River Report
River Flow 246 CFS - Visibility - Clear - Isolated showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon - AM Water Temp 70' - AM Air Temp 67' - Daytime Air High 82' - PM Air Temp Low 60'
Unlike last summer, this summer has seen rain in the river system every few days, cool nights and some overcast days. All these conditions has taken a lot of stress off the trout. The riffles in the TMA are holding a lot of nice smallmouths. Now is the time to get ready for August evenings as we are anticipating a WHITE FLY HATCH in the next couple of weeks.
Summer, Good Water Flow, Smallmouths & Wet Wading on the Housy !! Who has better fishing days then this !! Start off swinging streamers to find aggressive smallmouths. During bright daytime sun light; Nymph or Swing Streamers in all the riffles and pocket water. Towards late afternoon when the shadow line touches the river then it's popper time !!
Trout Thermal Refuges for the tributaries of the Housatonic River are in effect starting 06/15/17 thru 09/15/17. Fishing is prohibited within 100 feet of the CT DEEP black & white posted signs near the tributary mouths.
On the outside table next to HRO's front door we have a tremendous assortment of trout and bass flies on sale and all specially marked at $1.50 each !!! Refill your fly boxes with this is an amazing assortment of dry, wet & nymph fly patterns !!
Now for the fishing conditions. The river is at 246 CFS, 70'F and clear. Summer, Good Water Flow, Smallmouths & Wet Wading on the Housy !! Who has better fishing days then this !! Start off swinging streamers to find aggressive smallmouths. During bright daytime sun light; Nymph or Swing Streamers in all the riffles and pocket water. With the water temps going up the smallmouths are in all the pools and riffles in the TMA. Trout will move into the Thermal Refuges where they are protected from fishing until 09/15/17. For streamers swing John's Lion Bugger, G's Catch'Em All, Circus Peanuts, Zonkers, Woolly Buggers, Pick Yur' Pocket, Conehead Muddlers. Swing soft hackles like; Spiders, Hares Ear or Pheasant Tails. For nymphs high stick big yellow stones with a caddis pupae dropper or fish with BH Hares Ears & BH Princes. Tune-up your fly vest by cleaning out the last year's leaders & tippet spools and replace them with fresh leaders & tippet spools for this year. Reorganize your flies into new boxes. Check your vest to see if you need more floatant, lead shot, strike indicators or tippet rings. If your fly line is becoming stiff or cracked it's time to change it. You can bring your fly reel into the shop and we can machine wind a new fly line with free backing !! If your favorite rod has broken guides, tip tops, missing hook keeper or needs new wraps.......Bring it down to the shop for repair.
We like the following patterns: Bass Poppers: All Colors - Dry Flies: Caddis', Cahill's, Alders, ISO's - Streamers: John's Lion Bugger, G's Catch'Em All, Circus Peanuts, Zonkers, Woolly Buggers, Pick Yur' Pocket - Soft Hackles: Spiders, Hares Ear or Pheasant Tails - Nymphs: Golden Stone (8-10) BH 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 Chartreuse or Yellow Stone Mop Fly, 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!
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!
Don't forget we offer a FULL ROD REPAIR SERVICE Bamboo, Graphite and Glass. - Reel Seat Replacement, Cork Grip Repairs, Guide Replacement, Rod Wrapping and Rod Finishing. - Repair or refinish your old favorite rods and fish them as if they are new again!!