Cornwall Bridge

Take us with you everywhere — download our app!

Click this link to get our app on your mobile, we have our famous daily river reports, upcoming events, water flow, our facebook posts, directions to the store, even an album where you can add your own photos.

Water Level 6/16/13- 3,2500 cfs & dropping fast per USGS-
Water Temperature Low 60's in AM, typically rises during the day
Water Clarity About 1.5 feet & increasing
Release Schedule Natural Flow (constant/steady release, no flow manipulations)
Current Hatches -Zebra/Alder Caddis
-Caddis- olive/green, tan/brown
-March Browns/Gray Fox
-Sulfurs
-Light Cahills
-Olives (cloudy days)
-Isonychia
-Golden Stones
















BEST BETS:
TROUT-
There are PLENTY of nice, fat holdovers in the Housy in 2013, with another 9,ooo from the state stocked (6-16") in early May.

DRIES:
-Zebra/Alder Caddis #10-14- use Goddard Caddis, big Elk Hairs, Stimulators, etc.
-Sulfurs #14-18- emergers & duns
-Light Cahills #14
-X-Caddis #14-18- olive, tan
-Emergent/Cripple Caddis #16- olive, tan
-Henryville Caddis #14-18
-Corn Fed Caddis (CDC) #16- tan, olive
-Emergent Sparkle Pupa #14-16- tan, olive/green, brown/yellow
-Elk Hair Caddis #14-18- tan, olive, brown
-March Brown #10-12- emergers & duns
-Isonychia #8-12
-Rusty Spinner #12-14
-Parachute Adams #12-18
-Stimulator #6-14

NYMPHS & WETS:
-Stoneflies #6-14- golden/yellow, brown
-Double Bead King Stone #8- golden, black
-Rubber Leg Stonefly #6-8- various colors
-Zebra/Alder Caddis pupa #12
-Hunchback 2-Tone Sulfur Nymph #16
-Prince Nymph #8-18
-Caddis Pupa- various #14-16- tan/brown, olive/green
-Nitro Caddis Pupa #16- tan
-Deep Sparkle Pupa #14-16- green, ginger
-Z-Wing Caddis #16- green
-Buckskin Caddis #16
-Caddis Larva #10-16- olive, green
-3 Dollar Dip #16- brown
-Crystal Serendipity (pearl) #16
-March Brown Nymph #10-12
-Fox Squirrel Nymph #8-12
-Isonychia Nymph #8-12
-Czech Catnip #10 (George Daniels pattern)- olive, chartreuse
-BH Lightning Bug #14- pearl
-Twenty Incher Stonefly #8-12
-Pheasant Tail #12-18
-Tungsten Hot Wired Prince #14-
yellow/green
-BH Hare's Ear #10-16.
-San Juan Worm #8-14- pink, red, brown
-Micro Mayfly- olive, brown- #14-16



STREAMERS:
When in doubt, white is great year 'round streamer color on the Housy under a variety of water & light conditions. Black and brown can both be very good in the Spring.

-Woolly Buggers #2-12- white, black, brown, olive, olive/black, brown/yellow, and other colors too
-Barr's Slump Buster #6- olive, rust, natural, black
-Home Invaders #2-6- various colors
-Yellow Marabou Muddler #4-8
-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
-Zoo Cougar #2-4- yellow
-Zonkers #2-8- white, natural
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Circus Peanut #4- olive, white, black
-Bread 'N Butter Bugger #4-8
-Muddlers #2-12
-Conehead Madonna #4- yellow, white, olive. black
-Clouser Minnow #2-6- various colors
-Bob's Dangerous Darter #4


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.
-Chartruese Clouser Minnow #2-6- maybe the deadliest Housy Smallmouth fly of all
-Baby Smallmouth Clouser Minnow #2-6- very effective in clear water
-Large Articulated streamers such as Circus Peanuts, etc. #2-4 (4-6" long)
-Crayfish patterns #4-10- Crazy Dad, Clouser Crayfish, Near-Nuff Crayfish, Mini-Dad, etc.
-Topwaters- poppers, sliders, deer hair bugs #2-8
-Helgramite Nymphs #2-6
-Larger Nymphs #2-10- Hellgrammite, Bitch Creek, Stoneflies, Princes, Fox Squirrels, Rubber Legs, Halfback, etc
**************************************************************************************

