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Water Clarity: Clear

Water Temperatures: Mid 50s to Low 60s

Hatches: Golden Stoneflies, Caddis Flies, Light Cahils, Sulfurs, Hoppers, ISOs, BWOs, Flying Ants

Suggested Patterns: Hoppers: More or Less, KK Henberrys, Flying Ants, Parachute Adams (#10-18), Mccoy’s All Day Dun ISO-(#10-12) Stimulators Yellow or Orange (#12-16) Gray Wulf (#12-14) X Caddis-Tan (#14-18) Light Cahils (#12-14) Pheasant Tails (#12-18) Hare’s Ears (#12-16) Prince Nymphs (#10-16) Taylors Gut Instinct (#14-16) Joca’s Caddis Pupa (#14-16) Bird of Prey-Brown or Olive (#12-16) Morrish Hotwire Caddis (#14-16) Copper Johns (Copper-#14-16)

The fishing has continued to be pretty good for us. This weekend we had several trips go out, some of which were able to really get into em! A few of the trips were into the double digits on dries. We’re forecasted to receive some rain today and tomorrow but we’ll see how much we end up getting. We need a lot. 

Given the conditions I wouldn’t bother fishing the small streams. The water is super, super low and the fish are spooky. The larger rivers like the Lamoille and Winooski are where it’s at right now. Although the water is super low on those as well, there’s still enough water moving through them to allow things to be productive. With the water being as low as it is, there’s going to be some spots that normally you couldn’t get to on foot that will now be accessible. Particularly on the lower sections of both the Winooski and Lamoille. Don’t be afraid to walk a little ways. Although there’s a lot of frog water on the lower sections, bottlenecks, riffles and runs are still around, and walking a little ways from the pull off may put you in some new water that may have only been fished a couple times this entire year. Some of the largest fish we’ve pulled out of the bigger rivers have in spots like that. Being adventurous can pay off in a big way.

As far as bugs go, we’ve still been seeing a good variety of stuff hatching. We haven’t noticed that the fish are keying in on anything specific since there’s been a good variety of flies. The only exception to this would be later on in the evening, usually around 6pm the wide variety of insect hatches start to dwindle and more specific insects begin to hatch, lately BWOs and or Tan Caddis. Once these bugs start hatching with more consistency as the sun goes down the fish have seemed to key on on those particular bugs making fly selection a little more important than mid-day. Fishing dries mid day has been super productive for us, an adams in just about any size, gray wulfs, hoppers, cahils, beetles and caddis have all caught fish. 

The Salmon fishing really hasn’t changed much, there’s fish around but with the water being soo low the fish are only in a couple spots and the fishing’s going to be poor. Fishing first light with small, sparse streamers may be your best bet to run into them. 

Good luck to everyone getting out this week! Get out if you can!!

The Fly Rod Shop is Northern Vermont’s finest fly fishing guide service and fly fishing gear retailer. Visit our shop on Route 100 in Stowe, VT or shop our online store to find gear from Simms Fishing Products, Redington, Loon Products, Montana Fly Company, Buff, Lamson Waterworks, Sage, Rio, Scientific Angler and more!

River: Winooski

Water Temp: 62
Water Clarity: Clear-Stained below Little Confluence
Last Update: 09-23-2019
USGS FI: 85 @ Montpelier

River: Dog
Water Temp: 59
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 09-23-2019
USGS FI:  17 @ Falls

River: Lamoille
Water Temp: 60
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 09-23-2019
USGS FI: 76 @ Johnson