River Conditions: 3/22/18

Water Clarity:  Clear- The Winooski and Lamoille are both clear with that winter blueish tint to them. There was some slush in the Winooski this morning in Waterbury but fishable. 

Flies: Black Stoneflies (#6-12) Girdle Bugs (#6-12), Black Montana Prince (#12-16), Copper Johns (#12), Pheasant Tails (#12-14) San Juans-Pink, Otter’s Eggs, Wooly Buggers (White or Black #4-8) Zonkers, Montana Mouthwash, Marabou Muddlers, Headbanger Sculpins

Hatches: 

It’s hard to believe the the trout season starts up in a little more than 3 weeks. Seems like it just ended… If you haven’t gotten out on any of Vermont’s Year Round Trout streams it might not hurt to over the next couple of weeks and shake off the rust from the winter. A few guys over the past few weeks have gotten a couple; literally two fish out of the Winooski which is awesome! Smaller sized nymphs took those fish in the slower water. A few of the Champlain Tribs fished well the last week of Feb when we had the warm up and flows came up, although there are still fish in the tribs they’re probably going to be a touch more spooky as the flows have dropped. Over the next few weeks more fish should trickle in as flows slowly come up from snow runoff which looks like will happen. Good patterns for these lake run steelhead include stoneflies, pink san juan worms, otter’s eggs, copper johns (Red) but will also take swung or dead drifter buggers along with a variety of other flies. Don’t be afraid to fish something different though, we’ve had days where we’ve hooked a fish on every fly we’ve tied on including some nymphs that are generally not associated with steelhead.

The Steelhead reports from over in NY have been excellent so far, lots of fish and everything from chromers to really dark colored up fish. We’re all getting pretty pumped to head over there as are all of Bob’s clients that he’ll be guiding during the month of Aprill.

If you do make it out over the next couple of weeks be careful, you don’t want to take a spill into the river right now, that water isn’t too warm. Fish afternoons if possible, the water might warm up a tiny bit potentially making the fish a little more active (emphasis on little) However, if we start getting days warming up significantly the water that’s legally open to fish may become too dirty from snow run off by 3 or 4ish to fish but that all will depend on how warm it gets.

Lastly, over the next few weeks a HUGE chunk of our inventory for the season will be coming in. Rods, Reels, Lines, Waders etc… We’ll also be getting a huge fly order in next week from MFC which should be out by the weekend. We’re also getting flies in by some local tiers like Kevin Ramirez, Cole Elmendorf and we’re tying some specialty flies here at the shop! Swing on by! John will be at the shop doing a competition style fly demo this Saturday from 2-4.

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