Upper Connecticut River Fishing Report: May 29

We’re entering the sweet spot of our fishing season, if you speak to most seasoned north country anglers. The river flows are dropping, the water temperature is warming, the insect hatches are coming, and our fish are becoming much more active. The switch has been flipped, and we are near the best month of our fishing season: June.

Today marks the beginning of our summer fishing season on the Connecticut River, as we bid “adieu” to spring fishing. The flow was dropped today at Second Connecticut Lake Dam to 75 CFS (it was over 300 CFS yesterday), as Great River Hydro seeks to assume more moderate summertime river flows out of the Connecticut Lakes.

While this does not mean that the salmon run in this section ends altogether, it probably means that it won’t be as vigorous going forward. The lake water temperature was 48 degrees there yesterday, and the lake level is still high, so salmon are likely to be in the inlet below the Magalloway Bridge as long as the water stays cold. There was a good hatch of BWO’s yesterday down there too …

A consequence in the drop at Second Lake Dam was a corresponding drop at First Connecticut Lake Dam. It is at 175 CFS, which should have fly anglers salivating – this is a great flow to access all pools and runs on the river, and crossing is definitely an option in certain areas. The Trophy Stretch has received several trout stockings so far this season, and reports have been pretty good this week. Insect hatches should start in earnest soon.

The good news keeps coming too, as the flow at Murphy Dam on Lake Francis also dropped to 548 CFS today, which is a great flow for fishing down there. Anglers should still proceed with caution however, as crossing at this level should be done carefully. Streamers and nymphs are probably still your best bet, but BWO emerges and dries should be in your box just in case.

The outer ponds that can be driven to (Middle, Moose, Round, Clarksville and Little Diamond Ponds) have been stocked, as has Back Lake and Lake Francis. They are all worthy of your attention if the river gets a little too crowded for you. The state seems to have stocked some lunker brook trout in these places, so make sure you’re geared up properly to handle the potential big fish.

One of our guests found out the hard way that those Back Lake brookies don’t come in easy …