stones?- maybe
BEST BETS:
TROUT-
DRIES:
-Sulfurs #16- emergers, duns
-March Brown/Gray Fox #10-12- emergers/duns
-White Wulff #10-12 (evenings)
-Caddis #14-18- olive/green & tan/brown- Elk Hair, Corn-Fed Caddis, Emergent Sparkle Pupa, X-Caddis, Henryville, etc
-Olives #18-20- emergers, duns
-Stimulator #6-10- yellow, orange
NYMPHS & WETS:
-Prince Nymph #10-14
-March Brown Nymph #10-12
-BH Hare's Ear #10-16
-Caddis Pupa- green/olive & tan/brown #14-16- Sparkle Pupa,
Wing, etc.
-Stoneflies #6-14- golden/yellow, brown
-Rubber Leg Stonefly #6-8- various colors
-Micro Mayfly- brown- #14-16
-Pheasant Tail #14-18
-Fox Squirrel Nymph #8-12
-BH Lightning Bug #14- pearl
-Twenty Incher #10-12
-Caddis Larva #12-16- olive, green
-Bottom Rollers #8-12- Hydrop(olive/green), Hare's Ear
-Vladi's Polish Woven Nymph #8-12- brown/orange, green/orange, green/chartreuse
STREAMERS:
When in doubt, white is great year 'round streamer color on the Housy under a variety of water & light conditions.
-Home Invaders #2-6- various colors
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Olive Butt Monkey #2
-Olive Circus Peanut #4
-Bread 'N Butter Bugger #4- blonde
-Muddlers #2-12
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Conehead Madonna #4- yellow, white, olive
-Barr's Slump Buster #6- olive, rust, natural
-Zoo Cougar #2-4 yellow, white
-Zonkers #2-8- natural, white, brown, tan
-Woolly Sculpin- black, white, tan #4-6
-Clouser Minnow #2-6- various colors
-Bob's Dangerous Darters #4
-Conehead Bow River Buggers- black, brown #4-8
-Woolybuggers- Olive, Black, Brown, White and Yellow #2-12
-Traditional Streamers: Grey Ghost, Black Ghost(deadly on brown trout ANYWHERE), Muddler, Mickey Finn, Baby Brown Trout(great Fall & clear
water Streamer), etc. #2-12
HIGH/DIRTY WATER:
-Medium to large streamers, esp. in black, white, yellow, chartreuse
-Woolly Buggers, Zonkers
-Egg Sucking Leeches, Clousers, Zuddlers, Bow River Buggers, etc.
-Kaufmann's Stonefly- brown, black #2-8
-Bitch Creek #4-8
-Golden Stonefly #4-8
-Prince Nymph #6-10
-Green Weenie #12
-Egg Flies- various colors #8-14
-Helgramite patterns #2-8
-Wooly Worms- black, peacock #8-10
-San Juan Worm- red, pink, orange
SMALLMOUTH BASS:
-Medium to large streamers in #2-8- patterns such as Zonkers, Clousers,Woolly Buggers, Madonnas, Woolly Sculpins, Bow River Buggers, Double Bunnies, etc. - think colors such as chartreuse, white, brown, yellow, olive, black, etc.
-Crayfish patterns #4-10- Crazy Dad, Clouser Crayfish, Near-Nuff Crayfish, Mini-Dad, etc.
-Topwaters- poppers, sliders, deer hair bugs #2-8
-Larger Nymphs #2-10- Bitch Creek, Stoneflies, Princes, Fox Squirrels, Rubber Legs, Helgramites, Halfback, etc
The state stocked their 9,000 brown & bows on May 1st, and they were all bigger than normal- I'm guessing due to the mild Winter (better growth rates). They put in 3,000 Rainbows up to 18"- these ones have a clipped adipose fin. The balance was 6,000 Browns, both adults & yearlings, from 8" -14". ************************************************
Please help us out and donate so we can stock some of our fat, hard-fighting HRO Rainbows in the Housy in early/mid May 2012. It's very expensive, and we appreciate all donations, large or small, they add up. The more money we raise, the more fish we can stock, and the better size they will average. These fish hold over well and grow rapidly. Their fight reminds me of a smaller steelhead, they are a rock-hard fish that are eating machines. FYI the state has documented our fish successfully spawning in the tribs/brooks, and we are catching some small wild rainbows occasionally, some of which will rapidly grow up to be not so small, Lol. Please help us out if you can.
************************************************Hatching now are the Green/Olive Caddis, tthe Tan/Brown Caddis are also mixing in now. This hatch started early, just like everything else this year (normally they don't start until 1st week of May, they were about 2 weeks early). The first heavy Caddis hatches usually sync up with when the trees in NW CT leaf out, which is happening now.
Two new books of interest to Connecticut fly fishermen are now both available for sale in our website store/shopping cart for those of you who won't be making a trip here before the Spring- "Flyfisher's Guide to CT" by Ron Merly, and "Fly Fishing Fairfield County: Secrets of Suburban Trout Streams" by Jeff Yates. Both books are excellent, written by local experts.
I posted up a bunch of weekend clinics/events (some free, some paid), go to "Events" on our home page (bottom right corner) for more specific details,. I've listed some of the scheduled ones below, and unless otherwise specified I (Torrey) will be conducting them. If you go on "Events" & view them, you will see detailed information about each event/class.
&
-May 5-6- Davy Wotton Wet Fly &
Caddis 2-day Clinic- $300
-includes lunch both days
-clinic is FULL now
-May 13- Spey Casting Clinic with Jerry
Jahn & Fred Krowchenko,
$150 for 5 hours, 4 person max
Here is some addtional detail on the Davy Wotton Clinic May 5th-6th, it is now full to capacity, we will probably do another clinic with him in 2013:
Back for I think the 5th year in a row now, the "Welsh Wizard", Davy Wotton, will once again conduct another one of his popular clinics for us. He has been a full-time professional fisherman for most of his life, and he now resides in Arkansas, where he has been guiding for years on the White River system & runs a small lodging business. Davy is unquestionably one of the top wet fly fishermen in the world, and his DVD "Wet Fly Ways" is fantastic & a best seller. This time he will devote a full day of fishing Caddis from top to bottom- larva, pupa & adults. Rigging, fly patterns, techniques, etc. will all be covered so you can successfully catch trout anywhere during Caddis hatches, and even when they aren't hatching. Rivers such as the Housy are chock full of Caddis, and the trout often key in on them. There will also be a full day of his famous European-style wet fly/soft-hackle techniques, rigging & fishing. Davy just might be the wet fly's biggest proponent, and it is his favorite way to catch trout. This is way more than the American style of throwing down & across and letting them swing- he will show you all angles of presentation (up, across, down), how to fish & rig mutlitple flies, dancing your dropper fly, figure 8/hand-twist retrieves, fly selection, etc. Europe has an extremely long history of deadly wet fly fishing techniques, rigs & patterns that are virtually unknown to most Americans, and Davy knows them all. Clinic will run 9-5 both days and includes lunch, cost will be $300 (plus tax) paid in advance, non-refundable, rain or shine, high water or low water. Class will be limited to a maximum of 10 people- call 860-672-1010 sign up.
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Hot off the press- "Flyfisher's Guide to Connecticut" by Ron Merly- finally a book specifically covering all of CT for the fly fisherman, and by one of the best fisherman/writers in the state. Ron holds the current state record Sea-Run Brown Trout & has received awards for his outdoor writing. Also just out- "The Master's Fly Box", this excellent book gives you a peek into top North American fly fishers boxes and there are interviews with them about their flies, tactics & philosophies. Lots of other new DVD's & books in stock too, I still have a few SIGNED copies of George Daniel's fantastic new book "Dynamic Nymphing"- they are going fast, grab one before they are gone, it will be non-autographed copies after that. It just might be the definitive book on the subject of nymphing, covering all facets.
We are now CT's newest Hatch reels dealer, please check them out at the store. The newly revised/redesigned Finatic series is now available & here in the store. These are bombproof reels, with an amazing silky-smooth, strong, stacked-disc sealed drag system with virtually no start-up inertia, and have the ability to generate a ton of drag pressure if needed. Beautifully & artfully machined, these are some serious pieces of fishing equipment. My own personal Hatch Finatic 7+ reel recently arrived for me to use on my brand new TFO Deer Creek 11' #7 Switch rod (an unbelievably good series of rods for a very reasonable price) and my new Sage TCX Switch 11' 9" #7 rod, my new Hatch reel performed flawlessly at the Salmon River in NY on steelhead, Coho & King Salmon up to 30 pounds! The TFO rod is great too- it has the proper balance of power & flexibility to cast well and fight fish while cushioning your tippet. The extra length of the 11' switch rod is great for casting & controlling your fly line and drift, and the 2-handed grip makes casting effortless and playing a big fish much easier. And of course, the ultra-premium Sage TCX 11' 9" #7 Switch rod is AMAZING! Truly a do-it-all stick, as well as a fish-whipper.
Spring Store Schedule- we will be open 7 days a week once again starting the 3rd week of April, so we will still be closed one more Tuesday on 4/10. Head Guide Adam will be working in the shop on Mondays & Tuesdays.
You can now redeem Amex CC points when shopping on our Amazon store online.
We privately stocked another batch of big, fat rainbows in the Housy last September 2011- a big thanks to all of you who generously donated to put these nice fish and improve the fishery for all of us. We sell raffle tickets accept donations year 'round to raise & for spring & fall stockings. Interestingly enough, the DEP documented these very same fish successfully spawing in Housy tribs, with "abundant young of the year rainbows" sampled by them last year in 8 different tributaries, and they said it was from our Spring spawning 'Bows (the state fish are fall spawners).
DIDYMO:
During the past five years Didymo (also known as “rock snot”) has been found in rivers in New York and Vermont. Now, Didymo has been confirmed by the Connecticut DEP in the Farmington River from Riverton to New Hartford. If it’s found in those stretches of the river it will likely be found in other areas of the river as well.
YOU NEED TO HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS INVASIVE SPECIES.
Every time you come off the water, CHECK, CLEAN AND DRY.
CHECK: Before leaving the water, remove all obvious clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing & footwear, canoes & kayaks and anything else that has been in the water. Leave them at the site. If you find any later, clean your gear and dispose of all material in the trash
Soak/spray & scrub boats and all other “hard” items for at least one minute in either very hot (140°F) water, a 2% bleach solution, or a 5% dishwashing detergent solution. Absorbent materials such as clothes and felt soles on waders should be soaked for at least 40 minutes in very hot water (140°F), or 30 minutes in hot water (115°F) with 5% dishwashing detergent.
What is a 2% solution? Three ounces in a gallon of water (which is 128 ounces)*. There are eight ounces in a cup, so that’s around a half cup of bleach to a gallon of water.
What is a 5% solution? Seven ounces in a gallon of water*. That’s around a cup of detergent in each gallon of water.
FREEZING THOROUGHLY WILL ALSO KILL DIDYMO. (if you’re allowed to put your waders and boots in the freezer)
DRY: Drying will also kill didymo, but items must remain completely dry (inside and out) for at least 48 hours.
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Rainbow Trout Stocking Donations-
We are always looking for donations to fund our Spring & Fall Rainbow Trout Stocking we do every year- our goal is to raise enough money to stock 1,500-2,000 nice sized fish each time. Any size donation is appreciated, and we will also sell $20 raffle tickets for various prizes such as guided fishing trips, a $500 store gift certificate, a Hardy Marksman 9' #5 rod, and a Sage fly reel.
