Water Clarity: Clear
Water Temperatures: Upper 40s low 50s
Hatches: Brown Stones, Olive and Tan Caddis, October Caddis BWOs,
Suggested Patterns: Pheasant Tails (#16-18) Hare’s Ear (#16-18) Bird of Prey-Brown (#16) Copper Johns (#16-18) Prince Nymphs (#14-18) Pat’s Rubber Legs (#6-10) BWO (#18-20) Parachute Adams (#12-18) Mouthwash, Sex Dungeons, Zonkers and Wooly Buggers
The season is winding down quickly! Only a few days left to get out there in VT’s regular trout season. The fishing’s been tough lately, although we have been getting them it’s just seemed to have been an off fall. At least for us and a lot of our customers. John’s been getting some nice fish on the Winooski the past few days but they haven’t come easy. If you’re going to get out over the next few days plan to nymph and streamer fish. We’re forecasted to get some funk weather over the next few days, I doubt it’ll do much to the water levels but it may. When nymphing target the slower moving water the most. Since the water temps have continued to cool off the fish have continued to move into slower water. Having said that, I’d still fish it all as you never know where the fish may be holding.
If I were getting out over the next couple of days I’d be focusing on the larger rivers like the Winooski and Lamoille. Pools just downstream of the larger tribs may be good spots to look for bigger browns that may be thinking about cruising up the smaller tribs. Other than that, just the deeper, slower moving pools that still have some current would be high on the list. It’s going to be crucial to work the seams and work them thoroughly. Because of the cooler water temps the fish will be less aggressive and less apt to move to take a fly, they’ll be sitting on a lot of those seams waiting for food to drift right to them. The fishing for lake run salmon has seemed to pick up a little, although some of the tribs will close at the end of the month all the champ tribs will be open through early march. They can be lucrative up through late December if the water temps don’t get too cold. A combination of Lake Trout, Steelhead and Landlocked Salmon will all inhabit the lower reaches of the big rivers this time of the year. Eggs, San Juans, smaller sized nymphs and streamers will all work on these fish. I’d bring two rods, one rigged to nymph, with a steelhead like fly i.e. san juan egg etc.. and the second fly being a smaller more natural nymph like a little black stone, pheasant tail or copper john. As far as the streamer rod goes, a sinking tip would be helpful along with a short, pretty heavy leader, (leave the 3x at home) 12-15lb maxima is what you’re really looking for here. Fish a variety of streamers, white wooly buggers are always a good option, I’ve had success on the Winooski with a white and chartreuse clouser minnow pretty late into November.
Good luck to everyone getting out over the next few days! Remember, if you do see spawning fish, don’t fish for em! With the small amount of natural reproduction we have it’s important to let them do their thing uninterrupted, also be aware of where you walk. Avoid walking on any redds you may come across!
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River: Winooski
Water Temp: 48
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 10-27-2018
USGS FI: 182 @ Montpelier
River: Dog
Water Temp: 49
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 10-27-2018
USGS FI: 29 @ Falls
River: Lamoille
Water Temp: 47
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 10-27-2018
USGS FI: 240 @ Johnson