Water Clarity: Clear
Water Temperatures: 56-65
Hatches: Caddis-Tan and Olive, Light Cahils, Sulphurs,
Suggested Patterns: Pheasant Tail Nymphs-14-16, Hare’s Ear Nymph (#12-16) Copper Johns-Green (#14-18) Bird of Prey (#12-16) Frenchies (#12-14) Soft Hackles, Elk Hair Caddis (Olive-#12-16) Tan (#14-16) X Caddis (Tan or Olive #14-16)
Sorry for the delay in getting a fishing report out! We’ve been slamming here at the shop-this is the fifth one I’ve started this week and the first to click publish on!
The fishing has been fantastic over the past week and a half! Things started to get kind of warm towards the end of last week but the temps have mellowed out and the rain we got helped cool things off as well. We’ve been fishing the Winooski and Lamoille quite a bit, lots of fish nymphing, and lots on dry flies. The nymphing has been best in the mornings with a little sporadic dry fly action here and there. The dry fly fishing has really picked up around 6pm. Lots of Caddis activity with a variety of sizes and colors. Seeing some Cahils flying around and a few sulphurs, the sulphurs should really pick up over the next week or so.
Been running into a lot more wild fish, and healthy holdovers on the Lamoille than on a normal year which makes sense given how high and cold the river was last summer. The lack of angling pressure, and lack of warm water really improved the overall fish population. We’ve experienced a similar outcome on the Winooski as well as most of the brook trout streams!
Yesterday we ran into lots of Caddis flying around in one section; didn’t see any fish rising so kept nymphing. We were getting a few fish with pheasant tails and hare’s ears, decided to put on a Bird of Prey (Brown) given how many darker colored caddis there were flying around and it was like someone flipped a switch. Cast after cast we hooked fish, they definitely seemed to be more keyed in on a caddis imitation than the normal mayfly/attractor nymphs! A good reminder that trying to imitate what you see on the surface below the surface during non-rising periods can pay off tremendously on the right day.
For those getting out over the next few days, it’ll be a good time to blow off any prior commitments you’ve made. Push those dinner plans off as long as you can and go fish! Be sure to have a good variety of dries in your box in case you run into some fussier fish. I’d expect to see some good bug activity over the next 4-5 evenings. Next week is looking like it may start to warm up, but as of right now the night time temps are still good which should help maintain good water temps! Depending on where you’re at right now, temps will be between 56 and 64! Good luck on the water!
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River: Winooski:
Water Temp: 62
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 6/1
USGS FI: 225
River: Dog
Water Temp: 59
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 6/1
USGS FI: 60
River: Lamoille
Water Temp 61
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 6/1
USGS FI: 273