Water Clarity: Muddy-Green
Water Temperatures: 35-44
Hatches: Stones,
Suggested Patterns: Montana Prince Nymphs #10-14-Black, Kauffman Stones (#8-14) Girdle Bugs #8-#10, Pheasant Tails #10-14), Hare’s Ears #12-14, Bird Of Prey (Olive #12-14) Chicago Overcoat #6-14, Black or Sculpin Colored, Jig Slum Lords (#6-14) Complex Twist Buggers, Wooly Buggers, Zonkers, Sex Dungeons, Headbanger Sculpin, Kreelex. Pink Worms, Egg Patterns.
Spring is here!! The “trout season” begins this coming Saturday! Less exciting these days since most rivers are open to year-round catch and release angling with artificial lures and flies! We’ve been getting out a bit here and there over the past week with some success. Still not shocking if we get skunked but ’tis the season. We have been running into some nice wild browns on some of the primary tributaries of the Winooski and Lamoille. Most of the fish have been fairly tight to the bottom and have eaten heavy jig streamers or larger stonefly nymphs. On a few of the warmer afternoons we did see some bugs flying around, too early for the fish to feed on the surface in most places but still encouraging to see! We’ve spent a little time on some of the smaller streams as well and ran into some healthy wild brookies and rainbows!
The migratory fish have moved up into all the usual bodies of water both on Champlain tribs and Magog tribs. With the rain and snowmelt they may be a bit high/dirty this weekend but it’s too early to really tell. The Clyde river does open up this weekend, that would be worth keeping in mind if you’re heading to the NEK, if other tribs are blown out, or too dirty to fish, the Clyde should be in good shape since most of that water is coming out of a dam. Not to mention, there could be just about anything swimming around in there right now.
The Dog river is another one that will be opening this weekend-from the falls down, in higher flows, it tends to run a bit clearer than some of the other bodies of water similar in size so that’s another to keep on the radar.
For those getting out over the next few days, focus on the larger tributaries that are fishable. The water will be high in most places but there should be a decent amount of water that’s not totally blown out. Be sure to focus on the bigger deeper pools, but don’t overlook other areas as you never know where the fish will be. The mtn brook trout streams will be a good plan B if the slightly bigger water is not fishable, plus there’s some great stillwater options right now as well!
For anyone looking for something to do this weekend, The Big Picture in Waitsfield will be hosting the Fly Fishing Film Tour with the Mad Dog Trout Unlimited Chapter! To purchase tickets CLICK HERE
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River: Winooski:
Water Temp: 41
Water Clarity: Mud
Last Update: 4/11
USGS FI: 2430
River: Dog
Water Temp: 40am
Water Clarity: Dirty
Last Update: 4/11
USGS FI: 529
River: Lamoille
Water Temp 41
Water Clarity: Mud
Last Update: 4/11
USGS FI: 1980