Know Your Rights...Wading and River Access

Not long ago, while fishing an Eastern CT trout stream, a fishing partner of mine, while standing midstream, was confronted by an adjacent landowner and told, "this is private property." This was despite a DEM posted sign stating that the public were entitled to access within 10' of the river bank. The landowner arrived streamside in an ATV of some type and wore a holster with a visible sidearm. The fisherman explained that he was within his legal right, below the high water mark, and not on private property. When the landowner asked to see his fishing license, my friend asked if he was a DEM or law enforcement official and did not produce his license. The verbal exchange ended and the landowner continued to sit streamside in his vehicle while my friend continued to fish for an hour or more. A phone call to DEM and to the resident state trooper the next day resulted in a visit to the landowner, with a caution not to harass anglers in this particular section of the river. The landowner on several other occassions continues to "visit" his property streamside when anglers are present, however without verbal exchange.

Wading fishermen should not be intimitated by such encounters and should know their legal rights: http://www.nationalrivers.org/us-law-public.htm This link is an excellent discussion on the subject.

While no one advocates confrontation, knowing your rights will lessen the intimidation factor that many of us have likely encountered as we search and wade our streams and rivers.
Drag Free!

Eastern CT and the Farmington River

The heat and low flow has ended fishing on the Natchaug and all other streams in Eastern CT.(northeast area at least). While you may find a few deeper cooler spots on the Moosup River, fishing is not advisable until the water cools and the levels come up. The Natchaug fished very well into the 3rd week of June as sulphurs, ants and black caddis were the go-to patterns.

The trout are struggling for oxygen and have been seen podding up in cooler flows on both rivers. Not a good time for Eastern CT opportunities. The only game in town becomes the Farmington. Despite the heavy pressure, the upper TMA and above on the West Branch of the Farmington may be the best lower New England has to offer. Patience, choosing some of the less pressured areas, and being willing to make frequent fly changes will lead to success. Oh, and you better be on 7x at this time as the water is crystal clear, a bit low, but perfect and the trout are very picky!

We managed some fine fish on the Farmington just recently, as the above video will show. With the water clarity excellent, I witnessed at least 5 fish throughout the day, rise to my pattern, open its mouth and at the last second, nudge it and reject. In another case an 18" brown who showed in a small riffle, absolutely crashed a winter/summer caddis size 16 without hesitation.

You just never know! You'll be tested at this time of the year but the rewards are unbeatable!

An aside; ran into an angler who proceeded to tell us how he "slammed" them all day upriver as he was entering Greenwoods with no rising fish and a falling rain in the early evening. First question, why leave "upriver?' The fishing on the Farmington is challenging and technical at this time of year for the dry fly guy. If you're going to nymph with an indicator, so be it. But you will NOT "slam 'em" on top. I'm personally tired of the war stories and bragging boards throughout the fly fishing community. You'll not see brag numbers posted here. I'd rather tell it like it is and keep it real ... Drag Free!

New Blog from Blue Ribbon Flies, West Yellowstone, MT

Be sure to check out the new link to Craig Mathew's blog. Craig is the owner and operator of Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone, Montana,a first class shop and one of the best you'll ever visit when you're out west!

I had the opportunity to spend some time chatting with Craig last year at the shop on a trip to Montana and Idaho and he is truly a fine gentleman who spends time with everybody and is present with his wife Jackie at the shop year round. His patterns and creations are tied by himself and his staff and are superb imitations no matter where you fish, east or west. He updates the conditions around the Yellowstone area weekly; get on the email list for his weekly reports! Drag free! New Eastern CT reports coming shortly.

Natchaug River 5/26/2010

The river exploded last night on black caddis! Of course it was around 8:15 and that left little in the way of daylight. I fished a black on top with a small shuck with success, including a nice holdover brown, since the fish were keyed on the emergers. Earlier some success on small sulphur yellow spinners which were on the water in decent numbers. Lots of fish in this river...get out and do some exploring. I see VERY few fly fishermen in the areas I frequently fish. I expect the next few week to be prime!

Drag free!

Natchaug River Update!

