5/24/13-Hit the reset button! It's like early spring all over again out there. The water levels have risen and the air temp is chilly, close to 15 degrees below average. All in all our smaller rivers are in decent shape, so if your looking at a blown out river, head to Middlebury. The next few cold days will bring us back down in water temperature and line up some great fishing.
Before this cold front moved in the fishing was very good. Otter Creek was still fishing very well, after the rain as the level rose, but is now rising and won't clear up for a few days. Both the Midd and New haven were fishing very well, and the hatches were strong in the evenings. I had a great video sent to me of the yellow sally hatch from the New Haven. Combined with a Hendrickson spinner fall, the fish were happy to come to the surface.
The hatch cycle still is ahead of normal and we have so many bugs coming off the water it continues to keep us guessing on what exactly the fish are keyed in on. It had been Caddis, but they seemed to enjoy the Pale Evening Dun nymphs quite a bit, and I had a client out yesterday that caught 5 fish on a stonefly nymph. So be prepared for ever
The last few days I found that the fish were feeding pretty aggressively between 7:30-10:30am and then again starting mid afternoon around 3:00pm and picking up much stronger after 6pm. But I had a hard time in the middle of the day. We may also find that will change with the cold weather and rain.
The pike fishing has continued its upward trend, and we have had more and more reports of topwater fishing being effective. The Largemouth have also started to slam the surface.
We have had a crazy few weeks with guiding, with most of our guides out, but this week we have a few spots open, so if you want to capitalize on the quality conditions give us a call.
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Guiding season is in full swing and if your looking to spend sometime on VT's waters, let us show you around. Whether you want to learn some new water, take a VT driftboat trip, work on your nymphing technique, or try chasing some new species with a fly rod, like Bass or Pike. GMA guides are ready to help you.
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Middlebury Mountaineers FULL SERVICE fly shop can help you with all of your fly fishing needs. We have gear from Simms Fishing Products, Patagonia, Sage, Nautilus, Temple Fork Outfitters, Fishpond, RIO, Loon Products, Cliff Outdoors, Umpqua, Montana Fly Company,
| River | Water Temp | Water Clarity | Last Update | Hatches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Haven River | 59 | Just Off | May 24 2013 - 4:39pm | March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge |
| Middlebury River | 59 | OFF | May 24 2013 - 4:35pm | March Browns, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge |
| Otter Creek | 62 | Off | May 24 2013 - 4:23pm | March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Sulphers, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge |
| Otter Creek | 58-63 | Clear-Just Off | May 20 2013 - 1:34pm | March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Sulphers, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge |
| New Haven River | 57 | Clear | May 20 2013 - 1:20pm | Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge |
Detailed Fishing Reports
New Haven River
Submitted by Jesse on Wed, 10/13/2010 - 12:36pm
Water Temp:
51
Water Clarity:
Clear
Hatches:
Baetis, Caddis, Midge
Suggested Patterns:
Golden Stone Nymphs #8-#12, PT's #12-#18, Princes: Standard, Montana, Batman, Red, Blue, Purple #10-#18, Hares Ear Nymphs(Olive & Standard)#12-#18, Angle Case Emerger #14-#18, Bubbleback Emergers #14-#16, Snowshoe Emerger #12-#16, Skin Caddis Emerger #14-#16, Unwired Caddis Emerger, #14-#16, Sparkle Caddis Pupa#14-18, BH Serendipities #12-#16, RS2's #14-#20,Copper Bob's #12-#18 (Green) San Juan Worm, Disco Midge Larva #18-#22, Streamer Patterns DRYS: Adams #14-#20,Para Adams #12-#20, Female Adams #14-#16,Para Baetis #16-#20, BWO #16-18, BWO Zelon Cripple #16-#18, Elk Hair Caddis #14-#18, X Caddis #14-#18, Purple Crystal Stimmi #12, Yellow Stimmys #10-#18, Griffiths Knat #18-#20, King Kong Golden, #8-#10, Fat Albert #6-#10, Floater in the Pool #8-#10, Para Hoppers The water on the New Haven is in great shape. Clear, cold and running just a bit high. It is late fall and the drift menu for trout is limited. BWO's, caddis pupa, and midge larva will be your best choices. We are still getting some occasional action on golden nymphs, and even some dries. Working streamers can very productive this time of year as well. Get out and fish you favorite sections as much as you can because there is only 3 weeks left on the New Haven!