Pike:
Large streamers, the bigger the better-

-Bill's Figure 8 Sucker/Perch 3/0-
various colors
-Simm's Slugo 1/0- various colors
-Barry's Pike Fly 3/0- red & white
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Clouser Minnow 2/0- chart/white



Wednesday 6/19:
The Housatonic River has made some BIG water drops- down almost 3,500cfs in 3 days, and still dropping fast. We should be under 2,000cfs (fishable for wading anglers below that level) for Friday, and fishable for sure for this weekend (after 4 previous unfishable ones)- finally!!! Cool nights & mild temps have kept water temps great, and the Zebra/Alder Caddis will continue to hatch well into July. Blind fishing near the banks with the big #10-12 dries we use to match them can be deadly- it's one of the few times you can blind fish the Housy with dries and do well. Most of the local smaller streams in brooks are in great shape right now, they tend to do best when we have plenty of rain. Looks like we are finally catching a break from the rain for a while, all I see in the 10 Day Forecast is a couple 30% chances of isloated T-Storms- standard Summer fare that usually amount to nothing. If you have some sort of boat or watercraft, local ponds are a blast for bass and other warmwater species in the Summertime- lakes & ponds are fishable regardless water levels in the rivers. Remember that even during moments when there is too much water in the Housatonic River, there are usually many other option for fishing & guided fishing trips. As the Housy comes back down to normal flows, this extra water & cooler temps should extend the trout season by a few weeks, and the Zebra/Alder Caddis usually hatch about into mid July. During a window of fishability Wed 6/5 thru Fri 6/7 on the Housy, we had excellent fishing on top throwing various large dries near the banks, where the current is slower & the trout are holding. Zebra/Alder Caddis, March Browns, big Stoneflies, and Iso's have all been out. Those 4 bugs all tend to be most active & available near the river edges anyway, and elevated flows also pushes many trout near the banks too. Of all the local brooks/small streams, Macedonia Brook in Kent drops & clears the fastest, even right after a heavy rain. Elevated flows & Zebra Caddis both tend to pull fish in near the banks, especially in sections where bushes border faster water. The Caddis hang out in the bushes & constantly go back & forth between the bushes and the water on the edge of the river, giving trout the opportunity to eat them. This is one of the few hatches on the Housatonic River in CT that you can successfully blind fish with dry flies. It's a big bug, the hatch duration is long, and the Caddis end up frequently on the water. Win-win for the fish & fishermen, not to much for the Caddis, Lol.

Housy was stocked with 9,000 browns & bows on 5/1 & 5/2, spread from the Park (Corner Hole, Monument, Birches, etc.) upstream to Push-Em-Up. Combined with holdovers already in the river, that 6 mile stretch probably has a fish density of 2,000+ trout per mile at the moment, not bad at all.

We are soliciting doantions for our Fall (September) 2013 HRO private stocking of rainbow trout, please help out if you can. These fish will average 14-18", with a few topping 20". It's expensive, and every donation helps, be it large or small. Thanks in advance. The CT DEEP has documented them successfully reproducing in quite a few Housy tributaries (unlike most state stocked Rainbows, our fish are true Spring spawners). We increase fishing opportunities on the Housy by stocking these trout both below the TMA/C&R area, as well as in the upper section of the TMA where the state does not stock. OSI (Open Space Institute) manages our “Friends of the Housatonic” non-profit organization that all donations go into for stocking funds, and then they cut us a check when it’s time to stock. Please help improve the quality of the trout fishing on the Housatonic by donating, and remember this is a legitimate tax write-off due to our non-profit.

Make sure you purchase 2013 CT fishing license before your trip, as we DO NOT have a license machine in our store. You can purchase online- we have a license link on our homepage (on left sidebar), or just Google "purchase CT fishing license". Also,Mondays thru Thursdays most (but not all) Town Halls in CT sell licenses.

More clinics under "Events" that you should check out- "Davy Wotton Midge & Wet Fly Clinic" on October 5th-6th, see "Events" for details, and/or call the store at 860-672-1010 to sign up or ask question.