Update:
A friend forwarded me a DEP report- electroshocking revealed abundant reproduction of rainbow trout in 8 Housy tribs, the result of our privately stocked trout! (State stocked rainbows are fall spawners) Amazing & very cool.
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New & Favorite Products for April:
-New TFO BVK 10' Nymphing Rods- For the money, you cannot touch these rods. Wanna see the best bang for your buck in an all-around Nymphing Rod? You cannot beat the new Temple Fork Outfitters BVK 10' #4 & #5 at $249.95, they use the same Nano-Technology in the $700+ big-name rods, w/ out the big-time pricetag! Not only does this result in more durability, but both are both extremely light, much more than the price would make you think. The #4 only weighs 2.9 ounces, making it slightly lighter than Sage's 3 oz. state-of-the-art ONE 10' #4 rod that retails for $730, wow. The 4 weight is a good match for Euro-Style Nymphing & High-Sticking/Short-Lining, and will also easily handle strike indicators in most situtations. The extra length and the action also make it a VERY nice Wet Fly rod. The #5 is great for Indicators (even big yarn ones), and will easily handly bigger waters (such as the Delaware River). This would also make a very good float tube rod, and will handle wet flies too. Both rods roll cast more easily than their 9' counterparts. The extra length combined with the ultra-light weight make these sticks much less fatiguing when nymphing all day. These rods are the performance value/bargain in their category, hands down IMHO. -Torrey
-Cortland Bi-Color Indicator Mono- If you like to Euro-Nymph or High-Stick/Tight-Line/Short-Line Nymph without a traditional floating indicator, you should check this stuff out to help you detect your strikes. It is comparable to the similar Jan Siman product, but at a much better deal. The line is dyed in opaque, high-viz colors, and changes between a bright fluorescent yellow to fluorescent orange every 6-12" or so. You can incorporate this into your leader as a straight piece, or wrap around a dowel or pen and boil and then freeze to make a "Curly", aka coiled sighter, for a French-Style rig. This will be a very useful product for you nymphers.
-Glo Brite Floss- Euro-style nymphs with hot-spots (small areas of bright fluorescent coloration) are catching on in the past few years, and with good reason- they are often deadly! This European-made floss give you the best possible hot-spot colors, both in terms of range of shades, and intensity of fluorescent color. Tie your flies with the usual drab threads, and then use a few wraps of the Glo Brite to create a hot-spot at the tail of the fly or up front behind a bead. You can also use for more normal floss applications for brightly colored bodies, or for tags on the butts of salmon flies. Great stuff, I have all the best colors in stock.
-2-tone Euro Nymphing Sighter- These sighters are custom made for us to be used when Euro Nymphing- Czech, Polish, French or Spanish. The high visibility 2-tone sighters are 8" long (the perfect length), and are made out of 2 pieces of 30# fly line backing for the perfect balance between flexibility and stiffness- they don't tangle around your rod tip like 20# material does. They are easy to see under any light conditions, and allow for excellent strike detection and easy rigging. Simply attach a tapered leader of the desired length/size (7 1/2' 2x is a good base leader, but you can go longer or shorter, heavier or lighter) to your fly line, tie it to the loop on the sighter, then add the desired size & length tippet to the tippet ring (typically 3-8' of 3x-6x material), and then add your weighted nymphs to the end of that and you are ready to Euro Nymph! If you fish with short line methods, you can even loop the sighter directly to the end of your fly line and then add tippet straight to the tippet ring. Either that or add a short 2-4' piece of heavier mono in between the fly line and sighter. Experiment to see what works for you, and adjust for the conditions. 2 per package for only $9.99, this is a great product that's unique to us.
-Hatch Finatic Reels- Wow, these newly re-designed reels are amazing, and we are CT's newest Hatch dealer. The heart of this real is the amazing, sealed, stacked-disk, butter-smooth, super-strong drag system that will hold up under the toughest conditions and not fail on you. Recently got myself a 7 Plus to use on my new switch rods (11' #7 TFO Deer Creek Switch & 11' 9" #7 Sage TCX Switch) for Great Lakes steelhead, they have already whipped up on a bunch of big fish and performed flawlessly. The new "Finatic" version of these reels (available as of Oct. '11) has some beautiful, artistic machining & is lighter than the predecessor (but spools are interchangeable). These are reels that will take a beating, I'll put them up against anyone else's reels. Stop by the shop & check one out- the price tag ain't cheap, but the quality is superb. Two thumbs up. -Torrey
-Brodin Ghost Nets- these are, hands down, the nicest landing nets on the market. The "Ghost" bags aren't a gimmick, they are super-durable, the flies don't tangle in them, and because they are clear the fish sometimes actually swim right into them! They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and everyone is trying to copy them, so I guess that says something. These are the best nets on the market, in a variety of sizes & shapes, I try to keep a decent selection on hand, but find my customers wiping me out of these all the time! Nuff said.
-Temple Fork Outfitters BVK rods- Wow, this new series from TFO is truly impressive. The $225, 9' #5 rod clocks in at 2.9 oz. (almost a half ounce lighter than the benmark $695 Sage Z-Axis) and is the best casting TFO rod I've had in my hand yet, the clear winner for a fast-action rod in the low to mid $200 range in my opinion. Comfortable up close, but can toss way out there too. This is a TON of rod for the money, probably the high performance bargain out there. All I have to say is come cast one and see what your arm says, we stock it from a #3 thru #8, and are happy to special order bigger sizes for you. The 8' #3 has an extender kit available for $100 that turns it into a 10' #3, 5 piece Euro nymphing/Wet Fly stick, sweet! In my opinion, the best & lightest fast action rods for under $250, period.
-Simms Headwaters Taco Wader Bag- This is basically an improved version of a discontinued wader mat/bag that I've been using for years. Priced at under $30 (hard to believe it's from Simms, right? Lol), this is a round wader mat that folds and zips into a half-circle, taco-shaped carrying case with handles on it. Fast & practical, just stand on it while putting waders on & off (to keep your socks clean/dry), and then zip shut when you are done. It will hold up to 2 pairs of waders & wading boots, although in my opinion is the perfect size for one pair. Everyone should own one of these, it will make gearing up & down quicker & simpler. Two thumbs up on this one.
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Torrey's Book Choices for
April:
New Books/Calendars:
Fly Fishing Fairfield County- Secrets of Suburban Streams- author Jeff Yates is a part-time guide who has fished his local trout streams almost 30 years now. A fourth-generation Wilton resident, he thoroughly covers 20 trout streams from his home turf. Not only is there detailed access info, but he goes into depth on hatches, effective fly patterns, matching tackle to the often tight surroundings, where to catch wild trout, which streams hold bigger fish, etc. After you read this book you will be ready to tackle these fisheries, and hopefully find success in Fairfield County without having to make a long drive elsewhere. Jeff is very active in Trout Unlimited (currently president of his chapter), and he has an excellent & informative section on conservation issues/threats to the streams covered in his book (one of the best explanations I've ever read about the issues that apply to any stream remotely near civilization). He did a THOROUGH job, there is tons of useful info. Two thumbs up on this book Jeff!
-The Upstream Wet Fly, by Terry Lawton- Just out, this English book documents the history of the development of wet fly fishing, especially the Scottish & North Country (English) schools. Influential Europeans such as Pritt, Edmonds, Lee, Stewart, Skues are all covered, as well as Americans such as James Leisenring, Hidy, and Sylvester Nemes. There is also a chapter covering some of the best traditional patterns from Stewart (Spiders & winged-wets), Pritt (62 North Country flies), Leisenring and others. If you are a student of the sport and appreciate history as well as older flies/techniques that are equally vaild (and under-used) in modern times, then this book is for you. I think this is a very good book, it is the 6th one from author & magazine writer Terry Lawton. -Torrey
-The Flyfisher's Guide to Connecticut, by Ron Merly- Hot off the press- CT's own Ron Merly (award winning writer & Sea Run Brown Trout state record holder) authored this excellent, much needed book. The Flyfisher's Guide series of books has been consistently top-notch, and this is no exception. Primarly a where-to as opposed to how-two book, it is thorough in it's coverage. The 2 best trout streams in CT, the Housy & Farmingtion, both have hatch charts and received extra-detailed coverage. Ron is a common sight in our shop, a Housy regular, and he catches his share of big trout here. Information is provided on the state's Brood Stock Atlantic Salmon fishery. The book also details another passion of his, the Sea Run Brown Trout fishery in CT- his state record fish clocked in at 10# 8oz out of the Saugatuck River. Fly/Tackle shops, guides/outfitters, accommodations, restaurants, airports are all covered for each area. Finally, a book that covers all the fly fishing opportunities in CT- if you fish freshwater in this state, you really should have this book, it's the new Bible.
-The Master's Fly Box- author Dave Klausmayer (editor & photographer of Fly Tyer magazine, and has written several books and numerous magazine articles) did a great job putting together a collection of 20+ top anglers from North America & getting them to share some of their favorite fly patterns (in many cases their own orginals). He also interviews each one of them about the flies, how they fish them, their equipment/rigs & their fishing philosophies. Very cool & insightful to get a peek into the fly boxes of top anglers like George Daniels, Davy Wotton, Aaron Jasper, Pat Dorsey, Mike Mercer, Eric Stroup and many others. Two thumbs up for this book, and the spiral bound format it convenient.
-Dynamic Nymphing, by George Daniels- former captain of Fly Fishing Team USA, George is one of the more knowledgeable & accomplished nymphers in the world, and he has fished & competed all over it with some of the best anglers from many different countries. This is the best, most thorough book on nymphing I've seen yet. Covers all styles of nymphing from "suspension" (strike indicator & dry/dropper), to "Curly Q's", to the "tight line" methods (European- Czech/Polish/French/Spanish, and American High-Sticking/Short Line). It's all there, including a great section on his favorite 60+ fly patterns. Covers tactics for fishing under tough conditions- heavy fishing pressure/crowds, shallow water, cold weather/water, wind, etc. Also talks about fishing different water types- pocket water, riffles, runs, pools, as well as small streams. This is the current state-of-the-art book on the subject, I highly recommend it, it's in my collection. Great photos. I will have autographed copies in stock until they run out, then back to unsigned copies.
-Women in Waders 2012 Calendar- Don't need to say much about this, other than it's our all-time best selling calendar, and the 2012 version is now in stock and available for sale!
-Common Nymphs of Eastern North America- written by 2 experts from Penn State University, this book covers the subsurface bugs in our backyard streams. Absolutely superb photos of the insects, with matching imitations given. Traditionally identification & hatch-matching is done with dry flies, but this book teaches you to identify, match & fish the proper nymphs to successfully catch your local trout. Well done & spiral bound for ease of use. Two thumbs up.
-Reading Waters, by Gary Borger- another great new book from my fly fishing hero Gary. While there are currently two other excellent books on this topic (by Tom Rosenbauer & Dave Hughes), in my opinion this is the best one yet. Not a dry read either, Gary put tons of anecdotes in to keep it interesting & relevant. Plenty of pictures and excellent diagrams (illustrated by his talented artist son Jason). Reading water is a skill many lack and one that separates great anglers from average ones. If you aren't putting your fly where the fish actually are, then the best equipment, flies & technique are all for naught. Two thumbs up, I now own a personal copy of this book.
