River Conditions: 4/19/16

Water Clarity: Stained-Clear depends on where you are!

Water Temperatures:  Low 40’s

Hatches: Brown/black Stoneflies, midge

Suggested Patterns:  San Juan Worms, Copper Johns, Two Tone Stone,  Egg Patterns, Black and Brown Stoneflies, Simple Stones, Wooly Buggers, Zonkers, Mouthwash, Philipe’s Flu Shot, Sparkle Minnows, Keller’s Nightmare, and Sculpin Patterns

Things have started picking up a little bit. With the warming water temps we have seen a slight increase in activity in the Stowe area. Yesterday I headed South of the shop a little ways to a stream that holds big browns and I spotted two and managed to hook one MONSTER, he didn’t stay hooked long. Both fish were holding on the slower side of seams in deeper spots towards the head of two pools. The fish I hooked I spotted and cast several times to with a Stonefly nymph and he ate it just like he was supposed to, he spit the hook out a couple seconds later. The weather looks like it’s going to stay in the Mid 50’s during the day for the next four or five days which should help continue to warm the water up. I’ve been seeing lots of stoneflies buzzing around in the afternoons, ranging from a 6 to a 16 I don’t think the size of your stonefly pattern will make too much of a difference in most places since there seems to be a wide variety of sizes. Parts of the Lamoille have already been stocked with trophy trout, the Winooski hasn’t been stocked yet as far as I know and that usually doesn’t happen until a bit later on in May. If you’re heading out over the next few days, hit the water in the afternoon once it has had time to warm up from the day. I would keep one rod rigged up with a Black or Brown Stonefly pattern and a smaller nymph like a Copper John or Prince Nymph and have a second rod rigged up with a wooly bugger or other streamer and a sink-tip. Nymph the holes first, if nothing pans out after putting in plenty of effort fish a streamer through the hole. It’s always a good idea to fish each hole with a couple different methods, especially in the early part of the season when fish can be a bit more challenging to catch. We got some rain last night and it raised the water levels on both the Winooski and Lamoille and the water is still on the rise. Best to fish some of the smaller tribs for the next day or two while they clear up a bit more. Good luck to those getting out this week and be safe!

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