Water Clarity: Clear
Water Temperatures: 58-72
Hatches: Drakes, Caddis, PMDs, Cahills, Sulfurs
Suggested Patterns: Elk Hair Caddis-Tan and Olive#14-16, Rusty Spinners#10-14, PMD Comparaduns#14-16, Light Cahils #14-16, H and L Variant #14-16, Stimulators#10-14, Pheasant Tails #12-18, Hare’s Ear Nymphs #12-16, Montana Prince- Black or Tan, Copper Johns #14-18, Bird Of Prey #14-16, Squirmy Worms, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Moto Minnows
The fishing the past couple weeks has been pretty awesome. Once we got into the later half of this past week things quieted down a bit from the trout end with warmer temps but that’s to be expected. Over the past few weeks we have spent a good amount of time on the Winooski and Lamoille, along with lots of the mid sized tribs. We have gotten into a mix of wild, stocked and some holdover trout. It seems like the fish populations are doing great. Hopefully we have a fairly cool summer and those fish continue to do well!
From a bug standpoint, we’ve continued to see a mix of Cahils, Sulfers and Caddis. The fish had been feeding pretty consistently on the surface both in the early morning and later on in the evening. If they weren’t rising we were able to get into them nymphing, or swinging a small soft hackle.
Angling for the next few days may be a little trickier, the Winooski and Lamoille will definitely be over 70 by the end of the next few days, I wouldn’t be overly surprised if they were over 70 to start the day as well. If you are venturing onto one of the mid sized or bigger rivers, plan on going early, and bring a thermometer with you. Once the sun pokes out in the morning, the water will immediately start to warm up. The brook trout streams will remain cool-at least most of them will if they’re coming off one of the mtn’s in the area. Another great option for this time of the year is hitting some of the lakes and ponds in the area. Hex’s have started to show themselves which can make for some awesome dry fly fishing for both bass and trout! Aside from that, throwing a popper this time of the year for smallmouth or largemouth can be a ton of fun, and a great way to beat the heat! The topwater action on the lakes has been good early and late, if fishing mid day, throw sculpins, clousers buggers etc… The bass on the interior lakes all seem to be post spawn, and they are chowing! We’ve also been having a lot of fun on the Waterbury Rez fishing for crappie, there’s some really big ones in there and they’re happy to eat a wooly bugger, clouser minnow and even a foam hopper!
Good luck to those getting out this week! Stay cool!
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River: Winooski:
Water Temp: 65am will be 70 by end of day
Water Clarity: Clear-May become stained by mid day today
Last Update: 6/22
USGS FI: 250
River: Dog
Water Temp: 64
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 6/22
USGS FI: 55
River: Lamoille
Water Temp: 66
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 6/22
USGS FI: 232