Water Clarity: Stained to Clear
Water Temperatures: High 50s to Low 60s
Hatches: Golden Stoneflies, Caddis Flies, Light Cahils, Sulfurs, Tricos, Hoppers, ISOs, PMDs, BWOs, Flying Ants
Suggested Patterns: Hoppers: More or Less, KK Henberrys, Flying Ants, Parachute Adams (#10-18), Mccoy’s All Day Dun ISO-(#10-12) Stimulators Yellow or Orange (#12-16) Gray Wulf (#12-14) X Caddis-Tan (#14-18) Light Cahils (#12-14) Pheasant Tails (#12-18) Hare’s Ears (#12-16) Prince Nymphs (#10-16) Taylors Gut Instinct (#14-16) Joca’s Caddis Pupa (#14-16) Bird of Prey-Brown or Olive (#12-16) Morrish Hotwire Caddis (#14-16) Copper Johns (Copper-#14-16)
It’s feeling an awful lot like fall outside right now!!! Cool temps at night have continued to keep the water temps cooler. Both the Winooski and Lamoille are ranging between 56 and 63 depending on where you’re at on the river. Still been seeing a good amount of bugs coming off most days. ISOs have been starting to hatch sporadically around noonish with activity picking up as the day goes on. Also been seeing some smaller tan caddis as well as some October caddis along with BWOs, Cahils and what looked to be a few sulfurs. I’d anticipate the ISO hatches to start to wind down at some point with the BWOs taking over for the most prolific hatch.
I had a few trips on the Winooski this week and the fishing was pretty good. Right now the trick is to find the water that’s got some current, with the lower water the fish are concentrated in the faster moving water without a doubt. Not the super fast white water but some chop with a little depth. As temps continue to drop they should slowly start to move back into the mid sections of the runs into the really slow pools. We were able to get fish swinging a #12 ISO-like Soft hackle as well as on dries and dead drifting nymphs. Most of the fish were small, wild rainbows that fought like fish three times their size. Always fun when a 6″ fish jumps 10 times and pulls line. With the lower flows, lighter tippet and flies that are more realistic looking would be a good option.
For the anglers getting out this weekend I’d definitely focus on the larger rivers like the Winooski and Lamoille. Despite the low flows there’s still plenty of fish around, as mentioned above, just find the moving water and you should find fish. I wouldn’t be super eager to get out on the water before 9am as the fish and bugs seem to be getting active a little after that which is no surprise given the cooler weather. Have a nymphing rod and dry fly rod ready to rip, don’t over look swinging soft hackles or nymphs either as ISOs are usually a nymph that will swim around quite a bit in the water so swinging one doesn’t look unnatural to fish. Be prepared to have some awesome mid day dry fly fishing. Even if you don’t see risers, don’t be afraid to drift a larger parachute adams through before you nymph it. This time of the year, often you can get fish to take a dry even when nothings hatching. One of the nice things about having two rods with you.
Good luck to everyone getting out there! Be sure to swing by the shop tomorrow, even if it’s for a FREE beer and a look at some of our killer sales!!
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River: Winooski
Water Temp: 58
Water Clarity: Clear-Stained below Little Confluence
Last Update: 09-13-2019
USGS FI: 166 @ Montpelier
River: Dog
Water Temp: 57
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 09-13-2019
USGS FI: 29 @ Falls
River: Lamoille
Water Temp: 59am
Water Clarity: Clear
Last Update: 09-13-2019
USGS FI: 145 @ Johnson