Fishpond has an AWESOME new Sling Pack that came out recently, it's weatherproof, large capacity (795 cubic inches) & super comfortable. It also spins out of your way flush against your back in a jiffy. See "Favorite/New Products" below for more details.

August 2012 electroshocking/sampling by the CT DEEP indicated about a typical/normal number of holdover trout. Despite the relatively hot, dry Summer they still found some very nice fish into the 20"+ range, both browns & bows. Interestingly, the browns seem to weather the Summer better than the bows last year. Despite rumors to the contrary, some strains of rainbows have higher temperature tolerances than browns do. I believe that Redband Rainbow Trout are the most thermally tolerant trout in the world, thriving in water that commonly runs 70-85 degrees. *******************************************
*******************************************
*******************************************
Two newer 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- "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.

**************************************************************************************
You can now redeem Amex CC points when shopping on our Amazon store online.
**************************************************************************************
New & Favorite Products for June:

-Lamson Speedster reels- the latest offering from Lamson-Waterworks is a larger diamter, extra-large arbor, narrower reel that picks up line FAST. It features their unique, conical, silky-smooth drag, and a handle mounted a little closer to the reels' center to further speed up line retrieval. This reel should kick ass for fish that take out a lot of line- Steelhead, Tuna, Salmon, bigger trout, etc. Also great when you are moving from spot to spot frequently- it will save time reeling in your line. I've always leaned toward larger diameter reels for their superior line pick-up & more consistent drag performanc, and I've been a Lamson-Waterworks fan & user for a long time, so this one definitely gets a thumbs-up from me.

Fishpond Westwater Sling Pack-
Recently got in the new Fishpond Westwater Sling pack- they are awesome! Spins around behind you & stays tight to your back so it's completely out of the way, and then you just spin back in front for easy access. At 795 cubic inches it holds a lot, with water resistant zippers & fabric to keep you dry in the rain. Outer zip pocket, rod tube staps & D-ring (for net, etc.). Inside there are 2 pockets. Super-functional, extremely well-designed, user-friendly product. Two thumbs up.

-TFO BVK Converter Kit- turns an 8' #3 BVK into a 10' #3 Euro Nymphing rod!- Pretty neat- This two section adapter kit replaces the butt section of their regular 8' #3 4 piece BVK rod. Added on, it creates a 5 piece , 10' 3 weight fly rod, perfect for Euro Nymphing. As the dust has settled, most serious Euro Nymphers are using 3 weights, it's become the 9' 5 weight of Euro rods, and 10' is a versatile length for that type of fishing. Cost is only $100, and added onto the 8' #3 BVK, you end up with 2 rods - one shorter length perfect for small streams & brooks, another longer one for specialized Euro Nymphing.

-Redington Topo 9' #5 outfit complete- Looking to get a basic trout set-up but don't want to break the bank? For under $200, you cannot beat this- a 9' 5 weight 4 piece rod, large arbor disc-drag reel, Rio fly line, backing, leader, fly box, 6 flies, line clippers, spool of tippet, and rod/reel carrying case. Outfit comes all set up, ready to go- just tie a fly on. This is an excellent quality, good looking combo, and will serve both the beginner as well as someone with experience looking to get back into the sport without without spending a small fortune. I think this is the best deal out there in an affordable kit, and it has great extras you don't normally find in a combo such as this. Two thumbs up. -Torrey

-New Sage ONE Two-Handed fly rods, now in stock- Sage ONE Two-Handed & Switch rods are available for you Spey guys. These replace the Z-Axis, and they use Sage's latest cutting-edge Konnetic technology for light weight & truer tracking/accurate casting. I personally cast one recently, and while I'm not a great Speycaster, it was responsive and an easy rod to cast. Even on the grass, the 12' 6" #8 rod had 100' of running line and a 30'+ Scandi head rocketting thru the guides. Impressive. They are doing 11' 6" #4-8 Switch rods, as well as true Speys from a 12' 6" #5 up to a 15' #10.

-New Sage Circa slow action fly rods- The brand new Sage Circa series of slow action premium fly rods (from 7' 9" #2 thru 8' 9" #5) recently won BOTH the International Fly Tackle Dealer show Best Fly Rod & Best of Show awards. If you enjoy fishing dries at short to mid-range, s
pring creeks, or small streams, this may be your dream rod. This is the first truly slow action Sage I've ever seen, and it excels at precise casts & handling lighter tippets.

