There's only a day or so to get those gifts! We can email you a gift certificate right up until closing on Christmas Eve. Grab a gift certificate for one of our guided fishing trips and make someone's holiday extra special! Purchase a $200 gift certificate and get an added $25 value free!
Today's forecast: This morning starts out at 29' and expect a sunny day with a high of 41". West wind 7 mph. Tonight expect a low temp of 32'. Tomorrow expect a bit of rain/freezing rain early in the morning staying cloudy most of the day, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.
Now for the fishing conditions. The river is at 901 CFS and will continue to slowly drop today. You may find some patches of ice around the banks and certain rocks, but this will likely dissipate with the temps above freezing today and tomorrow. As the water levels drop the fishing will continue to pick up. With the overcast day tomorrow we expect the afternoon to fish well. This time of the year you do well to wait until the sun gets on the water for a bit to help warm it up some. We suggest starting later in the morning with some big streamers and search the water. Strip these slowly as the fish are sluggish and not willing to move too far. All colors of streamers are effective at times, so swap out and modify your retrieve if you don't get any takes. Egg patterns dropped behind a big stonefly (8-12) are also very effective this time of the year. Trail the egg about 18" behind the stonefly so it gently rolls through the water. Don't forget to get some "ice off paste" for your guides this time of the year as it won't take long to get some build up on your guides this time of the year.
Nymphing is also effective this time of the year. In addition to the stoneflies mentioned above, we like the following patterns: Hares Ear (12-16), BH Princes (10-16), BH Pheasant Tails (12-18), Rubber Legs (all colors), 20 Incher's (8-16) & Euro Bead Head Princes. Don't forget to try a San Juan or Squirmy Worm too. We recommend a drop rig for maximum effectiveness and use an indicator to make sure you don't miss any takes. Try the AirLock indicators if you haven't already. They are the best! We are working on some great fly tying sessions and workshops for the winter, so check back often.
Since you're reading our river report, please consider purchasing your gear from us. We are happy to have the opportunity to match any deals out there you may come upon. Give us a call first and let us have the first chance. Thanks!
We have a couple of new books, which are perfect for gifts or even just to add to your library. We like the "Tying Nymphs" by Charlie Craven (we have some autographed copies if that is your thing) and "The Bug Book" by Paul Weamer. We also have a number of collectible books and gently used books which are classics to add to your library as you prepare to tie this winter. And come by to check out our DVD selection as we have many great titles in stock!
Start thinking about 2017 and book your guided fishing trips now! The best time to get out in the spring is Late April to Mid May and these dates always fill up fast so don't wait! We want to thank all of you for a great season this year and look forward to providing you with a great fishing experience again in the new year. A BIG THANK YOU from all of our guides!
Don't forget we buy, sell or trade used and antique fishing equipment rods, reels, lines, duck and fish decoys, fishing lures, books, artwork, collectibles and tying materials/tools. If you are looking to trade in, sell, or are just scaling down as they say, bring your items in or take pictures and email them to us and we will happily purchase or offer a trade up. I have been purchasing and selling used and collectible items for over 25 years and our fishing/hunting library in the store is the finest and largest probably in the country. We will happily show you the value of your items and then offer trade-in or purchase prices. So give us a call (860-672-1010) or send and email (hflyshop@aol.com). We also purchase estates and will gladly come over to your house to assess the value of your collection and purchase the entire collection.