Upper Connecticut River Flow Report: 9/12

That’s right … a flow report. The river flows will probably dictate how the fishing’s going to be for the next couple of weeks, so here’s a little update on what’s happening …

The current Trophy Stretch flow is at a robust 300 CFS as of today, but it is scheduled to see a bit of a drop down in to the 250 CFS range for the weekend. While that is still a sizable amount of water coming downstream, the Trophy Stretch will still be fishable at that level, just make sure you wade carefully friends, and don’t go charging across the river to get to the other side. Expect that flow to remain more or less unchanged until the end of the month.

The No Kill stretch between Second Connecticut Lake Dam and First Connecticut Lake is flowing at 125 CFS or so, which is a good flow for fishing and wading. We expect that flow to remain unchanged for the next 10 – 14 days, but we expect a drop in the flow after that to accommodate some work that has to be done on Second Lake Dam. If it’s brook trout and salmon that you’re after, this might be a good time and place to get after them.

Below Murphy Dam, the flow is holding steady at 385 CFS and we don’t expect any change in this flow for a while. This is really ideal for fishing and wading, and the water temp down there is nice and cool too. In my limited time on the water this morning, three healthy rainbows were brought to the net and released in short order. There might not be as many fish down there (in the stretches above the lakes, the higher flow usually draws some of the trout and salmon upstream from First Lake and Lake Francis, which is not the case below Murphy), but there’s generally fewer anglers too.

Streamers (soft hackle streamers of all colors, ghosts, and other gaudy creations) should be in your box, as well as beadhead nymphs of your choice (just bring along plenty of split shot). Those that like to entice fish to the top with dries might want to do so with CDC Caddis and BWO patterns of all makes and models – there’s plenty of them to try.

We have a nice weekend of weather ahead, and there’s only a month left in our season … Get up here to enjoy it!