-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 price. 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 on brightly colored bodies, or for tags on the butts of salmon flies. Great stuff, I have all the best colors in stock. Don't neglect to try on some of your Steelhead nymphs & flies, hint, hint.....

-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. Got myself a 7 Plus in the Fall of '11 to use on my switch rods (11' #7 TFO Deer Creek Switch & 11' 9" #7 Sage TCX Switch) for Great Lakes steelhead, that combo whipped up on a bunch of big fish and performed flawlessly, landing salmon to 30+ pounds. The new "Finatic" version of these reels 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 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.
*******************************************
*******************************************

Torrey's Book & DVD Choices for June:

New Books/Calendars:

-Long Flies- Streamers, Bucktails & Other "Big Fish" Flies, by Gary Borger- I've been waiting for this book to come out, and it didn't disappoint. The 3rd installation in Gary's excellent Fly Fishing Book Series, this one covers streamers- history, various fishing/presentation techniques, rigging, tackle, leaders, and a wide variety of patterns (including many Borger originals) w/ color photos of them. Gary is just about my all-time favorite writer- his out of the box yet always practical thinking & approach has improved my fishing over the years, and his writing is always top-notch & interesting. He is a thinker, but he doesn't over-complicate things. Just like his other books, this one is full of relevant anecdotes that keep things entertaining. If you want to improve your streamer fishing & tying, you owe it to yourself to pick up a copy. Two thumbs up. -Torrey

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 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.

-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.


-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.

-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.
.

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:

-"Skagit Master 4- Cracking the Code, featuring Tom Larimer"- the long awited 4th volume covering the Great Lakes is finally out. Tom Larimer hosts all segments, fishing with a handful of different guides on a variety of different types of tributaries. Just like the other DVD's in this series, this is all about swinging flies for Steelhead on two-handed rods. Part entertainment, part informational, you Great Lakes Steelheaders will find this one much more applicable to our Steelhead fisheries. Some great footage showing you how to approach various situations, from casting angles, mends, flies, rods, lines, sink-tips, etc. Good stuff. This is a 2 DVD set, 140 minutes.

-"Streamers on Steroids", with Kelly Galloup- The subtititle is "The next generation of articulated streamers, tying five Kelly Galloup original flies with irresistable action." He is the man when it comes to streamers, with one book on the subject, and this will be his 5th DVD on that topic. Kelly shows you some of his latest creations, including a deadly articulated Crayfish fly, the "Nancy P". Also his "Barely Legal", "Tips Up", "Boogie Man", and the "Pearl Necklace". Each pattern has some unique attribute(s). 1 hour 45 minutes in length, shot in HD. All of Kelly's DVD's are excellent, he has more covering nymphing also.

-The Dead Drift: Indicator Nymphing Simplified & Perfect, w/ Aaron Jasper- new release in late January '13, this is his best DVD to date. Thoroughly covers the how, when, why & where of Indy nymphing. Shot on several different fisheries, with a buch of footage done on the West Branch of the Delaware in NY/PA, and also rivers out West in OR & MT. You get to see him catch a lot of nice trout while demonstrating & explaining his techniques. He shows you how to build a simple but highly effective leader system, and how to modify it for different sets of conditions. Shot in High-Def, he did a great job on this one. Highly recommended.

-Midge Magic Fishing & Tying DVD's with Davy Wotton- the latest DVD release from Davy, whom we have come to the shop every Spring and conduct various clinics (this year I'll probably have him do a full day on Midge fishing). Now living & guiding in Arkansas on the White River system, Davy Wotton is probably most famous for his wet fly fishing & his "Wet Fly Ways" DVD (superb & a best seller), but he is also highly skilled at Midge fishing, and it's the other favorite of his. All trout streams contain Midges (and he loosely uses the term Midge to refer to small flies in general), and learning how to fish them from top to bottom can only help your catching. Disc #1 is on fishing, dics #2 is on tying. You can buy them individually, or as a complete set at a $10 savings. Techniques are shown for slow/flat water, moving water, and deep/fast water. He details how to construct relatively simple special leaders, how to rig up, and how to approach the fish. The tying DVD show 8 patterns, most of which are his own simple but deadly creations. Midging is arguably some of the most technical trout fishing there is, and I think he did a great job tackling the topic. This will help you up your game. Two thumbs up from me (Torrey).

