Quarantine on the Connecticut

I found a couple of hours respite yesterday from the craziness currently taking place locally and across the globe. Yes, I’m lucky that the Connecticut River is locally available for fishing and exploration to me during this never-ending period of “social distancing” that we’re all going through.

The river is a reminder of the way things used to be, really how they should be. Now that the word “pandemic” is part of our everyday vocabulary, it feels as though the way we lived prior to this was a long time ago … almost a dream. No more large crowds, sporting and cultural events, hugs, or handshakes it seems going forward, at least for a while. The river’s flowing beauty helps me forget what’s happening right now, and remember how it used to be, at least for a few hours.

While the fishing is primary to being out there, just seeing some of our early spring scenery is more than enough. A bald eagle soaring overhead, a magnificent river otter on the search for his next meal, the refreshing sight of mayflies (BWO’s) or midges flitting through the cool air, and of course, the tug of a large trout you may have just fooled. You get the picture – there are a lot of reasons we go to the river and they’re all still there. Certainty in these uncertain times.

Just to let you know before asking, yes, all precautions have been taken on my trips to the river. I’m fishing alone, and rarely see a soul out there, and if I do the conversation is from a distance. I can’t think of an activity that exemplifies social distancing better than fishing. I’m also not encouraging anyone to venture north while the virus runs its course in other areas. Stay where you are, keep yourself local, and hopefully you can get out to fish one of your rivers.

As I said before, the fishing, while focused, is secondary. A combination of streamer patterns (Chuck Degray’s Gray Soft Hackle Streamer), fished at varying depths, and occasionally Jon Howe’s Floating Smelt fished on top, are what I’ve been throwing out there. Most of the time, the casts are for naught, but every now and then a take from a hungry brown trout wakes you up out of a stupor. The water’s cold as you can imagine, so the trout aren’t traveling far to scoop up their next meal – the presentation needs to be good and lucky at this time of year.

While the river flow is low (180 CFS) coming out of Murphy Dam in Pittsburg, it doesn’t take long for the river to pick up steam as its tributaries kick in sizable snow melt on its journey south. This leads to higher and slightly off color water and wading should be done with care and within one’s limitations. Rain will make the river even more inhospitable, but a stretch of several nice days in a row will make it fishable again.

Wherever you are, I hope you can find some time to get out and fish your local rivers. While the next couple of months remain questionable, we hope that you all venture north again when this is over. Until then, stay healthy and well.