Spinners Galore!

Tuesday evening Team 7x witnessed a massive flight of spinners with the falling light of day.  March Browns, smaller quills, mahogany duns  and Gray Drakes blanketed the sky in the diminishing light.  Many of the drakes were coupled as the mating rituals took place above the river .  Water levels were fine as we witnessed some  of the heaviest spinner activity we've seen in recent years of many evenings on the Natchaug.  As darkness deepened, the spinners vanished to the trees and vegetation to incubate and molt.  Unfortunately for us they did not drop to the water; however they HAD to drop likely in the early morning hours.  It was some spectacle and a beautiful sight!


The fishing was spotty; the recent rise and fall of water levels with the rain clearly have the trout off  routine surface feeding activity.  In one classic situation, a fly change to an actively rising bank feeder resulted in a nice brown brought to hand. After a miss, he continued to rise; an immediate change up to a floating soft hackle was ignored; another change, as he continued to rise along the bank in a perfect feeding lane, to a Griffiths Gnat and bang!  Brown on!  Patience ruled the day...after a miss, pause to determine if you continue to have an active feeder, and CHANGE UP.  These are the classic scenarios we dedicated dry fly/emerger guys take so much satisfaction in playing out as we spend our Natchaug evenings!  As the water levels stabilize, barring any significant rain,  look for some great opportunities in the weeks ahead.


Drag free!

Tough but not impossible on the Natchaug

As we left the river this evening, the gage was at 4.38 and the flow at 364.  This is about the limit for successful wading.  There were sporadic hatches of March Browns, Sulphurs and a decent hatch of Black Caddis at dusk along with BWO's throughout the afternoon and evening.  Some areas of the river showed no insect activity at all.  TEAM 7x and guests were successful in marginal conditions locating active feeders with CDC emergers and soft hackles fished on and just under the surface to actively feeding trout.  While the rises were few, the black caddis at dusk did provide some nice targets.  We like to fish soft hackles greased up on the surface film when the caddis are emerging. They can be ducked under  and fished as an emerger at the end of the drift.  Several nice browns and a rainbow came to hand during twilight using this method.  Black CDC emergers also took fish with this method. Sulphurs are just beginning to show but attracted little interest. The heavy flow and river height kept most away; the clarity was fine and we saw no other fly fishermen in several of the areas we frequent.  Knowing the Natchaug river system, its wadeable active pools and runs during high water conditions can make for a successful evening when many tend not to venture out.  May is nearly over and many "Evenings on the Natchaug" have been less than ideal condition wise with this crazy spell of rain, wind, low temps and all.  But we're there...and we'll manage to find the active fish.  Think about joining us...more info at bottom of the blog.  Drag free!


TEAM 7x will be fishing the EB and WB of the Delaware, Willowemoc and Beaverkill over the Memorial Day Weekend.  ALL of these wonderful rivers are currently blown out!
Fingers crossed for NO significant rain in the coming week!! Spring? Sun? Anyone remember what that's all about?? :):)

Fly Fishing Intro at Charlie Brown Campground

Saturday, May 14, TEAM 7x conducted a no-charge fly fishing intro lesson for campers at Charlie Brown Campground in Eastford, CT on the banks of the Natchaug River.  All new SAGE rods, reels and lines were supplied compliments of  The Lower Forty Fly Shop in Worcester, MA, a TEAM 7x associate member.

After casting lessons, campers attending the session regrouped at the river for on stream insect ID and a lesson in reading the water.  It was an enthusiastic group, and several campers brought their own fly rods, reels and gear for help in proper setup.  TEAM 7x will be offering another session in early June at the Natchaug River's finest on stream campground, Charlie Brown Campground!
 
Our TEAM 7x folks took trout this week on emergers fished on top and in the film and small quills and spinners.  We're between hatches for the most part with a week of rain predicted.

The week of May 16 looks like unsettled weather AGAIN and rain, which will add needed water to the Eastern CT system.  We're waiting for a strong caddis emergence along with the sulphurs next in line.  Fish are rising sporadically throughout the river and TEAM 7x knows the locations for the best dry fly opportunites; join us for an "Evening on the Natchaug."  Info below.