-Low & Clear- totally new DVD, this one has already received all sorts of awards & kudos. Here's the press release on it:
"During a winter flyfishing trip to Canada, two old friends, J.T. Van Zandt and Alex "Xenie" Hall, learn they've have grown apart in more ways than one. J.T., the thoughtful even-keeled son of a songwriting legend believes there's more to fishing than catching fish. Short-tempered Xenie, a "firewood salesman," sees it differently and fishes like it's a race against the clock. Their different approaches to fishing and life emerge and clash on the snowy river banks and damp hotel rooms of British Columbia in this true story of a friendship stretched to the breaking point. An exploration of life in the disappearing wilderness of the West, Low & Clear unfolds with moments of humor and pathos, success and failure, as J.T. and Xenie find themselves on a fishing trip that could be their last."

-Skagit Master 3- Steelhead Flies Beyond the Books- another long-awaited release, this one focuses on the fly patterns rather than casting, approach or rigging. Out of the box modern Steelhead flies with names like The Grizzly Bear, Reverse Marabou, Orange Blossom, Fish Taco, Underachiever, Ska-opper, and of course Ed Ward's now infamous Intruder are all tied. Tiers such as Hannah Belford (Simms poster girl), Tom Larimer, Eric Neufeld, Jeff Hickman, Ed Hepp, Scott Howell, Ed Ward & Jerry French are all featured. This DVD also shows you how each fly swims in the water, and explores how light & dark flies appear in various water & light conditions. Filmed in the Pacific Northwest & British Columbia, these patterns have relevance to Steelheaders in the Great Lakes too- they are applicable anywhere you want to swing flies for them on a two-handed rod. $1 from each DVD sold goes directly to the Western Rivers Conservancy. I'm sure this will prove to be top notch, just like the first 2 DVD's in this series, they have been best sellers for us. -Torrey

-Heart of the Driftless- New DVD, all about the great fishing for wild trout in the Driftless area of Wisconsin, a palce with a veritable cornicopia of high quality little trout streams. The SW corner of the state had no glacial drift, and the result is a plethora of spring creeks/limestoners, often boasting trout densities of several thousand trout per mile (and these are mostly narrow streams), with some topping out as high as 8-10,000 per mile! This world class trout fishing was filmed by master cinematographer Robert Thompson, and reviews for this DVD have been glowing- check out the 3 minute trailer on the internet. A little over an hour of footage, and also includes another 1 1/2 hours of bonus footage. The trailer looked excellent, I don't think you will be disappointed.

-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, and it is 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 an overall great "vibe".

-Off the Grid-This release from Beattie Outdoor Productions (they did the award-winning DVD "Nervous Water, a best-seller for us) is available now, and it's very good. 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 DVD with top-notch cinematography, and featuring Spey Casting hottie April Vokey- she is reason enough to buy this DVD! 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 highly effective system of fishing, perfected in Europe for hundreds of years over wild brown trout, 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.

-Czech Nymphing 101 & Related European Methods, with Steve Parrott-Parrot co-owns the Blue Quill Angler in CO with Pat Dorsey, 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. He 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. Great cinematography, and highly informative, this one nicely blends instruction with entertainment.

-Rivers of a Lost Coast- Chronicles the legendary west coast angler Bill Schaadt (considered by many to be one of the best Steelhead/Salmon 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 else 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. This movie is excellent, I was quite impressed.

**************************************************************************************
Wednesday weather:
56 degrees & sunny this morning, high 72, low 44, sunny today. Ten Day Forecast: highs 70's to low/mid 80's, lows 50's to low 60's. **************************************************************************************
WEDNESDAY REPORT:

Please donate & help us out on our HRO private rainbow trout stocking, every little bit helps- we are shooting for a BIG September stocking now ($10,000 goal), didn't raise enough money in time to do this Spring, and the flood rains the past several weeks sealed the deal. Stocking is expensive, it costs us a minumum of $5,000 to do it, and some of the bigger stockings have run us up to $10,000. The quality of the rainbows we stock is top-notch- they are big, fat fish averaging 14-18", sometimes even 20"+, and they fight like a smaller steelhead or a Delaware River bow. Unlike the state stocked rainbows, these are true Spring spawners, and as such have been successfully reproducing and adding some wild bows to the fishery. Pretty cool I think. But, we need your donations to support this, any size is welcome & greatly appreciated. We normally stock 2x per year, both Spring & Fall to improve the quality of the fishery on the Housatonic, and extend out the fishing area.
Wednesday 6/19:
The Housatonic River has made some BIG water drops- down almost 3,500cfs in 3 days, and still dropping fast. We should be under 2,000cfs (fishable for wading anglers below that level) for Friday, and fishable for sure for this weekend (after 4 previous unfishable ones)- finally!!! Cool nights & mild temps have kept water temps great, and the Zebra/Alder Caddis will continue to hatch well into July. Blind fishing near the banks with the big #10-12 dries we use to match them can be deadly- it's one of the few times you can blind fish the Housy with dries and do well. Most of the local smaller streams in brooks are in great shape right now, they tend to do best when we have plenty of rain. Looks like we are finally catching a break from the rain for a while, all I see in the 10 Day Forecast is a couple 30% chances of isloated T-Storms- standard Summer fare that usually amount to nothing. If you have some sort of boat or watercraft, local ponds are a blast for bass and other warmwater species in the Summertime- lakes & ponds are fishable regardless water levels in the rivers. Remember that even during moments when there is too much water in the Housatonic River, there are usually many other option for fishing & guided fishing trips. As the Housy comes back down to normal flows, this extra water & cooler temps should extend the trout season by a few weeks, and the Zebra/Alder Caddis usually hatch about into mid July. During a window of fishability Wed 6/5 thru Fri 6/7 on the Housy, we had excellent fishing on top throwing various large dries near the banks, where the current is slower & the trout are holding. Zebra/Alder Caddis, March Browns, big Stoneflies, and Iso's have all been out. Those 4 bugs all tend to be most active & available near the river edges anyway, and elevated flows also pushes many trout near the banks too. Of all the local brooks/small streams, Macedonia Brook in Kent drops & clears the fastest, even right after a heavy rain. Elevated flows & Zebra Caddis both tend to pull fish in near the banks, especially in sections where bushes border faster water. The Caddis hang out in the bushes & constantly go back & forth between the bushes and the water on the edge of the river, giving trout the opportunity to eat them. This is one of the few hatches on the Housatonic River in CT that you can successfully blind fish with dry flies. It's a big bug, the hatch duration is long, and the Caddis end up frequently on the water. Win-win for the fish & fishermen, not to much for the Caddis, Lol.


As Housy continues to drop & clear, I would continue t0 target current seams near the banks with streamers (black, white, yellow) & bigger nymphs (Princes, Stoneflies, pink SJ Worms), and with Zebra/Alder Caddis is hatching you can also blind fish the big matching #10-12 dries. I have TONS of cool new items in the store- new Euro-nymphing rods (at $219.95!), flies, Simms DeYoung T-shirts, books/DVD's, etc, so stop by. The state stocked 9,000 browns & bows from 6"-16" in early May. Combined with holdovers already in the river, that probably puts the fish density for the 6 mile stretch from the Park upstream to Push-Em-Up at 2,000+ trout per mile, not bad at all. No excuses now! Some colorful, big 18-20"+ holdover browns & bows continue to mix into the catch here & there. We have plenty of weighted conehead Buggers, they will normally get you deep enough to catch fish without the need for split shot or a sinking line/leader.

Don't automatically wade out up to your waist when you approach the river, start close and fish your way out or you may spook many of the catchable trout (especially if flows are up). During periods of higher flows (not uncommon on the Housy), it often pushes many of the trout in relatively close to the bank, sometimes literally to within inches of it.

The state completed their electroshocking/trout sampling in August 2012, and the results were encouraging- they sampled moderate to high numbers of trout in major thermal refuge areas (tributary mouths/spring holes), with low numbers away from those spots. About what I would expect after a hot Summmer when most of the trout migrated to cool water sources with more oxygen, and had not spread back out all over the river. Overall they felt it was a relatively normal sampling in terms of the number of trout- and that is good news after the relatively warm to hot Summer & low water we experienced (although we didn't get as hot or dry extremes in weather as many other nearby places did). And remember, in addition to the holdovers already in the river, the state stocked 9,000 more in September '12, and another 9,000 this April. We also privately stocked 800+ good-sized rainbows last Fall.