-Fly Fishing Guide to the Upper Delaware River- 2nd edition- brand new update to the best guidebook on Delaware River system trout fishing. Updated & revised, current lodging & food options, plus a new chapter that interviews the top area guides. This book is truly a fantastic resource if you fish the Delaware. There is a lot of private property bordering the river, and access can be tough for wading anglers unfamiliar with the fishery, but this guide makes it easy to figure out. Also covered are hatches, seasons, all sections of the system (East, West & Main Stem), flies, techniques, all local resources, etc. It's a damn thorough book. Highly recommended.
-Fishing the Film, by Gary Borger-
For sure, Gary is one of my "fishing heroes", and anything he writes should be required reading for fishermen. In typical Borger form, it is packed full of useful information. If you like to catch fish on top, most of the time they are feeding on emergers, cripples, spinners, etc. floating in the FILM, not actually on top of the water. Plenty of great illustrations by his talented son Jason. Many great stories/anecdotes to keep it all interesting and relevant.
-Charlie's Fly Box, by Charlie Craven- This Colorado-based fisherman & shop owner is one of the best tyers in America, with 30+ years of commercial fly tying experience. He is a signature fly designer for Umpqua, with 15 patterns in their catalogue and growing. This is his second book, aimed at intermediate to advanced tyers. Photography is clear & concise, as his his instruction. Some of his signature patterns in this book include Jujubee Midge, Charlie Boy Hopper, Two Bit Hooker, Poison Tung, Jujubaetis, and 11 more- a nice mix of nymphs, drys, emergers & streamers. Interesting back stories and anecdotes about each pattern, and in some cases specific fishing advic. Two thumbs up for this book, it's excellent- I added a copy to my personal library.
-Secret Flies of the Czech and Slovak Fly-Tiers- Looking for ideas for new flies? Look no further, there is a plethora of them here, with crisp photos & pattern dressings from some of the top competitive fishermen & tyers in Europe. Over 350 patterns from over 20 tyers, including dries, nymphs, wets, midges & streamers. Multilanguage book, the text is written in Czech, Slovak & English. Europeans have their own style of tying that is different from the typical American tyer, a book like this is great for helping you come up with new & more effective patterns, stuff our hard-pressured trout haven't seen yet. Excellent book.
Favorite Books:
-The Orvis Guide to Prospecting for Trout, by Tom Rosenbauer- Recently revised & updated, this was already one of the best books in print on general trout fishing strategies, techniques, fly selection, and a personal favorite of mine, and now it's even better, with new info, flies & color photos. It even has an extensive chapter on the often neglected wet flies. Most of the time on most streams, trout aren't rising, and prospecting is a necessary strategy if you want to catch trout consistently- don't be stuck when there are no hatches. Great book, in my personal Top 10.
Bestsellers:
-The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide- this is the best beginner to intermediate guide out there, bar none. In fact, just about everyone should own this book as a reference regardless of ability level, it's that good. It was recently updated with the latest info, equipment, techniques, flies and pictures. Tells you enough to take the confusion out of things, but not so much that you are overwhelmed. Much of this was written by Tom Rosenbauer, one of the best writers & fishermen out there- rarely are outdoor writers excellent writers AND excellent fishermen, but Tom is both. This book pretty much covers all facets of fly fishing. Highly recommended by me.
New & Favorite DVD's:
-High Sticking and Reading Water, with Kelly Galloup- Graphic demonstrations of high stick nymphing with detailed lessons on reading water are the heart of this 90 minute instructional video. Kelly shows you numerous ways to become a better nymph angler, including high sticking where your fly line is kept off the water to insure a good drift. Along with a host of close-up angling sessions the production is filled with graphic illustrations that teach you how to read water. In this condensed look at four days on the river you'll learn about where to fish and how to be a better nymph angler. 5 Chapters: Incudes: AFTERNOON DAY ONE Open, Fishing Pocket Seam and High Sticking DAY TWO Don't Mend, Read the Run, Big Brown Mistake DAY THREE A Good Drift, The Lift, Boulders, Pockets, More DAY FOUR High Stick Rod & Nymph Line, Nice Fish DAY FIVE Fly Selections: Midge, Caddis, May, Attractors Kelly Galloup is a great instructor, and in the video he dissects the river and clearly explains where and how to fish a variety of water types. Learn both tight-line and indicator tactics, along with a variety of tips on rigging. You'll see some nice fish along the way but more importantly you'll discover how to nymph fish with a high rod. As Kelly says, "It's all about a good drift", and this is an essential form of presentation for fishing your flies properly. Fly Placement is critical in your nymphing system and Kelly takes the time to explain where to place what type of fly on your leader. He looks at midges, mayflies, caddis flies and attractor patterns.
-European Nymphing- A Strategic Approach, w/ Aaron Jasper- Our former guide Aaraon has made quite the name for himself in the Euro nymphing world- his 1st DVD sold an easy 300 copies in one year at our store alone (he sold 5,000 copies)- that is a TON of DVD's in the fly fishing arena, more than we have ever sold of any one single DVD. He is a guide, writer, fly designer, presenter & fanatical fisherman (close to 250 days a year). This is the follow-up to his 1st DVD- I've only watch the first few segments, but so far it's excellent & jam-packed full of very useful information you won't find elsewhere. This DVD is organized into 10 different situations/scenarios (things like high/cold water, early season pocket water, mid season pocket water, stocked trout, fishing pool heads, etc.), and Aaron shows you briefly at the beginning of each segment what his tackle, leader set-up & flies will be and explains why. Then you watch him in action catching trout (a lot!) while he explains what's he's doing in a voice-over. All scenes were shot on public trout streams where you & I can fish, not footage from overstocked private streams for pellet-fed pushover trout. Shot & edited in High-Def, there is almost 4 hours of footage, all for $29.95- this is a GREAT deal. Two thumbs up from me (Torrey). Check out his excellent website at www.troutpredator.com.
-Connect- the next installment from the Confluence Film guys who brought you the epic DVD's "Drift" & "Rise", this one was shot in Africa, Yellowstone, Maine, Japan, Alaska & Cuba. Includes well-known anglers Jeff Currier, Craig Mathews and others. Expect great cinematography, sound, and just and overall great "vibe".
-The River Why- This great book has finally come out on DVD, and sports an all-star cast with notables such as William Hurt, Kathleen Quinlan, William Devane, Amber Heard & others. This DVD is based on the cult classic novel by the same name, so if you liked the book, you gotta see the movie.
-Off the Grid-The long-awaited release from Beattie Outdoor Productions (they did the award-winning DVD "Nervous Water, a best-seller for us) is FINALLY available. Run time is close to 3 hours, there are 3 feature films, and 12+ short films and an action cut. Here is their description of it:
"Shot in Mexico, Alaska, British Columbia, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Florida, NW territories of Canada and a few surprise locations. This fly fishing film is about places that are off the beaten path. It is about people that live the fly fishing lifestyle, not to be a name, but because fly fishing is part of their soul. It is about unspoken hatches, unknown fish, and Rivers that will go unnamed. Two years on the road filming in an assortment of locations around the world. All of the films are connected by a common theme: there are places that, for our crew, were out of the ordinary. We basically tried to avoid as many of the "Big Name" waters, hatches and fishing grounds as we could. "
-FlyNation- great new DVD with top-notch cinematography, and featuring Spey Casting hottie April Vokey. 5 different mini-stories, covering brook trout, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, & saltwater species (tarpon, permit, etc.). Shot on/in Skeena, Gaspe, Florida, Iceland, and Fortress Lake. I was impressed with this DVD (esp. at only $19.95), and did I mention April Vokey was in it? Very well done & recomended by me (Torrey).
-Wet Fly Ways, with Davy Wotton- one of our all time best selling DVD's, and one of the most informative we carry. It's the next best thing to actually having Davy Wotton at your elbow while you fish. Watch this DVD, and you will be able to successfully employ a variety of deadly European-style wet fly techniques/rigs on the water. It is a deadly system of fishing, perfected in Europe for hundreds of years, and so much more than the down & acrosss swing employed by most Americans. Buy it, watch it, and catch more trout. Davy Wotton is a Welsh transplant and may just be the best living wet fly fisherman in the world. Yes, he's that good. Excellent, informative DVD that I highly recommend.
-More DVD's- new & noteworthy titles for 2011/2012 include: "Tapam" (big tarpon in Central America, it's a good one, they get towed around in float tubes), "Musky Country- Zero 2 Hero" (Adam loved it), "Night of the Hex", "Soulfish 2" (by Mikey Weir of "Trout Bum" fame & pro snowboarder), and Ozzie Ozefovich's "Trout Vision & Refraction" (from the Underwater World of Trout series, very insightful).
-Czech Nymphing 101 & Related European Methods, with Steve Parrott- yet another DVD on Euro-style nymphing hot off the press, fresh on the heels of Aaron Jasper's excellent "European Nymphing" DVD. Parrot owns the Blue Quill Angler in CO, and has been into Czech/Euro type nymphing for a while now, employing the various methods on the hard-fished technical waters he calls home, such as the South Platte. Czech, Polish, French & Spanish methods are covered, as well as methodology (strike detection, hook-setting, casting, line control, etc.), equipment/gear, fly selection & line rigging, and he ties 4 weighted nymphs for the camera. Great reviews from Kirk Deter (Editor-at-Large for Field & Stream) and famous CO guide & author Landon Mayer. Now that I've personally watched it, I think this DVD is very well done, easy to follow, and well shot.
-Skagitmaster 2, Steelheading Outside the Box- The sequel to the original Skagitmaster (with Ed Ward), this one features expert steelheader Scott Howell, part of the Ed Ward Skagit crew. Learn how to fish a Skagit line & swing flies in all sorts of tough & different conditions. He even fishes on top for them. Footage was shot in Oregon & British Columbia, and he catches a bunch of wild steelhead for the camera while demonstrating techniques. This DVD is excellent- if you are a "swinger", you gotta have this one.
-Searching for Steelhead- Michigan steelhead guru Kevin Feenstra has specialized in swinging streamers to catch steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries, and this is the new Bible for that approach. Kevin is a very innovative fly tyer, and his steelhead streamers are both unique & deadly. Great explanation both verbally & visually of how to do it properly from A to Z, including proper lines/sink-tips, flies (including tying instruction for some of his personal go-to's), seasons, small rivers/big rivers, etc. This is a very well done DVD and I rate it highly.
-Czech Nymph- Johan Klingberg and the Czech National Fly Fishing Team show you how to rig & execute the deadly "Czech Nymphing" technique. The Czechs are some of the best in the world at competitive fly fishing, and they will show you also how to build special leaders, favorite flies, and how to tie some of them. These methods are equally applicable in the USA. Shot on multiple rivers in Europe, you don't want to miss this one.
-Rivers of a Lost Coast- Chronicles the legendary west coast angler Bill Schaadt (considered by many to be one of the best fly fishermen that ever lived, and the subject of a 1974 Sports Illustrated article titled "The World's Best"), and the coastal California fly fishing community he was part of- a competitive and often ungentlemanly one. Going back to the 40's & 50's, this DVD uses a combination of old photos, never before seen video footage, headlines and interviews with legendary anglers such as Lani Waller, Russell Chatham, Hal Janssen and others. Schaadt was a Russian River legend, catching salmon & steelhead when nobody could. By the 70's & 80's, these fisheries were already on the decline for a variety of reasons, and this DVD is a fascinating account of both Schaadt's world, and the degredation of great wild fisheries. A small book is included with the DVD. Finally got to watch a good chunk of the movie, and it really is excellent.
