5/17/13- Allot has happened over this last few days that is quite notable. First and foremost the freezing, literally freezing, nights in the mountains caused a sharp water temperature drop. We found that the fishing though still alright, did slow down a bit at times throughout the last few days. Reports were spotty from different areas in the county. More then 10 degrees in some places. Along with the cooler water temps a few more insects have come into the mix while a few have stepped out. Otter Creek tends to have the first appearances of new species in the year, and over the last few days we have seen the Pale Evening Duns(small sulphers) and the Sulpher Dun begin to hatch. They have joined the March Browns and Baetis still present. The Caddis continues to blast away, with Cinnamon Spotted, Grannoms, and Green Caddis. The Hendrickson Spinners have all but disappeared on Otter Creek, however can still be found present on the tribs like the Midd, New Haven, Neshobe and Furnace. With all of these bugs above the water now, dry fly opportunities are getting more and more available. Most of the dry fly fishing I have had, has been in the evening after a warmer day, and sight fishing to risers. We have done very little prospecting with dries yet. However the subsurface game has been good for those in the right place at the right time. After 3 straight days of guiding I was able to have the day to fish, and I found that the fish were changing their food preference throughout the day. I has a switch from Baetis to Caddis to PED nymphs and emergers in the course of a couple hours.
The Lake Tribs are still seeing lots of Bass action and I even heard of a steelie being landed just a few days ago. With the lower water, the Bass tend to get a bit tentative. If you fish in the lower light hours you will probably have a more productive day on the water.
Pike fishing slowed just a bit with the cooler water and weather, but this morning I saw a picture of Stever Bartlett holding massive Pike. Top-water has started to pick up on the local ponds as well.
The shop just a whole new load of flies, including dry flies, streamers, and some Vermont Fly Guys' warmwater fish snacks. Stop in and check out the best speciality fly selection in central Vermont.
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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 56 Clear May 17 2013 - 12:57pm March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Sulphers, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge
Middlebury River 55 Clear May 17 2013 - 12:44pm Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge
Otter Creek 58 Clear-Just Off May 17 2013 - 12:36pm March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Sulphers, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge
New Haven River 64 Clear May 13 2013 - 2:21pm Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge
Middlebury River 63 Clear May 13 2013 - 1:44pm Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge

Detailed Fishing Reports


New Haven River Fishing Report 5/17/13

Date: 
Fri, 05/17/2013
Water Temp: 
56
Water Clarity: 
Clear
Hatches: 
March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Sulphers, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge
Suggested Patterns: 
NYMPHS: Copperback Stones #8-14, Lexy's Sexy #8, Knotty Girl #4-8, Girdle Bug #6-10, Montana Princes #12-16, Psycho Prince #12-16, Copper Johns #12-16, BH Prince Nymph #10-18, Batman #10-14, Hares Ear #12-16, Soft Hackle #10-14, Caddis Larva #12-16, Bh Caddis Pupa #14-18, Gut Instinct #12-16, Pheasant Tail #12-16, Mighty May Sloan Hendrickson #12-14, Little Yellow Sloan #14-18, Kyle's BH Yellow Sally #14-18, Anglecase Baetis #14-18, Juju Baetis #16-18, RS2 #14-18, Snowshoe BWO #14-18, Juans, Eggs & Sucker Spawn, Streamers * DRIES:Dark and Light Hendrickson #12-16, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun #12-16, PB's Quill Gordon #12-14, PB's Ausable Wulff #12-14, Parachute Adams #12-16, BLT #10-14, Sprouts#14-18, Elkwing Caddis, #12-16, Polywing Spinner #12-14, Gould's 1/2 Down #16-18, Yellow Stimmy #14-18

The New Haven has fished well top to bottom. The lower reaches have offered some dry fly fishing, but there has also been more pressure there as well.

Middlebury River Fishing Report 5/17/13

Date: 
Fri, 05/17/2013
Water Temp: 
55
Water Clarity: 
Clear
Hatches: 
Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge
Suggested Patterns: 
ons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge Suggested Patterns: NYMPHS: Copperback Stones #8-14, Lexy's Sexy #8, Knotty Girl #4-8, Girdle Bug #6-10, Montana Princes #12-16, Psycho Prince #12-16, Copper Johns #12-16, BH Prince Nymph #10-18, Batman #10-14, Hares Ear #12-16, Soft Hackle #10-14, Caddis Larva #12-16, Bh Caddis Pupa #14-18, Gut Instinct #12-16, Pheasant Tail #12-16, Mighty May Sloan Hendrickson #12-14, Little Yellow Sloan #14-18, Kyle's BH Yellow Sally #14-18, Anglecase Baetis #14-18, Juju Baetis #16-18, RS2 #14-18, Snowshoe BWO #14-18, Juans, Eggs & Sucker Spawn, Streamers * DRIES:Dark and Light Hendrickson #12-16, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun #12-16, PB's Quill Gordon #12-14, PB's Ausable Wulff #12-14, Parachute Adams #12-16, BLT #10-14, Sprouts#14-18, Elkwing Caddis, #12-16, Polywing Spinner #12-14, Gould's 1/2 Down #16-18, Yellow Stimmy #14-18

The Midd is running pretty low right now, but has started to pick up. I have spent sometime there recently trying to avoid the stockers on the Midd. While testing out some of our new dries, I was able to provoke some good strikes on top. The Midd will be getting stocked soon though. the lower reaches are low, but have made for good fishing in the morning.