Please purchase your 2013 fishing license online or at a town hall, as we don't have a license machine in the store. 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.

***********************************

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 in recent years, both in & out of the TMA, although thankfully extra DEP enforcement in 2011 & 2012 (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.
**************************************
Lost and Found:
Simms wading staff - lost in the Park in April 2012. Contact : Ed Mickiewicz at (860) 749-8713
*******************************************
-3/31/13- Lost in the lower parking lot in the Park (near the upper boat ramp that is blocked off with posts), one super-thin clear plastic Orvis fly box with 100+ nymphs in it. If found, please contact Steve Feinberg at 914-953-8822, or drop off at our store.

-Lost in late June '12, one Abel fly reel, in the vicinity of Push-'Em-Up, probably in the Parking Lot. Customer is offering a reward, it has sentimental value to him. Call shop at 860-672-1010 and get yourself some good Karma!

-Lost in Housy during April '12 float, somewhere between Cellar Hole & the Park, one Lamson Litespeed reel w/ green line on it, contact Steve Yoos at 770-349-9182.

Bull's Bridge

Water Level 4/14/13- Medium to High (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 Low to Mid 40s in AM, rising during the day
Water Clarity Clear
Release Schedule 2,310cfs per USGS- flows may fluctuate below the Powerhouse
Current Hatches -Early Black Stoneflies
-Henricksons- not yet, but anytime now
BEST BETS:
TROUT-

DRIES:
-Parachute Adams #12-16
-Dark Caddis #12-16 (for Early Stones)

NYMPHS & WETS:
-Stoneflies #6-14- golden/yellow, brown
-Rubber Leg Stonefly #6-8- various colors
-Twenty Incher Stonefly #8-12
-Prince Nymph #8-18
-Pheasant Tail #12-16
-Early Stoneflies #12-16- use black and brown nymphs
-Caddis Larva #12-16- olive, green
-Tungsten Hot Wired Prince #14-
yellow/green
-BH Hare's Ear #10-18.
-San Juan Worm #8-14- pink, red, brown
-Egg Flies #10-18- yellow, orange, pink
-Scuds #12-16- olive, gray, tan
-Micro Mayfly- olive, brown- #14-16
-Fox Squirrel Nymph #8-12
-BH Lightning Bug #14- pearl
-Czech Catnip #10 (George Daniels pattern)- olive, chartreuse

STREAMERS:
When in doubt, white is great year 'round streamer color on the Housy under a variety of water & light conditions, and yellow is an excellent attractor color, esp. for brown trout. Try also brown/yellow combo, and plain black can be very good too in the Early Spring.

-Woolly Buggers #2-12- white, black, brown, olive, olive/black, brown/yellow, and other colors too
-Barr's Slump Buster #6- olive, rust, natural, black
-Home Invaders #2-6- various colors
-Yellow Marabou Muddler #4-8
-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
-Zoo Cougar #2-4- yellow
-Zonkers #2-8- white, natural
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Circus Peanut #4- olive, white, black
-Bread 'N Butter Bugger #4-8
-Muddlers #2-12
-Conehead Madonna #4- yellow, white, olive. black
-Clouser Minnow #2-6- various colors
-Bob's Dangerous Darter #4


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.
-Chartruese Clouser Minnow #2-6- maybe the deadliest Housy Smallmouth fly of all
-Baby Smallmouth Clouser Minnow #2-6- very effective in clear water
-Large Articulated streamers such as Circus Peanuts, etc. #2-4 (4-6" long)
-Crayfish patterns #4-10- Crazy Dad, Clouser Crayfish, Near-Nuff Crayfish, Mini-Dad, etc.
-Topwaters- poppers, sliders, deer hair bugs #2-8
-Helgramite Nymphs #2-6
-Larger Nymphs #2-10- Hellgrammite, Bitch Creek, Stoneflies, Princes, Fox Squirrels, Rubber Legs, Halfback, etc
**************************************************************************************

Pike:
Large streamers, the bigger the better-

-Bill's Figure 8 Sucker/Perch 3/0-
various colors
-Simm's Slugo 1/0- various colors
-Barry's Pike Fly 3/0- red & white
-Double Bunny #2-4- olive/white
-Clouser Minnow 2/0- chart/white





4/14/13:
Same as for Cornwall Bridge Report.

