Connecticut River, Back Lake Update

How’s the fishing? The Connecticut River has been a bit of an enigma lately for some of our guests – water flows are stable (85 CFS at Second Lake Dam, 154 CFS at First Lake Dam, and 300 CFS at Murphy Dam), but there’s been a lot of anglers on the river (all sections, but especially the Trophy Stretch), so our belief is that the fish are hunkered down, biding their time.

Nymphs are still the best way to go (stones, caddis and mayflies), but you may want to bring along some 6X tippet and small nymphs if you’re headed out. When the fish get this picky, small nymphs usually produce best. Oh, and don’t forget to bring along a few Goomie Worms and San Juan Worms.

Recommended Nymphs

• BH Prince, Copper John, BH Pheasant Tail, BH Yellow Stone, BH Black Stone, Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear, Weight Fly, RS2 Emerger, Hatching Pupa, Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail, Partridge & Yellow, Partridge & Orange, Caddis Pupa, Glass Bead Caddis, Z Caddis, Olive Caddis Emerger, Peeking Caddis, Caddis Larva

There’s more that I’m forgetting … yes, I have a serious case of C.R.S.

On Back Lake, we’ve been a bit unlucky with the weather lately – wind from the southeast (usually signifies bad weather is on the way) has come up the last few nights – tough to cast to rising fish when you can’t see the rises!

Still, Saturday night exhibited a strong Brown Drake hatch, and Black Caddis have also been a prominent hatch on the lake as well. A few rainbows and brookies have made it in to the net for our fly fishing guests the last few nights.

No Hexagenia Limbata yet … but it can’t be too much longer now. We will let you know when they finally make their appearance …