Otter Creek Fishing Report 5/17/13

Date: 
Fri, 05/17/2013
Water Temp: 
58
Water Clarity: 
Clear-Just Off
Hatches: 
March Browns, Pale Evening Duns, Sulphers, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Baetis & Midge
Suggested Patterns: 
NYMPHS: Montana Princes #12-16, Psycho Prince #12-16, Copper Johns #12-16, BH Prince Nymph #10-18, Batman #10-14, Hares Ear #12-16, Soft Hackle #10-14, Caddis Larva #12-16, BH Caddis Pupa #14-18, Gut Instinct #12-16, Pheasant Tail #12-16, Little Yellow Sloan #14-18, Kyle's BH Yellow Sally #14-18, Yellow CDC Bubbleback #14-18, Snowshoe PED #12-16, Anglecase Baetis #14-18, Juju Baetis #16-18, RS2 #14-18, Snowshoe BWO #14-18, Juans, Eggs & Sucker Spawn, Streamers * DRIES: PB's Quill Gordon #12-14, PB's Ausable Wulff #12-14, Parachute Adams #12-16, BLT #10-14, Sprouts#14-18, Elkwing Caddis #12-16, Polywing Spinner #12-14, Gould's 1/2 Down #16-18, Yellow Stimmy #14-18, Foam Sulpher Emerger #12-16, Para Sulpher, GT Adult Sulpher #12-16 * PIKE:VFG's Indy James, KC's Superciever, VFG's Glitz & Glinz, Marcum's Butte, Clark's Rat, SRA Double Bunny

The Creek continues to be quite entertaining. the levels are unbelievable for this time of the year and with the recent cold snap, the water dropped about ten degrees. The Caddis is just about constant in some places on Otter Creek. The PED's and Sulphers seem to be picking up later in the day, while the Baetis is in the morning. The March Brown activity is sporadic, along with the sallies. The fish have been very willing to eat out of the middle of the water column. So working Caddis and mayfly emergers has been effective. The evening is the time to find the most rising fish.

New Haven River Fishing Report 5/13/13

Date: 
Mon, 05/13/2013
Water Temp: 
64
Water Clarity: 
Clear
Hatches: 
Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge
Suggested Patterns: 
NYMPHS: Copperback Stones #8-14, Lexy's Sexy #8, Knotty Girl #4-8, Girdle Bug #6-10, Montana Princes #12-16, Psycho Prince #12-16, Copper Johns #12-16, BH Prince Nymph #10-18, Batman #10-14, Hares Ear #12-16, Soft Hackle #10-14, Caddis Larva #12-16, Bh Caddis Pupa #14-18, Gut Instinct #12-16, Pheasant Tail #12-16, Mighty May Sloan Hendrickson #12-14, Little Yellow Sloan #14-18, Kyle's BH Yellow Sally #14-18, Anglecase Baetis #14-18, Juju Baetis #16-18, RS2 #14-18, Snowshoe BWO #14-18, Juans, Eggs & Sucker Spawn, Streamers * DRIES:Dark and Light Hendrickson #12-16, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun #12-16, PB's Quill Gordon #12-14, PB's Ausable Wulff #12-14, Parachute Adams #12-16, BLT #10-14, Sprouts#14-18, Elkwing Caddis, #12-16, Polywing Spinner #12-14, Gould's 1/2 Down #16-18, Yellow Stimmy #14-18

The New Haven is in very good shape right now, with a very good level and plenty of good fishing to be had. the madness from the post stocking has started to slow, so its safe to venture into those areas a bit again. I haven't heard of much fishing going on up in Lincoln, but the middle and lower sections have turned out some fantastic reports.

Middlebury River Fishing Report 5/13/13

Date: 
Mon, 05/13/2013
Water Temp: 
63
Water Clarity: 
Clear
Hatches: 
Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, March Browns, Yellow Sallies, Baetis, Caddis, and Midge
Suggested Patterns: 
NYMPHS: Copperback Stones #8-14, Lexy's Sexy #8, Knotty Girl #4-8, Girdle Bug #6-10, Montana Princes #12-16, Psycho Prince #12-16, Copper Johns #12-16, BH Prince Nymph #10-18, Batman #10-14, Hares Ear #12-16, Soft Hackle #10-14, Caddis Larva #12-16, Bh Caddis Pupa #14-18, Gut Instinct #12-16, Pheasant Tail #12-16, Mighty May Sloan Hendrickson #12-14, Little Yellow Sloan #14-18, Kyle's BH Yellow Sally #14-18, Anglecase Baetis #14-18, Juju Baetis #16-18, RS2 #14-18, Snowshoe BWO #14-18, Juans, Eggs & Sucker Spawn, Streamers * DRIES:Dark and Light Hendrickson #12-16, Hendrickson Sparkle Dun #12-16, PB's Quill Gordon #12-14, PB's Ausable Wulff #12-14, Parachute Adams #12-16, BLT #10-14, Sprouts#14-18, Elkwing Caddis, #12-16, Polywing Spinner #12-14, Gould's 1/2 Down #16-18, Yellow Stimmy #14-18

The action on the Midd has been steady. The water has returned to its clear flow and fishing has been solid from the confluence to the headwaters. The pocket water in East Midd has offered some great dry-dropper fishing, and we have been testing out some of our new foam hopper and stonefly imitations there with some success.