Evenings on the Natchaug...leaders

The current flows on the Natchaug, like many freestone streams can be tricky; back eddies, boulders, natural obstructions cause conflicting current and can create instant drag when fishing dry flies.  The majority of our guests and fly fishermen we encounter (although rarely on the sections we fish!) are improperly set up with their fly line/leader system.  Most use loop to loop which can create "hinging" during the cast and present another area to hang up the fly in windy situations.  Many are fishing with a leader too short or with too short or no tippet section.  If loop to loop works for you, fine but we suggest giving the following a try...TEAM7x believes it will improve your transition from fly line to leader and turn your fly over easily while extending your drag free drift.


We use a 5 turn nail knot with a 3 foot piece of 20 lb. test mono to the fly line tip. Maxima Chameleon is a good choice since it is a stiff, hard mono. This creates a solid butt section.

Once the nail knot is complete, cut the butt section to 24 to 30 inches and tie your leader in with a 3 turn blood knot. To a 9' leader add 24 to 36 " of tippet.  We use a 5x or 6x leader and add 5, 6, or 7x as the situation requires. If a new leader is necessary, you've still got plenty of butt section.  Use Knot Sense on the nail and blood knots if you like.  The butt section transitions the fly line to leader much better than loop to loop...IN OUR OPINION...try it and see if it doesn't result in better turn over!  A 13 to 14 foot leader system will result in better drag free drifts and in the clear and currently lower water of the Natchaug,  reduce the chance of spooking that big trout! I tie and prefer the traditional knotted up leaders from Umpqua material with Varivas flouro tippet.

Try the "fixed butt section" described above...it works for us!

Natchaug River, Eastern CT's finest

Yesterday afternoon and evening our guest took several nice rainbows on emergers and on top to a variety of patterns.  Water levels are good at this point but a shot of rain would be a big help. The clear water and slower flows now require 11-12 feet of leader when targeting rising trout; and be on 7x, of course!  Frequently we see too short leaders, short or NO tippet, or an unbalanced system which presents a problem in turning the fly over and in controlling drag.  The Natchaug presents lots of back eddies and subtle current, and can be a challenge to controlling drag on many sections.  More about how we set up our leader system later.


At dusk a blizzard of caddis, spinners, sulphurs and BWO's had trout rising in good numbers.  As usual, TEAM7x and guest were the only ones enjoying some great fishing in the areas we frequent on the Natchaug.  Our guest, a resident of Cape Cod made an interesting point; the Natchaug is the nearest trophy trout stream to the Cape...think about it; he's right!  "TEAM 7x and the Natchaug, a revelation," in a follow up email...thanks Steve!


We're hoping the great conditions hold thru the next weeks.  We'll be conducting our 2nd fly fishing intro session at Charlie Brown Campground on June 14 on the banks of the river.  If you're interested let us know as space is available on a limited basis.  We feature all new Sage rods and reels and it's a great chance to try all the Sage trout series fly rods courtesy of Sage and The Lower Forty outfitters our TEAM7x supplier.


COMING SOON!  A review of Cutthroat furled leaders and the "Snake 1" fly reel from Fly Fishing Benefactors, a great reel at a great price point!


ALSO:  The NATCHAUG dozen, 12 proven patterns we use repeatedly on the river.

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.

NATCHAUG RIVER April 30, 2011

A beautiful day on the Natchaug...the water level has come down to perfect fishable levels in the last day and today featured Quill Gordons at 2 pm until 5.  Rising fish throughout the particular stretch shown in this video led to Browns in the 14"-16" range all on a Quill body dry. Some BWO's, and Mahogany Duns were also around. As is typical, the hatch ended around 5:00pm, the switch was turned off;  and I sat an observed the water for about an hour rather than cast blindly.  My preference is always rising fish! I observed small spinners, and a host of midges and BWO's but no rising fish.  At around 6:00 I noticed small a small yellow mayfly, one, then two...could it be? YES, sulphurs!  The small,what I believe to be the dorotheas, although its a bit early made an appearance.  Watching the water closely from bankside is SO important and gives one a chance to appreciate what an abundant food source is available to the trout and of course the choices to make in selecting a pattern. I could actually see the dun struggling to emerge almost identical to the photo below, in the surface film imitating the typical emerger pattern we so often use.

The switch should be back on!  Sure enough, one subtle rise then another in typical emerger take fashion.  I selected a size 16 traditional sulphur emerger pattern unlike the reverse hook style in the photo, left the comfortable bank side and a cigar, and promptly took 3 rising fish in a 50 yard stretch including a very nice 16" brown to end the day at dusk!  It' s only going to get better!!  Drag free!

PS:  Sunday, May 1 same great scenario, AND not a soul in sight on this beautiful stretch of river...find out more...see "Evenings on the Natchaug" info bottom of page!

UPDATE:  March Browns now present, May 3.  Plenty of rising trout...the hatch is on!

Eastern CT rivers and streams

Finally the streams of Eastern CT are alive with caddis, early stoneflies and a even a few quills, following several days of rain.  TEAM 7x fished 2 new locations last week, not the Natchaug but 2 other nearby gems and took fish on drys and emergers.  Both of these underfished streams feature deep pools, good stream cover and are easily waded if one doesn't mind a bit of bushwacking to get to some beautiful water!  We observed several large (16+) trout holding in both streams and managed a very nice fat holdover rainbow on a favorite early season  emerger pattern along with decent stockies on caddis dries.  We are adding these streams to our "Evenings on the Natchaug" program both being within 15 minutes of the Natchaug River.  The Natchaug was running a bit higher than usual but we expect lower levels and the insect activity to really peak this last week in April based on forecasts. Drag free!