Water Clarity: Clear
Water Temperatures: 58-72
Hatches: Brown and Gold Stones. Tan/Olive Caddis, Sulfurs, Cahils, Yellow Sallies, Hex
Suggested Patterns: Light Cahills-16-18, Blond Wulfs (#12-16), Adams-16-18, Micro Chubbies-12-14, Hex, Yellow Stimulators 10-16, Griffith Gnats 18-22, Soft Hackles 12-16 (cream and yellow colors) Pheasant Tails-14-18, Prince Nymphs-16-18, Copper Johns-16-18, Trina’s Micro Stone-14-18, Anderson’s Bird of Prey-14-16.
Hard to believe we’re already almost a week into July! Sorry for not getting a report out last week, the shop’s been crazy busy!
The fishing has been pretty good lately. Bigger river temps are still getting up there temp wise but the mid sized streams and smaller ones have been doing great! The main Winooski and Lamoille in the mid reaches have been temping in the high 60s even at first light but after all it is July. The rain that’s been coming through lately has been super inconsistent. One town is getting hammered and the next town over is dry. If you get out there and your first choice is blown out just drive to the next valley, you may be surprised.
We’ve been running into fish on dries, nymphs and streamers. It’s really just been dictated by the time of day and water conditions. In the higher tea colored water we’ve been doing the best with streamers (when we can find the water) Otherwise we’ve been getting fish on dries early and late and have had great success with nymphing and swinging soft hackles. As far as insects go, there’s been a mix of Caddis, Cahills, Sulfurs and PMDs. The Hex hatch has been great as well and they’re still active on plenty of lakes. The grass hoppers are out as well so don’t be afraid to tie on a chunk of foam.
The Brook trout fishing has been great! We’re seeing lots of really healthy looking fish. Right now most of the streams seem to be getting just enough rain every week that they don’t get too low. The water temps on the smaller streams have ranged from 56-62 and they’ve been very aggressive to pretty much any dry fly! Fish a fly that floats well and that you can see and you’ll be in business.
For anyone getting out over the next few days good luck! Focus on the watersheds that have seen the most rain as the fish will be the most aggressive and the most cooperative! Keep an eye on USGS Flow Sites for areas you plan on hitting, if you don’t see a spike it still go fish it, but you may have the best success on those that have recently risen and a currently on the drop!
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River: Winooski
Water Temp: 68AM
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 7/6/22
USGS FI: 190
River: Dog
Water Temp: 62
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 7/6/22
USGS FI: 39
River: Lamoille
Water Temp:68am
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 7/6/22
USGS FI: 149