River Conditions: 5/18/18

Water Clarity: Clear to Stained

Water Temperatures:  Mid 40s to mid 50s

Hatches: Black and Brown Stoneflies, Olive Caddis, Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, BWOs

Suggested Patterns: Pheasant Tails, Black Kaufman Stoneflies, Girdle Bugs, Smethursts 20bomb, Hare’s Ears, Olive Hare’s Ears, Montana Prince Nymphs, Prince Nymphs, Red and Chart Copper Johns, Olive Bird of Prey, Parachute Adams #12-14, Olive Elk Hair Caddis #12-16, Wooly Buggers, Zonkers, Mouthwash, Sex Dungeons.

Things have remained pretty similar as to the last report. The Winooski is at a great flow and has great clarity right now, although that may change with the rain we’re forecasted to get over the next few days. Still mainly catching fish on nymphs and streamers (no surprise there) The water temps have been in the low to mid 50s although I would imagine there were a few cooler spots this morning. The extended forecast looks great, cool at night and mid 60s-70 during the day. As long as that weather pattern keeps up we’ll be in great shape. As temps continue to increase the insects should become more active and at a certain point fish will actually eat dries!!!! There’s plenty of times though that we’ll have some pretty big hatches and only be able to get them on the nymphs. If we get a lot of rain tomorrow a lot of the larger sized streams will get dirty and rivers like the Winooski and Lamoille may get too dirty to fish. Impossible to say what exactly will happen but don’t be surprised if they blow out at some point tomorrow. If the waters off colored I’d bring two rods, one with a nymph and one with a streamer. Fish both methods alternating. I always like to start off by running a nymph through a pool for a while before I throw a streamer. Sometimes the streamers may put fish off that would have taken a nymph (thats what I tell myself) so we run the less intrusive fly first. If the waters on the clearer side expect nymphs will be the way to go. Things should be good out there this afternoon! If you can get out you should!!

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