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Sunday:
52 degrees & sunny this morning, high 80, low 52, sunny today. Ten Day Forecast: Highs mostly 70's, lows mostly mid/upper 50's.
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SATURDAY REPORT:
The CT DEP documented our privately stocked HRO rainbow trout successfully spawing in Housy tribs in the past couple years, with "abundant young of the year rainbows" sampled by them in 2010, and they said it was from our Spring spawning 'Bows (the state fish are fall spawners). They also sampled wild rainbows again in 2011, this is exciting stuff. Apparently better conditions exist for successul spawning in the early season for our Spring spawning 'Bows than exist in the Fall for the state's Fall spawning 'Bows & Browns. Interesting.
Rainbow Trout Stocking Donations-We are shooting for doing our next HRO Rainbow Trout stocking May 25th, 2012, but we need to raise more money, and any size donation is greatly appreciated, no matter how small or large. We are going to put in some NICE sized fish this Spring- they fight & jump like small Steelhead, and they also hold-over and grow fast. For larger donations, we have a non-profit set up and you can take the donation as a legitimate tax write-off, just ask and we can supply the necessary paperwork. We are always looking for donations to fund our Spring & Fall Rainbow Trout Stockings, our goal is to raise enough money to stock the Housy with a bunch of nice sized fish 2x a year.
We are are open 7 days a week. Head Guide Adam is working in the store on Mondays & Tuesdays until he goes to Alaska for the Summer.
We are CT's newest Hatch reels dealer, stop by the store and play with one, they are an amazing piece of engineering- my own personal Hatch 7+ Finatic arrived in November, and it has performed flawlessly on numerous Steelhead at the Salmon River in NY since then. Almost out of signed copies of George Daniel's new book "Dynamic Nymphing"- it's the best book I've ever seen on nymphing, and it is selling steadily. After they go, I will still carry his book but they won't be autographed. New book, "Flyfisher's Guide to Fairfield County, by Jeff Yates", he is a part-time guide & long-time Fairfield county resident. Learn about the 20 trout streams there, with DETAILED info about access, hatches, fly patterns, recommended equipment, etc.- this is a THOROUGH book if you fish or live near that part of CT. Hot off the press- "Flyfisher's Guide to CT", by Ron Merly- finally a great book that covers all the fly fishing in the state, by one of the best fishermen/writers who actually knows it (he has won writing awards & also holds current state record for Sea-Run Brown Trout), and I have a bunch in stock.
The state stocked their 9,ooo trout on May 1st, browns & bows ranging from 8-18". Housy is in great shape again- 1,000cfs with 3+ feet of clarity, and were are still steadily dropping and the clarity is increasing. The fishing reports from Saturday were good to excellent. With the improved clarity, you can once again use normal sized flies and wade around better, and the reduced flow is increasing dry fly opportunities. Hatches are cranking, we are in the beginning of what I refer to as "Crazy Time", when all the hatches are heavy & going at the same time, it last about 3 weeks. Look for assorted Caddis, Sulfurs, March Browns, Olives (overcast days), Light Cahills, Stoneflies & more. Adam's client Sarah nailed a big 22" brownie on a Sulfur dry recently, check the pic out on HRO FaceBook page. When they aren't rising, nymphs such as Stoneflies, Princes, Caddis pupa, March Browns and other assorted Mayfly nymphs are tough to beat, and streamers too (especially in low light, early/late in day). Sulfurs are hatching well now, Caddis (green & tan) are still going strong, and March Browns. You should see some Light Cahills in the evenings, and I got a report of some big Adult Golden Stones on the water. On cloudy days look for #18-20 Olives. A Prince Nymph is a personal all-time favorite Housy fly, especially in May/June, and it's deadly whether the river is low & clear or high & murky. The best fishing reports of late are coming from anglers who are flexible in their approach & tactics- no surprise there. Nymphing has been the most consistent tactic (of course), but dries, wets & streamers have all produced well at moments. May is a great month to try to nail a truly big Housy trout on a streamer (bigger is better). There are two basic varieties of Caddis on the water at the moment: the green to olive-bodied ones #14-18 (grey wings), and the tan to brown-bodied ones #14-16 (tan wings)- small #18-20 Black Caddis will join the mix soon. The green caddis darken to olive after hatching, and the tan ones darken to brown- in both cases, the wings stay the original color. Caddis hatches & egg-laying can create some great fishing opportunities, especially in the AM & evenings (they are most active in lower light conditions). Caddis typically hatch in mid/late morning (think pupa), and then come back in the evening to egg lay (think dries & wets, this creates more of the classic dry fly fishing for them, versus mornings usually see them feeding on the pupa subsurface or just under the film), but on overcast, mild days sometimes they trickle off all day long and rise to them. If they aren't rising, nymph pupal patterns near the bottom, and then let them swing up at the end of the drift. I often catch some of my biggest fish of the year nymphing down deep with pupa patterns. We are hitting a lot of the trout on nymphs in faster water, the Caddis pupa draw them into that water when they get active & hatching. Housy has fished unusually well thus far in 2012, with plenty of fat, colorful, hard-fighting holdover browns & bows, averaging 12-18", with a few bigger ones too. Recent stockers are running from 8" to 18". I would say that mid to late mornings, and late afternoons 'till dark are the 2 peak times of day to fish- it's when the bugs are most active & the trout are feeding heaviest. Streamers have produced a few bigger fish to 20" plus. Check out our HRO FaceBook page for recent pix of the nice holdover browns & bows we are catching. Don't forget to go online & purchase/print out a new license, all 2011 CT licenses have expired, and we DO NOT have a license machine here. For you streamer guys, try deeply fished streamers with lots of built-in motion, such as Buggers, Zonkers and other mobile patterns with marabou or rabbit strip in them.
As usual, a Prince nymph or Stonefly as a lead fly is almost never a bad choice, and you can play around with a different, smaller dropper/trailer nymph (especially Caddis patterns right now). Streamers can be productive some days, and other days nymphing will be the ticket, so experiment. Streamers are typically at their most effective during low light (early & late in the day, and when it's cloudy) and when the water is higher & murky. Don't be afraid to fish 4-6" long patterns if you are looking for truly large fish, and when the water is murky you can go even bigger. I am always surprised when a 12" trout nails my 5-6" long streamer, but it happens quite often. Play also with streamer colors, both bright and drab (esp. if the water is clear & it's sunny, think slimmer and drabber- usually). Keep your streamer tippets heavy, at least 2x, and 0x isn't too big when throwing #2's & 4's. The classic featherwing Black Ghost streamer is still a brown trout slayer everywhere- it has both white & yellow in it, among other colors, and is especially good under clear water & sunny conditions. Brown trout in particular are partial to that fly.
Purchase your 2012 fishing license online or at a town hall, we don't have a license machine, and it's a new year, so any CT licence purchased in 2011 is now expired. Stop by the store and check out all the new DVD's & books I've added, we have quite a few titles now.
Harold commissioned CD Clarke to paint the covered bridge - he owns a couple of his paintings and they are spectacular - we are selling this painting at the store.
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We stock all the materials available to tie the infamous "Vladi Worm" for sale in the store (pink "latex", pre-bent Daiichi 1870 hooks, lead wire, Maxima Chameleon tippet & proper threads). We also carry a pretty good selection of other materials, tungsten beads, lead wire, "hot spot" materials, hooks, back materials, underribs, etc., that are orientated toward tying weighted patterns for Euro (Czech, Polish, French, Spanish) style nymphing.
We are trying to get the DEP to extend the TMA to include the section of the Housy from the Rt 7/Rt 4 Cornwall bridge down to at least North Kent, if not all the way down to the center of Kent. It's going to take a lot of angler support to accomplish this, the DEP has had mixed feeling about this in the past, but they seem to be starting to warm up to the idea. There is a trememdous amount of ideal trout water in that section, and it would be awesome to see it managed & stocked to it's potential.
Poachers/illegal fishermen have been active over the past few seasons, both in & out of the TMA, although thankfully extra DEP enforcement in 2011 (funded by GE PCB settlement) put a big dent in this, with special thanks to CO Tate who went above & beyond the call of duty in reducing illegal fishing in the TMA. People have been keeping fish in the TMA (esp. in Horse Hole) & spin fishing in the Fly Fishing Only section (esp. in Cellar Hole & the Park), as well as fishing down below the TMA without licenses and keeping more than their limit of fish- without a license, all fish kept are illegal. We need all of you to be proactive and call in violations, the DEP needs to receive calls from people other than us calling all the time from the shop. The TIPS (Turn in Poacher) hotline # is 1-800-842-4357, the last 4 digits spell out the word "HELP" in case you forget the number. And for the record, all calls made to the hotline are logged and they look at the data each year to see where they need to beef up enforcement. While they are way underfunded & understaffed in terms of Conservation Officers and cannot always respond to every call, they will make every effort to dispatch one if at all possible. Get as much info as possible- number of people, general description, vehicle & plate #. Take a pic of them & their car if possible with a digital camera or even cell phone. If we get some more of them nailed, the word will get out that you don't want to poach on the Housy. This is a problem we can all help to improve with a simple phone call.
A note on etiquette. In recent seasons, we are seeing more and more fishermen who crowd others and do not seem to be aware of proper etiquette. Nobody likes it when they have a big chunk of water to themselves and somebody steps in 20-30 feet away, and starts casting to the fish they are working on. When you approach a piece of water that another fisherman is occupying, ask yourself how far you would want someone to stay away if you were there first- try to stay at least a cast and a half away if possible. And DO NOT EVER throw to the same fish or water that another person is fishing, even if you can reach it. That is a HUGE no-no, do not be surprised if you get yelled at or worse if you do that to someone- I'll have no sympathy for you. The Housy is a big river, and there is plenty of water for people to fish, even on a popular weekend. If the spot you want to fish is occupied, don't crowd that person, just go elsewhere. Believe me, there are TONS of fish (and big ones) all over the upper and lower TMA's, and outside of them also. Don't fish Corner Hole, Sand Hole, Cellar Hole, etc. on a busy Saturday at prime time and expect to have solitude- the easy access spots almost always hold the most fishermen. The Upper TMA is somewhere in the vicinity of 10 miles or so, and the lower one is about 2.5 miles, giving us all plenty of water to spread the pressure out in. Just make sure to practice courtesy and common sense, and treat other fishermen as you would like to be treated, and it will be a better experience for everyone.
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Lost and Found:
Simms wading staff - lost in the Park in April 2012. Contact : Ed Mickiewicz at (860) 749-8713
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-Lost in Housy during April float, somewhere between Cellar Hole & the Park, one Lamson Litespeed reel w/ green line on it, contact Steve Yoos at 770-349-9182.
-Found on the Housy (posted on site 9/2/11):
"I found a fly box on the Housy, along the Rt 7 section near Clarke Outdoors a couple weeks ago"- if you think it's yours, email to coachpauldona@yahoo.com with a description of the fly box/contents.
Lost on Shepaug 5/5/11- Blue Thomas & Thomas 5wt 9ft Mdl WL-905-4 with Lamson Hard Alox reel V2 w/ 30 ft Sink tip line Ser # on Rod 131228. Please contact Richard Heffernon (860) 868-7023.
