Water Clarity: Clear-Green
Water Temperatures: 51-62
Hatches: Stones, Hendricksons, Caddis, Some Cahils
Suggested Patterns: Montana Prince Nymph #12-160, Hare’s Ear Nymphs #12-14) Olive Hare’s Ears #14-16) Bird of Prey-Olive #14-16) Copper John #12-16) Pheasant Tails #12-16) Zug Bugs #12-16) Jig Nymphs #10-14) Jig Sculpin, Chicago Overcoat, Jig Slum Lord, Wooly Buggers, Moto Minnow, Zonkers, Parachute Adams, Elk Hair Caddis, Goddard Caddis
Conditions have continued to improve over the past week, We’ve been fishing the Winooski, had been on the Lamoille prior to the heavy rain the other day, we’ve also fished lots of the tribs with good success. It’s continued to be a mix of Streamers, Dries and nymphs. We’ve run into most of the dry fly action in the afternoon into the evening. There’s been a wide variety of insects, lots of Caddis, still seeing Hendricksons, a few BWO and some lighter colored mayflies-likely cahils. Nymphing has yielded the most fish but streamers are still definitely a good option.
North of the shop received quite a bit more rain over the past week than south of here, the Lamoille is still a bit off colored and may need another day or two to calm down. The larger tribs like the Gihon and North Branch should be in good shape, a little higher and a little off colored but fishable. South of the shop everything seems to be in good shape. Some of the tribs are actually kind of low for the time of the year. The Winooski is in pretty good shape, below the confluence of the little river the water will be a bit dirtier as the little isn’t clear right now. Better streamer conditions down lower on the river. From the Bolton dam down to the Huntington would be a good stretch to fish with a sink tip and a streamer, you may find rising fish as well and nymphs will still work too. From waterbury up the water is fairly clear, great nymphing and some dry fly action all the way to the headwaters. Not every pool that has bugs will have rising fish but be prepared as you never know when you’ll hit the motherload
For those getting out over the next couple of days the options should be endless. Trout fishing should be fairly productive throughout the entire state, both on the larger rivers, as well as the smaller mountain streams and everything in between. Bring a couple of rods with you so you’re rigged up to fish with wet flies and dries! We’ve also been doing some still water fishing for bass and that’s been great! The bass nearby seem to be still in the pre-spawn feeding mode, although a couple warm days and they’ll likely push up onto beds. Bass fishing on some of the Champlain tribs, as well as tribs off Magog and a few other larger lakes have been productive as well!!
Good luck on the water! Be sure to bring some bug dope, the mosquitoes and black flies have arrived!!
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River: Winooski:
Water Temp: 59
Water Clarity: Green
Last Update: 5/17
USGS FI: 569
River: Dog
Water Temp: 56
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 5/17
USGS FI: 93
River: Lamoille
Water Temp 55
Water Clarity: Dirty
Last Update: 5/17
USGS FI: 845