Connecticut River Fishing Report: 10/9

That’s a beautiful landlocked salmon that Chuck DeGray of North Country Fly Shop picked up today on the Trophy Stretch, estimated in the 22″-23″ range. It was on one of his classic soft hackle streamers, and the weather today was your typical salmon fishing weather – cold and rainy!

The Trophy Stretch (230 CFS) continues to flow at a slightly elevated rate, but remains constant over the past week. There has been a fair amount of pressure lately, but that is to be expected with the end of the season only a week away.

Reports from our guides and fishermen suggest that there are good numbers of salmon in the Trophy Stretch, and they have actually been more active than the trout that are present.

As usual, streamers (smelt patterns) and nymphs (Pheasant Tail, TB Prince, soft hackle wets, Egg patterns, Goomie Worm) have been working best, with BWO patterns doing the trick when conditions permit.  Remember to switch colors often if you’re streamer fishing – try not to depend on either white or gray, if they’re not working.

The No Kill Stretch, between Second Conn. Lake and First Conn. Lake, is flowing lower (60 CFS) than last weekend, but the fish must still be in there. Devote a little time here if you can in these final six days of the season, and you may be rewarded with a nice salmon or wild brook trout.

The flow below Murphy Dam at Lake Francis (300 CFS) is perfect for wading right now, so this is a good place to go if the Trophy Stretch is too crowded.

Get up here if you can to end the fishing season – we all dream of tight lines all winter long!