Bull's Bridge
Water Level 7/10/11- Medium to Low (depending upon location)- lower above the powerhouse, higher above it (flows may fluctuate)- exact level depends on what part of TMA you are in
Water Temperature Upper 60's- AM temp, rises during the day
Water Clarity Clear
Release Schedule 1,130cfs per USGS- flows may fluctuate below the Powerhouse
Current Hatches -Zebra/Alder Caddis
-Caddis- tan/brown, black, green/olive
-Light Cahills
-Isonychia ("Iso's")
-Olives (on cloudy days)
-Midges
BEST BETS:
TROUT:
DRIES:
-Zebra/Alder Caddis #10-12
-Caddis #14-20- green/olive, tan/brown/ black- X-Caddis, Elk Hair, E/C Caddis, Henryville Special, etc.
-Light Cahills #12-14- duns & spinners
-Isonychia #10-12
-Parachute Adams #10-18
-Olives #18-20
-The Usual #12-16- cream, Sulfur
-Griffiths Gnat #20-24
NYMPHS & WETS:
-Stoneflies #6-14- golden/yellow, brown
-Prince Nymph #8-16
-BH Pheasant Tail #14-18
-Micro Mayfly #14-16- brown, olive
-Isonychia #10-12
-Alder Larva & Pupa #12
-Cahill Nymphs #14
-Sulfur Nymphs #16
-Tungsten Electric Caddis #14-16- olive
-Bottom Rollers #8-12- Hydrop(olive/green), Hare's Ear
-Sparkle Pupa #14-16- tan/ginger, green/olive
-Z-Wing Caddis Pupa #14-16- olive/green
-Brown Serendiptiy #14-16
-Fox Squirrel Nymph #8-12
-Twenty Incher #10-12
-Rubber Leg Stonefly #6-8- various colors
-BH Lightning Bug #14- pearl
-Dark Lord #14
-Vladi's Polish Woven Nymph #8-12- brown/orange, green/orange, shrimp/white
-Hare's Ear #10-18
STREAMERS:
When in doubt, white is great year 'round streamer color (esp. in the spring) on the Housy under a variety of water & light conditions, and yellow can be deadly for brown trout at moments.
-Home Invaders #2-6- various colors
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Olive Butt Monkey #2
-Bread 'N Butter Bugger #4- blonde
-Muddlers #2-12
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Conehead Madonna #4- yellow, white, olive
-Barr's Slump Buster #6- olive, rust, natural
-Zoo Cougar #2-4 yellow, white
-Zonkers #2-8- natural, white, brown, tan
-Woolly Sculpin- black, white, tan #4-6
-Clouser Minnow #2-6- various colors
-Bob's Dangerous Darters #4
-Conehead Bow River Buggers- black, brown #4-8
-Woolybuggers- Olive, Black, Brown, White and Yellow #2-12
-Traditional Streamers: Grey Ghost, Black Ghost(deadly on brown trout ANYWHERE), Muddler, Mickey Finn, Baby Brown Trout(great Fall & clear
water Streamer), etc. #2-12
HIGH/DIRTY WATER:
-Medium to large streamers, esp. in black, white, yellow, chartreuse- Burgin Halloween
-Buggers, Zonkers, Woolly Buggers, -Egg Sucking Leeches, Clousers, Zuddlers, Bow River Buggers, etc.
-Kaufmann's Stonefly- brown, black #2-8
-Bitch Creek #4-8
-Golden Stonefly #4-8
-Prince Nymph #6-10
-Green Weenie #12
-Egg Flies- various colors #8-14
-Helgramite patterns #2-8
-Wooly Worms- black, peacock #8-10
-San Juan Worm- red, pink, orange
SMALLMOUTH BASS:
-Medium to large streamers in #2-8- patterns such as Zonkers, Clousers,Woolly Buggers, Madonnas, Woolly Sculpins, Bow River Buggers, Double Bunnies, etc. - think colors such as chartreuse, white, brown, yellow, olive, black, etc.
-Crayfish patterns #4-10- Crazy Dad, Clouser Crayfish, Near-Nuff Crayfish, Mini-Dad, etc.
-Topwaters- poppers, sliders, deer hair bugs #2-6
-Larger Nymphs #2-10- Bitch Creek, Stoneflies, Princes, Fox Squirrels, Helgramites, Halfback, etc
7/10/11Nice flows & moderate temps are keeping the Housy doable for trout, especially in the mornings and in the evenings too (if daytime temps aren't too hot). Bass fishing has turned on with the arrival of summer, July & August are the peak months to target them. No need to start early for bass, they prefer and are more active in higher water temps than trout. So right now if you are fishing all day, you could fish for trout with nymphs in the morning, then switch to bass with big streamers (or Crayfish patterns, big nymphs or poppers), and then later in the evening if it's not to hot, you can take some trout on dries (bugs such as Zebra/Alder Caddis, Cahills, Iso's, brown Caddis, and Midges). If you want bigger bass, use bigger flies than you would use for trout- my bass streamers start at 3" and go up to 5-6". Nymphs in #2-6 aren't too big, and when bass are in the mood to feed on top, poppers also take some big fish.
Farmington
Water Level 2/23/12- Medium in TMA
Water Temperature TMA- Mid 30's in AM, rises on sunny/milder days
Water Clarity Clear
Release Schedule Total flow of 315cfs in TMA/C&R area- 217cfs from the dam in Riverton, 98cfs from the Still River
Current Hatches -Midges #20-32
-Winter/Summer Caddis #18-22- AM hatch
-Caddis- black #18-22
-Winter Stoneflies (Tiny Black & Early
Black) #14-24
BEST BETS:
-Caddis #18-22- black- use pupa, soft-hackles, X-Caddis, Elk Hair, Henryville, E/C Caddis, CDC patterns, etc.
-Winter/Summer Caddis (lt.
brown) #16-22- use larva (yellow #16-18), foam pupa patterns (lt. brown to olive) & adults (muddy olive/brown)
-Winter Stoneflies (black) #12-24- use both dries (Black Caddis patterns in both CDC & Elk Hair) & nymphs (A.P. Black Nymph, Black Copper John, etc.)
-Stonefly Nymphs- Golden/Yellow, Brown, Black #6-16
-Caddis Larva #8-18- olive, green, yellow, tan, olive-brown, Hare's Ear
-Midges #20-32- use larva (#16-24), pupa, and adults in various colors (red larva can be very good, esp. in the Winter, and some people swear by blue) to match the hatch- Zebra Midge, Rojo Midge, Pure Midge Larva, Brassie, Mercury Black Beauty, Miracle Nymph, Griffith's Gnat, etc.
-Pheasant Tail #14-22- BH, regular, and especially Flashback versions
-Prince Nymphs #10-20
-Midge Larva & Pupa #16-24- Zebra Midge, Barr's Pure Midge Larva in fire orange, Mercury Black Beauty, Brassie in red/copper, etc.
-Cased Caddis #6-18 (lots of the naturals present in the river year 'round)- use various color/shade cases (lt. to dk brown mostly, some tied rough, some smooth) & peeking portions (green, yellow, chartreuse, tan, olive, etc)
-Streamers #2-12- various patterns such as Woolly Buggers, Slump Busters, Zonkers, Clousers, Leeches, etc. Try natural,(in the Zonkers/Slumpbusters), olive, brown, black, yellow & white.
February 23, 2012-
New regs in place for 2012 as of January 1st- from dam in Riverton down to bottom of lower TMA (21 total miles) is now ALL C&R from Sept 1 thru 6AM on 3rd Saturday in April, and the Upper Year 'Round TMA in Pleasant Valley/New Hartford has now been permanently extended (as in not a seasonal TMA) upstream for about 1.5 miles right up to the bridge abutment at the tail of Whitemore (this includes the entire Campground). So the upper TMA is C&R 12 months a year all the way up to the tail of Whitemore, and all the water above that to the dam, and below the upper TMA all the way down to below the lower TMA (Collinsville) is a SEASONAL TMA (Sept 1st thru 3rd Sat in April) that reverts to Trophy Trout (2 fish, 12") from Opening Day thru the end of August. This means that in March & April, inistead of being stuck in the two modest sized TMA's, you will have 21 miles of river to fish, and the upper TMA has been permanently increased by almost 50%. Excellent move CT DEEP, thank you!!!
Total flow in TMA (C&R area) is 315cfs this morning - I would call this a medium level, nice fishable conditions. Hatches you might see include Winter/Summer Caddis (mostly AM), Winter Stoneflies (black, anywhere from #12 down to #24), and Midges (typically late mornings thru afternoons). I've been picking up nice trout on a variety of nymphs lately. Focus on the "softer" water, and slow your presentations down, especially if streamer fishing (swing with occasional twitches instead of stripping in). But during insect activity, you may find feeding fish sliding up into the riffles to take advantage of the food source. And Winter Caddis hatch excepted, the best time to fish overall is late morning to late afternoon, when air & water temps are highest, the trout are most active, and it's the most comfortable. Although after milder night, early mornings can sometimes be good. If you want to fish dries look for slower water in bigger/wider/flatter pools such as Church, Greenwoods, lower Boneyard, Whittemore, Pipeline, etc. In clear water, traditional streamers such as Baby Brown Trout and featherwing Black Ghosts can outfish bulkier modern streamers. Muddlers can be deadly too some days. Try various small (especially Midge-type nymphs such as Zebra Midges, Rojo Midges, Miracle Nymphs, Pure Midge Larva, Brassies, RS-2's, WD-40's, etc.) to medium sized nymphs (Stones, Princes, Hare's Ears, Fox Squirrels, etc.) & egg paterns. Hint- red can sometimes be an unusually good Winter color for subsurface Midge patterns. Brown trout are done spawning, but keep your eye out for their redds- they will look like light colored circular depressions in gravelly areas ( typically in pool tailouts, riffles, side channels). Don't walk on those areas, or you may crush eggs they lay, greatly diminishing future wild trout. In the TMA especially, the fish see lots of pressure and can be VERY picky when you are targetting flat water risers in the more popular pools (Church, Greenwoods, Ovation, etc.), so make sure your presentations are top shelf- accurate & drag-free (use a long leader, with and extra-long & relatively light tippet), and change your flies frequently. Under normal flows, nymphers should play around with some smaller flies (especially olive-type imitations in #18-22 from mid-morning thru mid afternoon) on fluorocarbon tippets, although stoneflies are an exception to the small nymphs. Caddis larva in olives to greens in the #12-18 range are very effective at moments too. Many of the takes on nymphs can be VERY subtle, so stay laser-focused or you won't even detect many of the hits. Dry fly guys will find that CDC patterns, emergers, cripples, and spinners can sometimes work magic on tough fish in flat water. Other hatches atches include: Olives (#18-28), Winter Caddis (#18-22), Tan/brown Caddis (#14-18). Dries, emergers, spinners, cripples, etc. imitating the above bugs will be effective when you have rising fish. Subsurface try various Caddis larva & pupa, Stoneflies, Princes, egg flies, Pheasant Tails, Micro Mayflies, WD-40's, RS-2's, Iron Lotus, Mercury Baetis, Zebra Midges, and Hare's Ears.
