Water Clarity: Clear-Off Colored-Bigger rivers are still in rough shape
Water Temperatures: Mid to Upper 40s
Hatches: Black Stoneflies, Caddis Flies, Hendricksons
Suggested Patterns: Streamers! Conehead Bunny Muddlers, Zonkers, Wooly Buggers, Montana Mouthwash, Complex Twist Buggers, Grumpy Muppets, Gamechangers, Black Kaufman Stones, Girdle Bugs, Montana Prince Nymphs-Black, Copper Johns-Red, Sanjuan Worms-Pink, Otter’s Soft Milking Eggs
The fishing has definitely improved over the past week, although we are still behind a ways from last year. The successful anglers have been focusing on the smaller to mid sized streams that are lower in elevation and feature slower, deeper pools. Everything is still pretty full of water so those sections are going to be the easiest to fish, and may have a higher abundance of fish. The majority of the more “pockety” water streams or sections are probably going to still be a bit trickier to fish due to faster flowing water. The snow melt is starting to wind down as the majority of it is gone other than mansfield, which still has 56″ at the summit.
We’ve been getting after resident trout as well as some migratory fish from both Lake Champlain tribs as well as Magog tribs. There’s been some reports of smallmouth moving into some of the rivers as well. A variety of egg patterns, stonefly nymphs and other nymphs.
As far as the local trout fishing, fish have been getting caught both on streamers and nymphs. Still been finding the majority of the fish in the slower moving water which makes sense given the cooler temps. We’ll see that change (hopefully) over the next two weeks. With the still higher flows we’ve been running sink tips on our streamer rods, most 7ft but some 5ft in the smaller waters. With these leaders or lines, we typically only try to run 30″ of heavy tippet off the sink tip. Often we’re running Ultra Green Maxima 10-15lb. This just gives us a little extra confidence when fishing flies close to log jams and other structure. If we hook a good fish and need to put the pressure on them were not going to have to worry about breaking the fish off.
For those getting out over the next few days put more effort in on streams that get migratory runs or streams that hold wild trout as very little stocking has been done, although that can change anytime. I’d be bringing both a streamer and a nymphing rod to the river and fish both methods everywhere you fish. Focus on the slower, deeper bend pools that have additional structure such as downed trees, sharp drop offs and undercut banks. Good luck to everyone getting out over the next few days!
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River: Winooski
Water Temp:
Water Clarity: Dark/Green
Last Update: 05-8-2019
USGS FI: 1860 @ Montpelier
River: Dog
Water Temp:
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 05-8-2019
USGS FI: 230 @ Falls
River: Lamoille
Water Temp:
Water Clarity: Slightly Off
Last Update: 05-08-2019
USGS FI: 836 @ Johnson