River Report
Updated 6/27/09

Overall we are in pretty good shape these days. The salad days of dry fly fishing through the day are coming to an end, it's back to nymphing and streamers if you are out with the sun high in the sky but that doesn't mean the fishing is off. We have had a lot of luck mid day with good old wolly buggers, prince, hare's ear, and black stones. Nothing too fancy, just the standard summer patterns.

Weather wise, it's hit or miss. Went down to the New Haven two mornings ago to find it up 2' from the night before and dirty, we hadn't had a drop of rain overnight in the valley but the mountains must have been hammered. The river dropped by that afternoon which is what the next few days look like around the state: fast moving storms, dropping a lot of water and rivers that rise and fall quickly.

Now is the time to think about the Lake fish that we have started guiding for: bowfin, gar, carp, bass, pike this fishery is a great way to spend the mid day hours and fish the trout on either end. The Lake fish like the hot sun and are very visible, it's all a sight casting experience. We have trout and Lake trips all through the summer.

Read on for more detail.

Gift Certificates make a great Gift. Anglers like nothing more than to plan a fishing trip for months so drop us a line and we'll get hooked up.

See below for some specifics:
- Neshobe In good shape. Could go up due to storms in the mnts. each afternoon but it drops and clears quickly, doesn't get muddy. Fish in Forestdale.
- New Haven Still fishing very well. I found a nice couple of runs full of fish that I am guessing were last year's stockers, all 14-16", big shoulders and hard fighting. I think it's an often overlooked section (I know I have for years) that has been a hide away for the fish. I had clients take some nice wild browns in there as well. Great green stonefly hatches at dusk.
-Otter Creek
Hard to predict right now. It's not dropping too quickly but it's not on the way up either. In the Middlebury area it's still running pretty hard but it's fishable (be careful if you get in the water) We have had luck in Weybridge lately.
-Middlebury River
A very good bet right now. Had client hook in to a really nice fish on the lower stretch but also had clients get skunked down there so it's hit of miss, upper Midd. is a hit.
-Furnace Brook I haven't put time in here but it usually mirrors the Neshobe.
- Lewis Creek
Still some smaller bass in the lower sections (1-2lbs.) that are a lot of fun on a 3wt. Black wolly bugger was the key fly in Ferrisburg. Up high it's been fishing well lately with stimulators.
Ottauqueeche Had some clients here early in the week. Tons of hook ups nymphing and a strong MB hatch at dusk.
Winooski
Running well, starting to warm up, topping 70 each day in may parts but dropping to mid 60's overnight. The recent rains could produce some dirty spots so scouting from the car might be helpful. If you can, avoid it mid day and work on either end of the day. The hot muggy days typically don't produce a good evening hatch so if that's in the forecast, go in the morning, you could wait all night for a hatch to come off.

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.

Trout Predator Magazine

This Is Fly Magazine

Great new on-line Magazines. Breaking the mold of some of the more traditional publications.

Get fishing supplies at the Classic Outfitter in South Burlington.

New Haven mid day on a wolly.

Bowfin on the Fly! I am a believer!

Winooski R. on an adams, mid day.

Typical Champlain valley water.


Brian found a nice one as well. Middlebury River is a good choice these days.

The stocked fish have been plumping up nicely.

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