Barrington Lee
Water Level About 61CFS
Water Temperature 68 degrees
Water Clarity About 3+ Feet
Release Schedule Natural Flow
Current Hatches Blue-Winged Olive #16-18 Midges
Isonychia #10-12
Flying Ants
BEST BETS:
DRIES:
Griffiths' Gnat #20-24
BWO or Blue Quill #16-18
NYMPHS
Hare's Ear #10-14 -Brassies(reg. or red) and other Midge Larva/Pupa patterns #18-22 -Scuds (various colors)
#12-20 -Flashback WD-40 #18-20 brown or olive #16-18 -Bead Head Prince
#10-14 -Caddis Larva, beadhead or regular, olive, green or hare's ear
#10-16 -Serendipity- brown, crystal #14-16 -Golden/Yellow Stonefly
#6-12 -Pheasant Tail #16-22 -Copper John - regular, black, green #16-22
20 Incher #8-10 -Fox Squirrel Nymph #8-16 -Hare's Ear #12-20
STREAMERS
Yellow, White, and Brown/Yellow are deadly colors
on the Housy
Strip Leech black, brown #4-6
Flick's Phenom- white, brown/yellow #6- this could be the deadliest streamer yet
Madonna(regular or conehead)- white, yellow #4
Zuddlers- black, brown, white, yellow #4-8
Egg-Sucking Leeches- black, brown and olive #4-8
Conehead Bow River Buggers- black and brown #4-8
Woolybuggers-Olive, Black, Brown, White and Yellow #2-12
Zonkers- Natural, White, Olive, Yellow, Brown and Black #4-8
Traditional Streamers: Grey Ghost, Black Ghost(deadly on brown trout anywhere), Muddler, Mickey Finn, Baby Brown Trout(great Fall Streamer), etc. #2-12
HIGH/DIRTY WATER:
Medium to large streamers in black, white, yellow, chartreuse- Zonkers, Buggers, Clousers, Zuddlers, Bow River Buggers, etc.
Kaufmann's Stoneflybrown, black #2-8
Bitch Creek #4-8 Golden Stonefly #4-8
Prince Nymph #6-10
EggFlies- various colors #10-14
Helgramite patterns #2-8
Wooly Worms- black, peacock#8-10
San Juan Worm- red, pink, orange
WE ARE ONCE AGAIN OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!!
You can now redeem Amex CC points when shopping on our Amazon store online.
We are privately stocking 1,600 rainbows in the Housy on Friday 5/20- a big thanks to all of you who donated to put these nice fish and improve the fishing. We sell raffle tickets year 'round to raise & for spring & fall stockings. Interestingly enough, the DEP documented these very same fish successfully spawing in Housy tribs, with "abundant young of the year rainbows" sampled by them last year, and they said it was from our Spring spawning 'Bows (the state fish are fall spawners).
DIDYMO:
During the past five years Didymo (also known as “rock snot”) has been found in rivers in New York and Vermont. Now, Didymo has been confirmed by the Connecticut DEP in the Farmington River from Riverton to New Hartford. If it’s found in those stretches of the river it will likely be found in other areas of the river as well.
YOU NEED TO HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS INVASIVE.
Every time you come off the water, CHECK, CLEAN AND DRY.
CHECK: Before leaving the water, remove all obvious clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, clothing & footwear, canoes & kayaks and anything else that has been in the water. Leave them at the site. If you find any later, clean your gear and dispose of all material in the trash
Soak/spray & scrub boats and all other “hard” items for at least one minute in either very hot (140°F) water, a 2% bleach solution, or a 5% dishwashing detergent solution. Absorbent materials such as clothes and felt soles on waders should be soaked for at least 40 minutes in very hot water (140°F), or 30 minutes in hot water (115°F) with 5% dishwashing detergent.
What is a 2% solution? Three ounces in a gallon of water (which is 128 ounces)*. There are eight ounces in a cup, so that’s around a half cup of bleach to a gallon of water.
What is a 5% solution? Seven ounces in a gallon of water*. That’s around a cup of detergent in each gallon of water.
FREEZING THOROUGHLY WILL ALSO KILL DIDYMO. (if you’re allowed to put your waders and boots in the freezer)
DRY: Drying will also kill didymo, but items must remain completely dry (inside and out) for at least 48 hours.
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Rainbow Trout Stocking Donations-
It's that time of year again, we are looking for donations to fund our Spring '11 Rainbow Trout Stocking in May- our goal is to raise enough money to stock 2,000 nice sized fish. Any size donation is appreciated, and we will also be selling $20 raffle tickets for various prizes such as guided fishing trips, a $500 store gift certificate, a Hardy Marksman 9' #5 rod, and a Sage fly reel.
Update:
A friend forwarded me a DEP report- electroshocking revealed abundant reproduction of rainbow trout in 8 Housy tribs, the result of our privately stocked trout! (State stocked rainbows are fall spawners) Amazing & very cool.
We are STOCKED UP with Greys rods- lots of the new 2011 XF2 Streamflex rods & the XF2+ rods (9.5' rods that stow a 6" extension in the handle, it converts them to a 10 footer in seconds without unstringing your rod! Cool). Also the new XF2 that replaces the super popular X-Flites. The eagerly anticipated Hardy Zenith & Proaxis rods will be trickling in over the next month or so. In the new XF2 Streamflex series, we have the long awaited Euro Nymphing 11 footers in #3 & #4, as well as the specialized 10' #2 (for French Nymphing w/ light tippets & flies)- they are all VERY nice, prices range from $309 - $339. You cannot touch these rods at those prices, anything else on the market is a very distant 2nd, trust me on this one.
-Torrey
New products from Hardy/Greys available in 2011. Greys has added in some affordable but sweet Euro Nymphing 11' rods (available now) in #3 & #4 ($329-$339), a 10' #2 for the "French Nymphers" that will allow you to fish light nymphs/long leaders/6-7x tippets, and some convertible rods from #3-#5 ($399) that have a piece that stows in the handle but can be added to bring the rods from 9' 6" up to 10'- pretty cool! New size in the Hardy Perfect, the "Taupo", a 3 7/8" reel for #7/8 lines- available now. Hardy also has 2 new super-premium, state-of-the-art series of rods debuting, both using cutting edge new technology, material & lay-up (I cast these rods and they are unbelieveably good- featherlight & cast like a dream):
Hardy has developed their own specific formulation from this technology, and the results have been extensively field tested over the past 24 months. Their team of fishing pros from the Florida Keys to Montana has hailed the rods as truly innovative and exceptional fishing and casting tools. The Sintrix material uses Nano-Technology that allows the design team to build the first series of rods that combines the best attributes of the modern reserve-power, fast action fly rods with the more technical requirements of tracking, tippet protection and a taper that shifts the load to the butt when you need to lay into the fish. The freshwater series is the Zenith, and Proaxis is the SW version. The 9' #5 Zenith recently won the Yellowstone Angler's 5 weight shootout, beating out noteworthy contenders such as the Sage Z-Axis, Orvis Helios, and the new Loomis NRX.
UPCOMING EVENTS/CLASSES/CLINICS:
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Intro to Euro/Czech Nymphing with Torrey, June 4th from 10AM-2PM-
Seems like there has been an explosion of interest in this style of fishing in the past several years. The Europeans have been kicking ass in international competitions using these techniques for quite a while now. With practice in Euro-style nymphing, the strike detection is extremely high, and the hook-sets are fast- much better than with indicators. The clinic focus will be on the short line/short leader techniques developed & tweaked by the Poles & Czechs. Torrey will show you how to construct special leaders (one of the keys to success with this) with droppers & sighters, as well as proper fly pattern selection. Tackle, special knots, strike detection, anchor flies, sighters, reading the water & locating suitable spots, etc. will all be covered. Clinic will be part indoors, part outdoors. You will leave this class knowing how to properly rig & fish in true Euro/Czech style. While there are some similarities between this and high-stick/short-line USA techniques, make no mistake, this takes it to another level, using weighted flies, no indicator (at least not an “indicator” in the traditional sense we think of), long rods, and specially constructed leaders with “sighters”. Those of us using these European methods have seen our catch rates & strike detection go way up. While Indicator Nymphing will always be a very effective way of nymphing with moments of superiority over other methods, Euro style also has moments of superiority- and they are many! Open your eyes to a deadly way to catch trout in our hard-fished streams, fish that strike indicators miss. Cost is $75, paid in advance, nonrefundable, rain or shine. Bring a pad & pen to take notes and write down leader formulas. Torrey has spent the past 3 years or so working hard on perfecting these deadly methods and it is now his favored technique. This is a do not miss clinic for those who want to take their fishing to another level.
-Sage/Rio Day, Saturday June 11th from 10AM 'till whenever- Our rep Brad Gage will have all sorts of goodies from Sage & Rio for you to check out, some great stuff. Great opportunity to cast rods & lines that might not normally be stocked in the stores, and pick his brain about Sage rods/reels & Rio lines too. Brad also reps Umpqua, C&F Design, Tibor Reels, and Reddington.
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New & Favorite Products for May:
-New Euro Nymphing Rods from Greys- The re-designed 2011 XF2 Streamflex series now includes some really cool brand spankin' new models designed specically with the Euro nympher in mind- 11 footers in #3 & $4, and a 10' #2. The 11' models give you a real edge when fishing rivers the size of the Housy & Farmington, with the additional reach & line control- I like the #4 as an all-around Housy nymph rod (great for indicator nymphing & wet flies/soft-hackles too) and for bigger fish- yet it will still cushion tippets down to 6x. The #3 would be preferable for those nymphing with lighter tippets (6x and lighter) and smaller flies, and the extra flex will help keep smaller trout from shaking off when you play them. The 10' #2 would be great choice for small to moderate waters and lighter tippets & flies, you can comfortably fish 7x tippets no problem, and this would be great for classic French-style (upstream with longer leaders, light tippets & smaller flies). And of course, they still do 10' models right up through a #5 (nice for indicator nymphing bigger rivers). Lots of options for the growing army of hardcore nymphers and wet fly/soft-hackle fishermen out there.
-Temple Fork Outfitters BVK rods- Wow, this new series from TFO is truly impressive. The $225, 9' #5 rod clocks in at 2.9 oz. (almost a half ounce lighter than the benmark $695 Sage Z-Axis) and is the best casting TFO rod I've had in my hand yet. Very comfortable up close, but can toss way out there too. This is a TON of rod for the money, probably the high performance bargain out there. All I have to say is come cast one and see what your arm says.
-Simms Headwaters Taco Wader Bag- This is basically an improved version of a discontinued wader mat/bag that I've been using for years. Priced at under $30 (hard to believe it's from Simms, right? Lol), this is basically a round wader mat that folds and zips into a half-circle, taco-shaped carrying case with handles on it. Fast & practical, just stand on it while putting waders on & off (to keep your socks clean/dry), and then zip shut when you are done. It will hold up to 2 pairs of waders & wading boots. Everyone should own one of these, it will make gearing up & down quicker & simpler. Two thumbs up on this one.
-New version of the Waterworks ULA Force reels- I didn't think they could make my favorite reel much better, but they did with the 2011 version of the ULA Force SL series. Even lighter, better looking, bigger drag knob, and they even stiffened it up & strengthened it- all without raising the price. If you want the lightest truly large arbor reel out there with an amazing, sealed drag, this is it. My favorite #5/6 weight model (the Force 2X SL) weighs in at an amazing 2.95 oz., and the drag is smooth as silk. Their proprietary type III anodization is the toughest finish out there (virtually all other quality reels are type II), and the reel now sits closer to the rod for easier casting (a la their Vanquish). I'm impressed, and I think you will be too.