Farmington

Water Level 4/14/13- Medium in TMA
Water Temperature TMA- Low/Mid 40's in AM, rises on sunny/milder days, coldest water is upriver near dam in Riverton
Water Clarity Clear
Release Schedule Total flow of about 437cfs in TMA/C&R area- 189cfs from the dam in Riverton, 248cfs form the Still River
Current Hatches -Olives (Baetis) #16-18
-Winter/Summer Caddis #18-22 ( AM hatch)
-Early/Winter Stoneflies #14-24
-Midges #20-32






BEST BETS:
-Olives/Baetis- #16-18 olive to brown nymphs such as Micro Mayflies, Pheasant Tails, etc., and for adults Parachute Adams & Olive Parachute, CDC emergers, etc.

-Winter/Summer Caddis (lt.
brown) #16-22- use larva (yellow #16-18), foam pupa patterns (lt. brown to olive) & adults (muddy olive/brown)

-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

-Winter Stoneflies (Tiny Black, Early Black, Early Brown)- #12-20 SLENDER nymphs in black to brown shades- Black Stoneflies, AP Black nymph, Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears, Black Copper Johns, etc.

-Rubber Legs #6-10- darker colors such as brown, black, or variegated

-Stonefly Nymphs- Golden/Yellow, Brown, Black #6-14

-Pheasant Tail #12-22- BH, regular, and especially Flashback versions

-Caddis Larva #12-18- olive, green, yellow, tan, olive-brown, Hare's Ear

-Egg Patterns #12-18- assorted colors, stick mostly to shades of yellow, orange & pink

-Prince Nymphs #10-20

-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.


April 14th, 2013-
Well the long Winter is over and we are finally getting Spring-like weather (some days!). Current hatches includes early season Olives (Baetis) #16-18, Winter Caddis #18-22, assorted Early Stoneflies (dark in #12-24), and Midges. Look for risers in the big, flat pools. Nymphing is a go-to early Spring technique, with bigger Stoneflies (#6-10), Pheasant Tails (#12-18), Caddis larva (both uncased & cased), Egg patterns, Polish-style Woven Nymphs (#8-12), Midge larva/pupa, and generic/attractor nymphs all producing at moments. Some days the fishing has been very good, and other days you work your ass off for each hook-up. This usually correlates to water temps (and to weather it warmed or cooled, with warming preferable in early Spring), and to fishing pressure, which at moments can be high on the Farmington, especially on milder days & weekends. Outside of the permanent TMA/C&R section, the state has already stocked several times- CT Opening Day is at 6am on April 20th this year. Don't be afraid to venture outside the year 'round TMA/C&R area and into the newer long seasonal TMA/C&R section, there are trout throughout, but a lot less anglers. If your are fishing tiny dries/emergers on flat water, you may need to go pretty light on your tippet. I recommend lengthening your tippet to 4' or longer before going to ultralight tippets, going longer like that is like dropping down a couple of tippet sizes, it will enhance getting a drag-free float. For nymphing this time of year, I mostly use 5x fluoro, sometimes 4x on bigger flies like #8-10 Stonefly nymphs. No need to go lighter than 6x for even the smallest nymphs, and I don't usually find it to be necessary, especially with fluorocarbon tippets.

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 an extra-long & relatively light tippet), and change your flies frequently. Under normal flows, nymphers should play around with some smaller flies on fluorocarbon tippets, although Stonefly nymphs & Rubber Legs are exceptions to the small nymphs. Caddis larva in olives to greens in the #12-18 range are very effective at moments too, and don't forget about Cased Caddis, there are a TON of them in the Farmington. The takes on nymphs can be VERY subtle, so stay laser-focused or you won't even detect many of the hits. Set the hook on ANYTHING even remotely suspicious, or you will miss many subtle takes. Dry fly guys will find that CDC patterns, emergers, cripples, and pupal patterns can sometimes work magic on tough fish in flat water.

New regs in place as of last year- 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!!!