Water Clarity: Clear
Water Temperatures: 55-65
Hatches: Stones, Caddis, ISOs, Tricos, Hoppers, BWOs
Suggested Patterns: Hoppers, Stimulators, Griffith Gnat, Adams, BWOs, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Zug Bugs, BWO Nymphs, Bird of Prey, Small streamers
Things have continued to be quite good this week! We could use a little rain as flows are actually starting to get low, looks like we’re in for some rain this weekend which will definitely help. Pretty much all the fishing we’ve done in the past week has been on the main stem of the Winooski and Lamoille. We’ve been doing lots of nymphing in the am, followed by dry fly fishing in the afternoons. It’s all be really good, lots of BWOs flying around after 1pm or so and lots of fish feeding on them. Hoppers are still working, and we’re still seeing some ISOs as well. And quite honestly, you could probably tie on any dry fly in your box and catch fish, they don’t seem to really care at all. Swinging soft hackles has also gotten plenty of fish to hand, small, darker colored soft hackles seem to be doing the job. We’ve been drifting them behind dries as well which has also been effective. Still seeing a mix of stocked and wild fish on both the Winooski and Lamoille. More wild fish and a better size range than what we normally see this time of the year which is awesome to see. The wild fish are fighting incredibly hard, one of the trips had one put them into their backing the other day and it ended up only being a 14incher!!
The Landlocked Salmon fishing has been alright, this week of lower water and warmer weather didn’t help things but the next two days of rain should turn things right around. We’ve been getting a number of fish on classic salmon streamers swung right under the surface, as well as other fish taking small nymphs. It’s best to fish with two rods, have a streamer rod and a nymphing one, we like to swing the streamers just under the surface first, in case there’s a fish that really wants to chase the fly. After swinging through a pool, we generally go back up to the head of it and work it much more thoroughly with nymphs. WD40s, small p tails, BWO nymphs and Red Copper Johns all seem to have their moments. Don’t be afraid to cycle through every nymph in your box though, a fly that gets one bite may not get another the rest of the day!!
Good luck to everyone getting out! And remember, the fish are already wet so don’t let a little rain keep you at home!
On one final note, mark your calendars for Sunday, October 15th! The Fly Fishing Film Tour (F3T) will be playing at the Spruce Peak Preforming Arts Center! Tickets are available for purchase by click HERE
See you there!
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, Lamson Waterworks, Winston, Sage, Rio, Scientific Angler, Thomas and Thomas and more
River: Winooski:
Water Temp: 63
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 10/6
USGS FI: 256
River: Dog
Water Temp: 58am
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 10/6/23
USGS FI: 52
River: Lamoille
Water Temp 60
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 10/6/23
USGS FI: 225
Check out this sweet video Jake Leamon put together for us!!