-Fishpond Packs & Products- Whether trout fishing locally, in an exotic locale, or fishing in tropical climes for bonefish, Fishpond makes a great pack to carry your gear. In my opinion they are the #1 company in vest alternatives, and everything they do is well though out, well designed, well made, and good looking. We have a good assortment of their various packs right now, perfect for bonefishing the flats, or trout fishing without being bogged down by a heavy vest. They make some very nice rod/reel carrying luggage & tackle bags too. Everyone is imitating them, and we all know, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. I give them two thumbs up.
-New version Hardy Cascapedia Mk III reel- the latest incarnation of this classic Bogdan-style reel (at a much lower price and without the several year wait!), Hardy is re-issuing a version similar to the 1930's Mk I reel. Solid front plate with 3 stainless steel badges give it a distinctive look. Machined & anodized, trout sizes have an adjustable moderate click drag, heavier salmon sizes have a much heavier wide-ranging drag for bigger fish. If you like classic reels, I think you will love this one- it looks great on bamboo trout rods, and the bigger sizes have enough weight to balance modern spey rods. Very nicely done.
-Hardy Perfect trout reels in new black finish- Hardy did a special limited 7 numbered run of 20 HRO black perfects (like the St. Georges) for us at our request, and we sold out (actually still have one 2 7/8" left). I guess they liked our idea- they recently started offering the Perfect trout sizes (2 5/8", 2 7/8", & 3 1/8") in black in both LH & RH models. Pricing is the same as for the regular Perfects- they ain't cheap at all, but they are a beautiful, timeless classic trout reel for those of you who appreciate the finer things, and yes, all the Perfects are still made in England. Not sure how many they did or if they will keep doing these, so get 'em while they're hot. Nuff said.
-Hardy "Taupo" Perfect Fly Reel- The eagerly awaited release of this Perfect series fly reel is now over, they are here, and they are damn nice. Traditional Perfect finish, but unlike typical Perfects you can reverse the retrieve from LH to RH, because with modern machining they were able to eliminate the line guard, which also keeps the pricing down- instead of $899-$1,300 for a Perfect reel, these retail for $695. It maintains the original look of the series, which was first produced in 1958 for 4 years, but the drag mechanism is improved (still a click & pawl type mechanism). For you traditional guys who like to palm your reels & prefer a classic looking product, this will be perfect (no pun intended) for Switch, light Spey, Steelhead, and Atlantic Salmon. Reel is 3 7/8" in diameter, weight is 7.5 oz. It will hold a WF8 floating line + 175 yards of 20# backing.
Windproof Fingerless Fleece Gloves under $20!- We finally found a source for inexpensive but nice fingerless fleece gloves that are also windproof, and are able to retail them for only $19.95, definitely a killer bargain.
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Torrey's Book Choices for May:
New Books:
-Tenkara- Tenkara originated in the mountains of Japan hundreds of years ago, and it is fly fishing simplified- a very long (usually 11'-13'), very light/flexible telescoping rod with no reel or guides, and a leader the length of the rod or somewhat longer hitched to the tip. This outfit is used to fish at short range with dries, nymphs, streamers & wets. Most practitioners are able to do this style of fishing with a single box of flies and a couple spools of tippet. Traditional Tenkara flies are very simple, but of course you can use the typical flies we fish on them also- the extreme length of the rods and light weight make them deadly for short range nymphing. There has been a groundswell of interest in this style of fishing in the USA recently, probably due to the simplicity and effectiveness of this style of fishing. Rods are super light and telescope down to a short length, making them ideal for backpackers & ultralight hikers. This is the new, definitive guide to get you started down the path to Tenkara, it tells you everything you need to know.
-Fishing the Film, by Gary Borger-
For sure, Gary is one of my "fishing heroes", and anything he writes should be required reading for fishermen. Only had a chance to briefly peruse this book, but in typical form, it is packed full of useful information. If you like to catch fish on top, most of the time they are feeding on emergers, cripples, spinners, etc. floating in the FILM, not actually on top of the water. Plenty of great illustrations by his talented son Jason. Many great stories/anecdotes to keep it all interesting and relevant.
-Charlie's Fly Box, by Charlie Craven- This Colorado-based fisherman & shop owner is one of the best tyers in America, with 30+ years of commercial fly tying experience. He is a signature fly designer for Umpqua, with 15 patterns in their catalogue and growing. This is his second book, aimed at intermediate to advanced tyers. Photography is clear & concise, as his his instruction. Some of his signature patterns in this book include Jujubee Midge, Charlie Boy Hopper, Two Bit Hooker, Poison Tung, Jujubaetis, and 11 more- a nice mix of nymphs, drys, emergers & streamers. Interesting back stories and anecdotes about each pattern, and in some cases specific fishing advic. Two thumbs up for this book, it's excellent- I'm adding a copy to my personal library.
-Flyfisher's Guide to the Big Apple- Tom Gilmore details quality trout fisheries within 150 miles of NYC, covering NY, NJ & PA. Tom is an award-winning champion of trout conservation, this is his 3rd published book, and he has 40 years experience flyfishing the tri-state area. As usual for this series of guidebooks, it's thorough & detailed, and he covers many, many fisheries. With many of you living in the big city, this book should have broad appeal. In fact he gives out so much info I'm sure this publication will make some fisherman not-so-happy! Nuff said, this is an excellent & thorough book.
-Matching Major Eastern Hatches, by Harry Ramsey- Beautifully done book with the author's deadliest ties to imitate what trout in the northeast eat on a daily basis. Ramsey is a PA guide for TCO, and he has some deadly looking flies. Serious tyers that like to explore new patterns will LOVE this book. As a nympher myself, his stonefly, caddis larva and Iso nymphs look deadly, cannot wait to tie some up and try 'em, and there are a ton of emerger, dun, pupa, adult & spinner patterns for the dry fly crowd. Very nicely done book, this guy knows his stuff.
-Flyfisher's Guide to the New England Coast- one of the latest installments in this excellent series of guide books, this one covers RI, MA, NH & ME. Game fish, bait fish, techniques & locations are all covered, and the auther Tom Keer gives you 10 of his favorite flies for these fisheries.
-Secret Flies of the Czech and Slovak Fly-Tiers- Looking for ideas for new flies? Look no further, there is a plethora of them here, with crisp photos & pattern dressings from some of the top competitive fishermen & tyers in Europe. Over 350 patterns from over 20 tyers, including dries, nymphs, wets, midges & streamers. Multilanguage book, the text is written in Czech, Slovak & English. Europeans have their own style of tying that is different from the typical American tyer, a book like this is great for helping you come up with new & more effective patterns, stuff our hard-pressured trout haven't seen yet. Excellent book.
-Tying & Fishing Tailwater Flies, by Pat Dorsey- noted CO guide & fly shop owner Dorsey is a fly designer for Umpqua and has written 2 previous books and has a DVD. Two dozen killer guide flies are presented in very clear detail, with history, great pix, pattern dressing, and specific fishing advice for every pattern presented. Includes many orignal Dorsey patterns, as well as his personal variations of proven classics. Advice from a guy like Dorsey, who plys his living on the technical & hard fished South Platte River in CO, is especially valuable because he has to consistently produce trout for his clients on a tough fishery. Dorsey is best known for his Mercury series of flies with glass beads, and he presents them here. The last chapter on organizing your tailwater fly boxes has great photos of box after box, neatly loaded with fly patterns that will make you very jealous. Nymphers seeking smaller flies for the Farmington, Croton, Delware & other hard-fished rivers with find some great stuff, and there are some dry flies too. Book is autographed. Two thumbs up, this one is going into my personal book collection.
Favorite Books:
-The Orvis Guide to Prospecting for Trout, by Tom Rosenbauer- Recently revised & updated, this was already one of the best books in print on general trout fishing strategies, techniques, fly selection, and a personal favorite of mine, and now it's even better, with new info, flies & color photos. It even has an extensive chapter on the often neglected wet flies. Most of the time on most streams, trout aren't rising, and prospecting is a necessary strategy if you want to catch trout consistently- don't be stuck when there are no hatches. Great book, in my personal Top 10.
Bestsellers:
-The Orvis Fly Fishing Guide- this is the best beginner to intermediate guide out there, bar none. In fact, just about everyone should own this book as a reference regardless of ability level, it's that good. It was recently updated with the latest info, equipment, techniques, flies and pictures. Tells you enough to take the confusion out of things, but not so much that you are overwhelmed. Much of this was written by Tom Rosenbauer, one of the best writers & fishermen out there- rarely are outdoor writers excellent writers AND excellent fishermen, but Tom is both. This book pretty much covers all facets of fly fishing. Highly recommended by me.
New DVD's:
-Czech Nymphing 101 & Related European Methods, with Steve Parrott- yet another DVD on Euro-style nymphing hot off the press, fresh on the heels of Aaron Jasper's excellent "European Nymphing" DVD. Parrot owns the Blue Quill Angler in CO, and has been into Czech/Euro type nymphing for a while now, employing the various methods on the hard-fished technical waters he calls home, such as the South Platte. Czech, Polish, French & Spanish methods are covered, as well as methodology (strike detection, hook-setting, casting, line control, etc.), equipment/gear, fly selection & line rigging, and he ties 4 weighted nymphs for the camera. Great reviews from Kirk Deter (Editor-at-Large for Field & Stream) and famous CO guide & author Landon Mayer. Now that I've personally watched it, I think this DVD is very well done, easy to follow, and well shot.
-Skagitmaster 2, Steelheading Outside the Box- The eagerly anticipated sequel to the original Skagitmaster (with Ed Ward), this one features expert steelheader Scott Howell, part of the Ed Ward Skagit crew. Learn how to fish a Skagit line & swing flies in all sorts of tough & different conditions. He even fishes on top for them. Footage was shot in Oregon & British Columbia, and he catches a bunch of wild steelhead for the camera while demonstrating techniques. This DVD is excellent- if you are a "swinger", you gotta have this one.
-European Nymphing- Techniques & Fly Tying, with Aaron Jasper- Hot off the press- Our former guide Aaron has been delving heavily into Euro style nymphing the past several years, and this DVD is a synthesis of what he's learned. Detailed clear explanations, from short leader to long leader methods, making the leaders, special knots, leading the flies, rod angle, etc, it's all covered. He also shows you how to tie 4 of his most productive weighted flies, including 2 woven patterns. Learn how to do it from someone who truly has mastered the genre. Shot in High Def from multiple camera angles (some in slow motion), this one is top shelf. Aaron is an exceptional fisherman who fishes close to 250 days a year, and this is the best DVD on the subject to date. Buy it, study it, practice it, and catch a bunch more fish than normal. Nuff said.
-Trout Bum 4- Jurassic Lake- Join Andre Brun in the latest Trout Bum installment. Watch them catch some of the largest rainbow trout in the world out of Jurassic Lake (aka Lago Strobel) high up in the Patagonian mountains on the Chilean border. 10-15# fish are commonplace (with fish available into the 20 pound+ range, maybe bigger!), and you can catch them right from shore. They also fish a nearby "secret" stream where they stalk 10lb+ trout with dries. Check it out!
