We are well into the dog days of summer and despite the August heat and lack of rain we’re still finding some fish. In terms of water levels. the New Haven River is at 44 CFS, Otter Creek in Middlebury at 350, and Rutland at 228, and Lewis Creek is at 34 CFS as of the time of writing. The forecast for the coming week shows generally lows around 60 degrees and highs in the upper 70s. There will be some scattered showers and thunderstorms in the evenings with potential for more significant rain later in the week. The most important condition to keep an eye on at this point in the year will be water temperatures. Remember, once temperatures get above 67 degrees, trout will not be able to survive the stress of being hooked, and handled, making catch and release impossible. If wishing to fish lower elevations, make sure to be fishing in the low light hours, particularly in the morning when water temps are lower. This also should correspond with the more active fish hours. During the middle of the days, the primary options will be to head up in elevation to the smaller brook trout streams and to target bass, pike, and the other warm water species on the still water, and lower reaches of the big rivers. The bass fishing on poppers and streamers has been quite good lately so if you’re seeking a break from limited low-water trout options, swapping for your 8 weight is a good idea. The other most effective strategy is to when possible time your fishing to be just after some rain. Even with the smaller storms and showers we’ve been receiving, timing your outings to just after the influx of cooler water and a slight change in clarity has had a great effect on the amount and quality of fish we’ve been seeing brought to the net. In terms of specific fly patterns for trout, small jigged streamers in lighter colors and crayfish flies have worked well in addition to small caddis and mayfly nymphs in sizes 16s and 18s. I’ve also seen a few caddis, and pale evening duns coming off in the evening, as well as some larger grasshoppers flying around on the banks. Fishing a hopper dropper with a grasshopper and a small caddis pupa or pheasant tail down below can be really effective this time of year. Make sure to get your flies tight to structure in the lower water levels as fish may be more reluctant to move from their holding lies. Stop by the shop on 56 Main Street if you need to pick up some flies, terminal tackle or some information before hitting the water. If you’re looking to find some more small streams to explore, take a float trip for bass or pike, or looking to get out on the rivers during a visit later this fall, don’t hesitate to reach out over the phone or in person about a guided trip as well. 

Tight lines and good luck out on the water. Let’s all make sure to do our rain dance.

-Jake