Otter Creek
Submitted by Jesse on Wed, 10/13/2010 - 11:55am
Water Temp:
54
Water Clarity:
Mudy and High
Hatches:
BWO, Caddis
Suggested Patterns:
BH Golden Stone Nymphs #8-#12, BH Black Stones Nymphs #8-#12, 20 Inchers #8-#12,PT's #12-#20, Batman Princes #12-#18,Olive Hares Ear Nymph #14-#18, Bird of Prey #14-#18, Unwired Caddis Orange #14-#18, Skinny Skin Caddis Emerger #14-#18, Serindipity Olive & Tan #12-#16, CDC Bubble Back Emerger #16-#18,**Angel Case Emerger #14-#18**, RS2's #14-#22. Olive Soft Hackle #16-#22 DRIES: Parachute Adams #12-#20, Adams #12-#20, Beatis #16-#22, Beatis Cripple #16-#20, Parachute BWO #16-#20, Griffiths Knat #18-#22, Black Knat #18-#20, Elk Hair Caddis #14-#18, X-Caddis #14-#18, Orange Stimmy #12-#18, Goddard Caddis #12-#18, Vermont Caddis #12-#18, King Kong Golden #6-#8, Fat Albert Hopper #6-#10, Chernoblys #6-#10,Patachute Ants #14-#18, Double Bunnys BLK/WHT 0/2-#4, Bow River Buggers #4, Wool Head Sculpins #2, Muddy Buddys(Seriously, Try these out!) The Creek is slowly on the way down, measuring 1830cfs today. But the clarity has improved. The best choices are going to be the big bugs in your box until it comes down a bit more. Identifying the soft water and working he near by seam with nymphs. Or drifting and/or stripping a large streamer through those locations may produce as well. I have been having luck with bright colored streamer. Yellow, chartruse, and white are working. Keep an eye on the creek because when it comes back down it should fish well.
New Haven River
Submitted by Jesse on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 12:43pm
Water Temp:
55
Water Clarity:
Just off
Hatches:
Caddis, Baetis, Midge
Suggested Patterns:
BH Golden Stone Nymph #6-#10, Copperback Stone Nymph #6-#10, Girdle Bug #6-10, 20 incher #6-#10, Princes #10-#18, PT's #10-#18, Olive Hares Ear Nymph #10-#16, Bird of Prey #10-#16, Unwired Caddis #14-16,Skinny Skin Caddis Emerger #12-#16,Serindipity #12-#16, Copper John's #10-#14. Water is going to be high for a bit, but with some luck it will be come clear. The fish over the last few days have still be sitting in the faster water, but they are eating Stonefly nymphs and other larger bugs that have been washed into the column from the flooding. It won't be long, based on weather till, they begin to focus back on the emerging bugs. They are still willing to take streamers too.
Otter Creek
Submitted by Jesse on Wed, 10/06/2010 - 11:58am
Water Temp:
50's
Water Clarity:
Muddy
Hatches:
N/A The Otter will need a few days to clear up and come down a touch. If you want to it, Use large Stonefly nymphs, Attractor flies, San Juans, and large bright streamers.
Otter Creek
Submitted by Jesse on Tue, 09/21/2010 - 1:33pm
Water Temp:
60
Water Clarity:
Typical Otter, Just Off
Hatches:
Baetis, Caddis, Midge
Suggested Patterns:
BH Golden Stone Nymphs #8-#12, BH Black Stones Nymphs #8-#12, 20 Inchers #8-#12,PT's #12-#20, Batman Princes #12-#18,Olive Hares Ear Nymph #14-#18, Bird of Prey #14-#18, Unwired Caddis Orange #14-#18, Skinny Skin Caddis Emerger #14-#18, Serindipity Olive & Tan #12-#16, CDC Bubble Back Emerger #16-#18,**Angel Case Emerger #14-#18**, RS2's #14-#22. Olive Soft Hackle #16-#22 DRIES: Parachute Adams #12-#20, Adams #12-#20,Parachute Tricos #18-#22, Sunken Trico #18-20, Trico Spinner #18-#22, Beatis #16-#22, Beatis Cripple #16-#20, Parachute BWO #16-#20, Griffiths Knat #18-#22, Black Knat #18-#20, Elk Hair Caddis #14-#18, X-Caddis #14-#18, Orange Stimmy #12-#18, Goddard Caddis #12-#18, Vermont Caddis #12-#18, King Kong Golden #6-#8, Fat Albert Hopper #6-#10, Chernoblys #6-#10,Patachute Ants #14-#18, Double Bunnys BLK/WHT 0/2-#4, Bow River Buggers #4, Wool Head Sculpins #2, Muddy Buddys(Seriously, Try these out!) The creek has fished very well!! I would suggest to make some time to get out and fish it. Lots on the menu. Top water, nymphing and streamers have all brought not only fish, but sizable fish to hand. Look for mid-day and overcast day Baetis(BWO) hatches, Evening and some morning Caddis. Bright streamers work very well, I have had lots of luck with yellow and chartruse, But have taken fish on natural colors too. If your nymphing, swing your drifts.