It’s been a little while since our last report. A combination of obligations and getting the dogs ready for the rigors of the grouse hunting season (just a bit over two months away …) has meant less time on the river for me lately. Relying on the reports of others, the fishing has been good, and a recent change in the river flow may mean even better days lie ahead.
The hexagenia hatch continues on Back Lake, and it seemed to be particularly robust last night. Quite a few hexes were coming off the lake, particularly as daylight faded, but there also seemed to be brown drakes still coming off as well, leading to a lot of surface activity.
It was finally a beautiful evening on Back Lake last night. The wind was nearly non-existent, there was no threat of rain or thunderstorms (which we’ve seemingly had every evening so far), and the hexagenia limbata were coming off in abundance.
A funny thing thing happened on the way to catching fish however …
It’s the last day of June and the hexagenia hatch on Back Lake is really just beginning. It’s 7 – 10 days later than normal this year due to our cold spring. The hatch was getting better on Friday night, but then we had a string of heavy thunderstorms move through the area late yesterday, causing most to abandon their evening plans.
There was a smattering of hexagenia limbata (HEX!) coming off of Back Lake last night. That was the scuttlebutt from a few of our guests, and it was confirmed for me this morning when I found one lonely specimen on the door of our boat house.
The fishing on the Connecticut River’s “Trophy Stretch” has been good for some (especially if you’re one of N.H. Guide Mickey Cunliffe’s clients), but difficult for others lately it seems. The river flow remains steady at 145 – 150 CFS in this section, as does the procession of anglers trying their luck.