Random Fishing Thoughts

It looks like northern New Hampshire has been spared the really heavy rainfall that some other areas in New England received yesterday and last night. We did get a bit over an inch of rain yesterday, but that’s not as bad as what was predicted. There’s a chance of showers today, but the wet weather has passed for the most part.

As far as the dam discharges on the Connecticut River, nothing has changed, but there is a possibility that the level at Murphy Dam (Lake Francis) could come up this weekend if the weather conditions change for the worse. Keep an eye (and ear!) on it if you’re wading down there today or tomorrow.

We expect no change at Second Lake Dam (currently 53 CFS) or at First Lake Dam (146 CFS), as the lake levels of these lakes were low enough to absorb the recent rainfall. While rain can be uncomfortable to fish in, it can be refreshing for the fishery after a period of dry conditions.

The healthy brown pictured above was caught and released yesterday morning (before the rain) in an area to the south of Pittsburg in a new spot, worthy of more exploration. Curiously, the Olive Soft Hackle Streamer didn’t do the trick this time – instead it was the Gray Soft Hackle Streamer that caught all the fish (that brown, a beautiful wild-looking small rainbow, and a small salmon, the most southerly salmon that I’ve ever netted). Smelt likely aren’t a part of the baitfish population in this area, but the fish seemed to be interested in my imposter anyway.

While fishing below the surface, a fair number of fish were lazily slurping away on the other side of the river, just below a couple of overhanging trees. My efforts to repeatedly run my offering through them were frustratingly unsuccessful, as there was no way to get the proper drift. Next time I’ll bring my dry fly rod …

It looked like caddis were on the menu for those fish yesterday, with only a few may flies floating down the water column. This is the period of the greatest insect abundance here on the upper Connecticut River, so knowing what to use and when can be a challenge. However you like to fish, making sure your fly box is well stocked for all conditions is entirely up to you …

Back Lake Update

Our last post from a couple of days ago stated that the Brown Drake hatch hadn’t happened yet. Well, they were out in force Wednesday evening (along with plenty of Black Caddis), and the duns were plastered on the window screens of many of our lakeside cabins yesterday morning. The Brown Drakes have arrived, which should mean good evening fishing for a week or so before our VIP of dinner guests arrives, the Hexagenia may fly.