-Searching for Steelhead- Michigan steelhead guru Kevin Feenstra has specialized in swinging streamers to catch steelhead in the Great Lakes tributaries, and this is the new Bible for that approach. Kevin is a very innovative fly tyer, and his steelhead streamers are both unique & deadly. Great explanation both verbally & visually of how to do it properly from A to Z, including proper lines/sink-tips, flies (including tying instruction for some of his personal go-to's), seasons, small rivers/big rivers, etc. This is a very well done DVD and I rate it highly.
-Czech Nymph- Johan Klingberg and the Czech National Fly Fishing Team show you how to rig & execute the deadly "Czech Nymphing" technique. The Czechs are some of the best in the world at competitive fly fishing, and they will show you also how to build special leaders, favorite flies, and how to tie some of them. These methods are equally applicable in the USA. Shot on multiple rivers in Europe, you don't want to miss this one.
-New DVD Title's- I've added quite a few new titles, with more to come- "The Source" (Tazmania, New Zealand & Iceland), "Bugs of the Underworld, "A Kid's Guide to Fly Fishing", "Fly Fisherman's Foundation 40 Fly Patterns", "Flies That Catch Fish- Volume 2- Nymphs & Wet Flies", "Casts That Catch Fish", "Metalhead ", and still more to come. Picking out the newer, hot-sellers that are getting rave reviews, these make great presents, not to mention are nice to get for yourself!
-Rivers of a Lost Coast- New DVD chronicles the legendary west coast angler Bill Schaadt (considered by many to be one of the best fly fishermen that ever lived, and the subject of a 1974 Sports Illustrated article titled "The World's Best"), and the coastal California fly fishing community he was part of- a competitive and often ungentlemanly one. Going back to the 40's & 50's, this DVD uses a combination of old photos, never before seen video footage, headlines and interviews with legendary anglers such as Lani Waller, Russelll Chatham, Hal Janssen and others. Schaadt was a Russian River legend, catching salmon & steelhead when nobody could. By the 70's & 80's, these fisheries were already on the decline for a variety of reasons, and this DVD is a fascinating account of both Schaadt's world, and the degredation of great wild fisheries. A small book is included with the DVD. Finally got to watch a good chunk of the movie, and it really is excellent.
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Thursday
Cloudy with this morning, high 66, low 54, 60% chance of AM showers/afternoon scattered T-storms today. Long Range Forecast: highs 60's-70's, lows 50's.
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THURSDAY REPORT:
We are privately stocking 1,600 rainbows in the Housy on Friday 5/20- a big thanks to all of you who donated money to put these nice fish in and improve the fishing. We sell raffle tickets year 'round to raise & for spring & fall stockings. Interestingly enough, the DEP documented these very same fish successfully spawing in Housy tribs, with "abundant young of the year rainbows" sampled by them last year, and they said it was from our Spring spawning 'Bows (the state fish are fall spawners).
We are bringing Davy Wotton back for a Wet Fly/Euro-Nymphing clinic on May 14-15, see top of Comments in for more details- still have some openings, we almost full.
Rainbow Trout Stocking Donations- It's that time of year again, we are looking for donations to fund our Spring '11 Rainbow Trout Stocking in May- our goal is to raise enough money to stock 2,000 nice sized fish. Any size donation is appreciated, and we will also be selling $20 raffle tickets for various prizes such as guided fishing trips, a $500 store gift certificate, a Hardy Marksman 9' #5 rod, and a Sage fly reel.
Update:
A friend forwarded me a DEP report- electroshocking revealed abundant reproduction of rainbow trout in 8 Housy tribs, the result of our privately stocked trout! (State stocked rainbows are fall spawners) Amazing & very cool.
We are STOCKED UP with Greys rods- lots of the new 2011 XF2 Streamflex rods & the XF2+ rods (9.5' rods that stow a 6" extension in the handle, it converts them to a 10 footer in seconds without unstringing your rod! Cool). Check out all the specialized (and very reasonably priced) 10'-11' models for Euro & regular nymphing- they also make KILLER wet fly/soft-hackle rods too. Also the new XF2 that replaces the super popular X-Flites. The eagerly anticipated Hardy Zenith & Proaxis rods will be trickling in over the next month or so.
We are back open 7 days a week now that the fishing season is in full swing. We are doing our private stocking of 1,600 rainbows next Friday, 5/27 (we had to move it from this Friday because the rain muddied up the ground and we can't get the stocking truck in there). Caddis are hatching well, it's been green/olive ones so far, but you should see tan/brown ones (#14-16) join the fray this week. Rain last night is slowly pushing the flow up, as of this morning it was still fishable with 2+ feet of clarity and slowly rising, this may well change as the day progresses, we will keep you posted. Nymphing has been the most consistent tactic of late, but there are fish rising to Caddis if you look around. Overcast weather and the low light levels it brings creates great conditions for both streamer fishing and Caddis hatches. Make sure to fish Caddis pupa patterns, esp. in the mornings when they are active & hatching. You get a second shot at the Caddis when they return to egg-lay in the evenings. Lots of good reports the past several weeks, the fishing has truly been good to excellent for many anglers (both guided trips & also those fishing on their own) who are flexible & show the trout what they want. Nymphing with stones, Princes & Caddis patterns has been the best producer of late. Housy was stocked on 4/26 with 9,000 trout. We have been successfully fishing from our rafts, it's a great way to do the Housy in the spring. Local streams/rivers/brooks are are in nice shape, and represent an alternative to the Housy for those who prefer smaller waters. Some nice sized holdover browns & bows have been showing up this spring, and with the 9,000 fresh stockers, catch rates are of course jumping up. Local smaller streams include Furnace Brook, the Blackberry, Macedonia Brook, the Naugatuck, Kent Falls, and some others. Check out our Davy Wotton Clinic on May 14-15- see top of Comments for more details & sign up while we have some openings left, it is almost full now. Lots of cool new fly patterns from Umpqua, Rainy's and Solitude. Make sure to print out a 2011 fishing license off the internet, as we do not have a license machine. Check out the 2011 Greys rods, almost all of the new XF2 Streamflex series is in the store, including the Plus series that converts from a 9.5' dry fly rod to a 10 foot nymphing/wet fly rod- very impressive, you have to see & cast them to fully appreciate this feature. Stop by the store to check out new products (rods, reels, books, DVD's), get new waders/boots, stock up on flies or tying materials, or to just get out of the house and talk fly fishing with us. The Naugatuck C&R area is stocked & producing well. Every week we have more cool new products in, so stop by and get ready for the 2011 season. The Greys XF2 Streamflex rods are garnering a fair amount of customer attention of late, esp. the 10-11' #2-5 models aimed at nymphers- if you like to Euro-style nymph, check out the 11' models in #3 & #4, they are awesome, as well as the ultralite 10' #2. I've become a big fan of 11 footers for trout & steelhead in the past couple years. Housy fishermen should focus on nymphing the pools for their best chance of hooking up, afternoons are the most comfortable & prime to head out. Purchase your 2011 fishing license online or at a town hall, we don't have a license machine. Fishingwise, afternoons are the best time to head out in the early spring. Stop by the store and check out all the new DVD's & books I've added, we have quite a few titles now. This time of the year, don't start before mid/late morning or so, give the water time to warm up a degree or two- this will increase your chances of success, and it will be more comfortable for you. Depending upon the day, nymphing with Stones, Scuds, Egg flies, bigger Pheasant Tails (looks like Hendrickson nymph or Early Stone), Caddis larva, San Juan Worms, or Princes is generally the ticket. When fishing streamers, play around with colors, as the "hot" pattern can vary from day to day. As always, Stoneflies & Princes are never bad fly choices on this river, and that holds true 12 months a year.
Harold commissioned CD Clarke to paint the covered bridge - he owns a couple of his paintings and they are spectacular - we are selling this painting at the store.
If you fish below the TMA - please do not park on private property - we are getting complaints from the land-owners - and they will shut down access and stocking priviliges if fishermen keep trespassing and parking on their properties.
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We stock all the materials available to tie the infamous "Vladi Worm" for sale in the store (pink "latex", pre-bent Daiichi 1870 hooks, lead wire, Maxima Chameleon tippet & proper threads). We also carry a pretty good selection of other materials, tungsten beads, lead wire, "hot spot" materials, hooks, back materials, underribs, etc., that are orientated toward tying weighted patterns for Euro (Czech, Polish, French, Spanish) style nymphing.
We are trying to get the DEP to extend the TMA to include the section of the Housy from the Rt 7/Rt 4 Cornwall bridge down to at least North Kent, if not all the way down to the center of Kent. It's going to take a lot of angler support to accomplish this, the DEP has had mixed feeling about this in the past, but they seem to be starting to warm up to the idea. There is a trememdous amount of ideal trout water in that section, and it would be awesome to see it managed & stocked to it's potential.
Once again, poachers were active last year as they have been the past few seasons, both in & out of the TMA. They have been keeping fish in the TMA (esp. in Horse Hole) & spin fishing in the Fly Fishing Only section (esp. in Cellar Hole & the Park), as well as fishing down below the TMA without licenses and keeping more than their limit of fish- without a license, all fish kept are illegal. We need all of you to be proactive and call in violations, the DEP needs to receive calls from people other than us calling all the time from the shop. The TIPS (Turn in Poacher) hotline # is 1-800-842-4357, the last 4 digits spell out the word "HELP" in case you forget the number. And for the record, all calls made to the hotline are logged and they look at the data each year to see where they need to beef up enforcement. While they are way underfunded & understaffed in terms of Conservation Officers, they will make every effort to dispatch one if at all possible. Get as much info as possible- number of people, general description, vehicle & plate #. Take a pic of them & their car if possible with a digital camera or even cell phone. If we get some more of them nailed, the word will get out that you don't want to poach on the Housy. This is a problem we can all help to improve with a simple phone call.
A note on etiquette. In recent seasons, we are seeing more and more fishermen who crowd others and do not seem to be aware of proper etiquette. Nobody likes it when they have a big chunk of water to themselves and somebody steps in 20-30 feet away, and starts casting to the fish they are working on. When you approach a piece of water that another fisherman is occupying, ask yourself how far you would want someone to stay away if you were there first- try to stay at least a cast and a half away if possible. And DO NOT EVER throw to the same fish or water that another person is fishing, even if you can reach it. That is a HUGE no-no, do not be surprised if you get yelled at or get your ass kicked if you do that to someone- I'll have no sympathy for you. The Housy is a big river, and there is plenty of water for people to fish, even on a popular weekend. If the spot you want to fish is occupied, don't crowd that person, just go elsewhere. Believe me, there are TONS of fish (and big ones) all over the upper and lower TMA's, and outside of them also. Don't fish Corner Hole, Sand Hole, Cellar Hole, etc. on a busy Saturday at prime time and expect to have solitude- the easy access spots almost always hold the most fishermen. The Upper TMA is somewhere in the vicinity of 10 miles or so, and the lower one is about 2.5 miles, giving us all plenty of water to spread the pressure out in. Just make sure to practice courtesy and common sense, and treat other fishermen as you would like to be treated, and it will be a better experience for everyone.
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Lost and Found:
Lost on Shepaug 5/5, Blue Thomas & Thomas 5wt 9ft Mdl WL-905-4 with Lamson Hard Alox reel V2 w/ 30 ft Sink tip line Ser # on Rod 131228. Please contact Richard Heffernon (860) 868-7023.
