Upper Connecticut River Fishing Report: 6/29

A lot of anglers ask us a very common question, “So, what’s been the hot fly?”. It’s a good question, and sometimes knowing what they’re taking is half the battle in fly fishing. Perhaps of more importance however is how and where successful anglers are fishing. If you’re not fishing the right water, or presenting your fly incorrectly, the “hot fly” probably won’t achieve the desired outcome.

In all honesty, the fishing on the Trophy Stretch has been tough for some anglers this week, but there are some plausible explanations.

First off, the Trophy has been flowing at a very manageable 155 CFS for the last six weeks or so. This is an easy flow to cross the river at, meaning that every nook and cranny on the stretch has been poured over for a while now. It has been busy, in other words, and the trout and salmon have been receiving lots of pressure in turn.

Adding to this situation is that the other sections of the river have had additional factors that make them less desirable for fishing. The stretch below Second Lake Dam has assumed its normal summer flow of around 50 CFS – not much water, and it’s on the warmer side too. As with the rest of the northeastern U.S., we have had almost no rainfall that can keep things fresh (except for last night and today), making conditions more difficult.

Below Murphy Dam, the situation is the opposite. Lack of rainfall down state has required the release of more water from Lake Francis, which began about two weeks ago. The 600 CFS currently flowing is great for the fish to move around without difficulty, but it is the opposite for us anglers. It is impossible to cross the river at that flow and wading should be done carefully anyway.

Some anglers did quite well this week however, and perhaps it was more about tactics than using a particular pattern. When the fish are getting a lot of pressure, your technique is more important than ever, as a sloppy presentation just won’t do.

First off, Esha Camacho, the granddaughter of Angus Boezeman, landed several beautiful brook trout on the Trophy Stretch earlier this week. Angus set Esha up with his “Red & Black”, a very simple yet effective soft hackle wet pattern that is devastating in the right hands. Angus is a master at using his pattern and adjusting his presentation to what the fish are showing him. Sometimes he swings it, other times he strips it quickly through rising fish, depending on their feeding activity. He adjusts his angling based on conditions.

Yesterday, TTL guest Tim Boyd had a great day on the river with our fishing guide, Mickey Cunliffe. Nymphing is what got it done for Tim, and Mickey told me that it was not one pattern in particular that worked. Instead, it was a collection of different trailer flies, tied behind a flashback Pheasant Tail nymph, that got the desired response from the trout and salmon.

One thing that Mickey and Tim got right for sure was that they were fishing the right water where fish were, and they were fishing at the right depth. That’s the name of the game in nymphing, as you must get your flies down to the fish quickly and in “the zone”.

Tim achieved the often talked about but not always achieved “Trophy Stretch Slam” – a brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and a landlocked salmon, all in the same session. They were nice fish too, all of which were released to be enjoyed by someone else some day in the future.

The fish are there, but so are the anglers. Now is the time when your tactics and techniques need to be their best.

Back Lake Hex Hatch Update

It had to happen sometime … a rainout. Not too much to report from last night, as we got blasted by thunderstorms and lots of much needed rain late yesterday afternoon and evening.

I was also not out there on Saturday night, but hope to get a few evenings in later this week. More info to come …