River Report

Updated 5/5/08

Well this is the week we have been waiting for; consistant high day time temps with a little rain in the mix. We have stuggled to maintain river temps in the 50's but this week should be the tipping point. There is a lot going on in rivers these days. Hendricksons are beginning to come off strong in many area rivers, the hatches will increase over the next two weeks and fish will begin looking up. A report from early last week was the the action on the Nesh was all dry fly. Other bugs in the air this week will be blue quills, brown stones, and some caddis on warmer streams. It is still mostly streamer and nymph time but start looking for those rise rings in the slacker water.

The stocking trucks are rolling. Most trophy waters have been hit, ponds are getting fish daily and keep an eye on the state stocking page to see when your favorite spot gets its seasonal dose. Currently this is still one of your best times of the year to get a wild trout (and release it!!). Dave D, our source on the Winooski, reports that there have been some good numbers of spawning rainbows in the tribs this season. Most seem done with their mission and are dropping back to the big water but for now it's good ethics to leave those fish alone, they are the future of that river, not the stockies. Be patient.

We have been spending a fair amount of time stalking (note the spelling difference) some toothy critters, pike. The Otter Creek system is full of Northerns pretty much from Vergennes to Rutland and this time of year they are pretty accessible. Big streamers in slack water or flooded timber can get some great strikes (can't say much about the fight but the take is worth it). I picked a couple up below the falls in Vergennes. Drew P. landed a bunch at the Twin Bridges in Weybridge and Brian C. was hammering them at John's Bow in Brandon. One piece of toothy critter news is that Drew landed a young muskie in Vergennes. This is some of the first proof that natural Muskie reproduction is occurring in the Otter.

Father's Day Stream and Brook and the Inn at Essex will team up for a free casting clinic at the Inn's new stocked pond. If you want to dial in that cast or try some new Orvis product, come on by from 10-2 at the Inn.

If you have someone that you want to suprise this year, Stream and Brook offers Gift Certificates. Just shoot us an email.

- Neshobe Running clear and cool but the fish here are active and coming up to dries. It usually gets some fat brookies stocked in down town. They will spread up stream but not too far so if you are up for some jungle fishing you can work up from town sight casting to brookies in the mid teens.
- New Haven In great shape but the fishing remains slow. I wouldn't be afraid to put a nymph-globug combo to work in some of the pools. Early success from other anglers have come with spawn sacks.
-Otter Creek
Back up and muddy from Middlebury to Vergennes but it should last too long. Below Middlebury it's a lot clearer and there is some great pike water in flooded plains. I fished the headwaters this weekend and landed a nice 18" bow. Most likely it was courtesy of the state, they stocked that section with trophy fish last week. It's in great shape in the Wallingford area and there are miles of water off the beaten path full of great holes and runs where many big fish hang out and winter over. Put your time in up there and you will be rewarded. I got my fish (and lost two others) on an olive wolly.
-Middlebury River Still cold but running clear. Still a streamer nymph water but that should change this week. This river gets decent hatches and there are a lot of wild fish living above Rt. 7.
-Furnace Brook Classic brook trout waters. Work the sunnier spots these days until the water temps come up. One of the places you could throw a dry/dropper combo. and see some surface action with the little brookies.
- Lewis Creek
The smallies are in. But, not in the numbers that they will be. There was a good push two weekends ago and not much more since. They haven't made it to the falls in Ferrisburg yet. Almost every fish I have landed there has been a fat female. The males haven't come up yet. Remember, it's catch and release only on bass right now. The further you get from Rt7 the more you will have to yourself.
Ottauqueeche Heard From Seth, that the water is running high and clear.This was our #1 big holdover river last spring. We caught lots of rainbows in the 16-18" range that were certainly last year's stockers. Hoping for the same this spring. Streamers are the best bet right now.
Winooski
High but fishable. Again, the higher up stream you go the more fishable it will be. Working up towards Cabot for some big native brookies would be my approach these days.

USGS River Flow Data

STOCKING SCHEDULE

If you are looking for some great locally tied flies for your trip to Vermont we recommend Brian at
Cast Away Flies.

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Stream and Brook Fly Fishing
37 West Main Street
Vergennes, VT 05491
802-989-0398