Water Clarity: Clear
Water Temperatures: Things have started to cool off a bit more.
Hatches: Golden Stones, Yellow Sallies, Olive and Tan Caddis, BWOs, Light Cahils, ISO’s, Hoppers, Flying Ants
Suggested Patterns: Pheasant Tails (#16-18) Hare’s Ear (#16-18) Bird of Prey-Brown (#16) Copper Johns (#16-18) Prince Nymphs (#14-18) Dave’s Hoppers, Flying Ants, Light Cahils, BWO (#18-20) Parachute Adams (#12-18)
Things are starting to finally shape up into fall conditions. Another few days and it looks like the weathers going to have a significant change. After Tuesday it’s looking like it’s going to cool off a lot which is what we need. A little rain wouldn’t hurt either.. The fishing on the larger rivers should start to pick up by Wednesday or Thursday of next week. The waters still going to be wicked low so there’s going to be a lot of spots that you normally would fish that will be stagnant ankle deep water. Expect to see fish stacked up in the deeper, quicker moving runs along with the shallower riffles. Swinging a soft hackle in the fast water can be a super effective way to get fish in the shallow fast water. There will also be fish in the heavy pocket water until things cool off a lot and water temps have a significant drop. At which point, the trout will move into the slightly slower, deeper runs.
BWOs will be a predominant insect that will remain active over the course of the fall. Smaller sized Parachute Adams (#16-18) would work as a higher vis imitation of these insects, if they’re being a little more picky you may have to downsize and go with a traditional BWO in a #18 or #20. As far as nymphs go the majority of the popular flies will work, I’d just downsize a little bit from what most people fish in the spring. (#16s-#18s) A Brown Bird of Prey should be one of the two nymphs you’re running this time of the year as far as we’re concerned. Other than that, Pheasant Tails, Hares Ears in both Natural and Olive along with Copper Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, Smaller Black Stoneflies etc will all get the job done. If we ever get a good push of water some really big funky streamers may attract some of the larger trout in our river systems. Browns in particular tend to become quite aggressive as we approach the end of trout season. Just be aware of spawning fish over the next month and a half. If you see fish sitting in shallow gravel on beds it’d be a good idea to not fish for them. Also be on the look out when wading and make sure you’re not stomping over beds.
Currently, the fishing’s still been a bit tricky. We”ve been getting fish on a variety of flies though. Definitely had to work for them for the most part, and spend a little more time finding the cooler fishable water but it’s out there. Terrestrials have still been working pretty well, had a really big flying ant hatch last night here in Stowe so fishing an ant pattern over the next few days would make a lot of sense. The larger hopper patterns with a small nymph off the back has been the go to for us on several different bodies of water. Because of the lower water, we’ve only been running the droppers approx two feet off the back of the dry. Be sure to run light tippet material off the dropper, that way, in the event that you get hung up with the dropper you won’t break off both flies. If you’re getting out this weekend you’re probably best off to stay off the larger rivers unless you head up to where they’re not so large. Both the WInooski and Lamoille more towards their headwaters should be at fishable temps, the water will definitely be low but if you stay out of the water, make longer casts and focus on some of the more shaded water you should be in business!
Good luck to everyone getting out there this weekend!
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River: Winooski
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Last Update: 7-6-2018
USGS FI: @ Montpelier
River: Dog
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Last Update: 7-6-2018
USGS FI: @ Falls
River: Lamoille
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Last Update: 7-6-2018
USGS FI: @ Johnson