Finally we have some rising fish in good numbers on the Natchaug. The water level is low but just right and the fish are rising to sulphur emergers in late afternoon and early evening. Just recently I observed them switch over to caddis emergers at dark, as the tan and black caddis appeared.

It is not uncommon to watch the beautiful sulphur duns float unmolested down the feeding lanes as the fish take emergers with a rolling subtle rise. We did manage a few on usuals,parachutes and traditional sulphur drys, but a yellow soft hackle or sulphur emerger fished in the film or just under the surface was a better choice. As the caddis appeared, the rises became more splashy as the fast moving emergers came to the surface.

Low clear and slow moving calls for 6x or lower. I have gone to 7x when confronted with refusals and if your knots are good, tippet fresh, you'll have no problem.

Also spent some time on the Moosup and Quinebaug with few rising fish to report on the Moosup as yet. We did find risers on the Quinebaug with limited success. Let me know your observations if you regularly fish the rivers of eastern CT! Drag free! flifishri@yahoo.com

Natchaug River, CT early season update!

The Natchaug River in eastern CT is a "home" river of sorts in that I fish it more often than any other during the spring and fall months. Lower and warmer water in the July/August timeframe pretty much restricts fishing during those months. Plenty of access, Trout Management Area, and the 2nd most heavily stocked river in CT makes this gem a fly fishing standout in Eastern CT. April 23rd saw quills, small spinners, likely BWO or mahogany, and large spinners falling at dark after a brief late afternoon shower. Fish were taking the spinner at dusk, and earlier in the afternoon, the dark quill body imitations. A few caddis showed but not in the proliferation that is common a bit later in the month. Lots of midge present as well. The Natchaug holds some very nice fish. some holdovers from the autumn stocking and some from previous seasons that manage to survive the low warm water summers.

Fish were sporadically rising to the above imitations; not as active as this river will become once the caddis and then sulphurs begin their appearance. One brown who took a spinner came to hand with a snell and swivel hanging out of its mouth...which may have accounted for its unusual rise form prior to taking the spinner. I cut the snell as close as possible; trying to remove the deeply imbedded hook would have killed the fish no doubt. Shame! Even though this fish was compromised by this situation it nonetheless took the spinner; we all need food when we need it! Took several more very nice rainbows BUT this is not about reciting war stories, or personal brags, or numbers...plenty of that on any number of forums devoted to fly fishing. That subject's for another time!

I won't be too specific here on locations as the entire stretch along CT 198 in Eastford/Chaplin CT provides ample access. Email me at flifishri@yahoo.com for more specifics or any questions. The Natchaug remains one of my very favorite trout streams for reasons beyond the ample fly fishing opportunites; beautiful water, scenery, wildlife and away from the crowd in the state park/picnic area, SOLITUDE!

Pre-Opener report...Moosup River, CT

Moosup River in Central Village (Plainfield) CT is a TMA, catch and release and thus open year round. The past few days, post flood waters, has shown lots of early stoneflies and hungry newly stocked fish. Not many looking up as yet, but did manage to take a brown on top with a stimulator. This is a lovely stretch of river, directly behind the Quinebaug Trout hatchery, with easy parking and access via the yellow trail. The Moosup empties into the Quinebaug, downstream of the hatchery. Deep runs, pools and riffles amidst wooded forest area provides good cover and cool water. Stocking reports show that some 2200 trout are stocked in the TMA, with 7000 throughout the Moosup system. There are holdovers; I had a solid 18 incher on hook for several minutes in fast current and couldn't get him to hand to see if he was a holdover or not...oh well!
This river originates in RI, and receives little fishing pressure with stocking by RIDEM not seemingly spread out although there are some very nice stretches of river on the RI side.
For now, stonefly nymphs fished deep will produce all the fun you would want! Terrific looking dry fly water and in a few weeks with the emergence of early-season mayflies, the on-top action will materialize! Hopefully by then the pale,dreary looking browns and rainbows will have colored up a bit! There are some BIG fish in this TMA; Fished the Mooosup, or any other Eastern CT rivers? Let me know your thoughts! I will not be overly specific with locations in these public posts, but hope to provide some level of interest for those who haven't fished some of the less well-known streams and rivers of Eastern Ct and RI. Drag free!