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Fishing Reports
The Upper Connecticut River
October 03, 2003
Posted by River Excitement Guide Service
Contact: John Marshall
Hartland 4 Corners, VT 05049 USA
Phone 1: 802-457-4021
Fax: 802-457-6177
Email: rvrxcitmnt@aol.com
URL: http://RiverExcitement.com
Current Report
The Connecticut
River
from
West Stewartstown, N.H. to
North Stratford, N.H. has
cooled
down from the terrible low
water conditions we
experienced the end of June
and early July because of
minute instream flows from
smaller brooks and not enough
cfs from Murphy Dam.
The drought
conditions we experienced the
end of June are now
history.
We received around 1
1/2 inches of rain
September 28th.
The weather is going to chill
down on the Upper Connecticut
to a high in the low to mid
fifities
for Tuesday thru Friday
this week, Sept 30 thru Oct
3rd.
I have completed my
Smallmouth Floats for this
season. The area I guide for
these battlers is 100
miles to the south on the
same river. I will be
returning to the
northern part for trout on
September 15th thru October.
This
is bigger water here, (below
Wilder Dam) more
diverse and just as
beautiful, with plenty of
wildlife including bald
eagles. The Smallmouth Bass
fishing is usually terrific
with fly
or with spinning gear, all of
which I supply for my
guests. My fly fishing
equipment consists of Sage
and Orvis so my guests can be
sure they are fishing with
the best the industry has to
offer. Our average
Smallmouth is
about two pounds, tenacious,
hard hitting, hard fighting,
high jumping and very clean.
I have
noticed that most
rivers are dropping
quickly.
I had a float last
Tuesday September 30th with
Tony and his dad Cash. We
were spinning on the Upper
Connecticut River for trout.
It was a very windy, cold day
with the trout in a stingy
bitting mood. We landed 6
trout and lost a few. The big
trout was a beautiful brown
about 15 inches long. They
were two guys I enjoyed
spending time on the river
with.
I will be
taking
off the rest of October to do
a little fishing myself and
also scouting out a couple of
areas.
I will try to keep you posted
with my success or lack of.
The insects to look
for in October are
hatches of smaller
bwo's and a caddis hatch
around
5 P.M. or so. Small pheasant
tail nymphs fished in the
film with twitches are a good
bet as are compara dun bwo
imitations in sizes 20 to 24.
Size 20 parachutte adams and
a 16 or 18 parachutte light
cahil and a 16 or 18
chartreuse floating stonefly
will also take fish if worked
with action (twitches)if a
drag free drift proves
unproductive. Try nymping
with 14 to 18 Pheasant Tails,
hares Ears or Prince Nymphs
with weight attached about 10
to twelve inches above the
fly. Use the high sticking
technique for most
applications, if possible. A
streamer such as a muddler,
picket pinn, brook trout,
brown trout, or rainbow trout
deerhair or wooly buggers -
All on a sink tip and short
leader. Most hits will come
on the swing so try to target
your streamer through
productive areas.
What we need is a warm day or
two to really get the insects
moving which in turn will
turn on the trout and also
the baitfish the trout feed
on. If you can manage to put
yourself on a favorite
stream this month, (October)
during a warming spell, there
is a good chance you will
harvest some wonderful catch
and release memories.
I would like to thank
everyone who has taken the
time and effort to view my
Web Site and Fishing Reports
this season. I appologize
for any and all delays
associated with my posting
accurately and hope you will
continue to view my Web Site
and Fishing reports next
year. I intend to improve on
the sharring of information
with you for next season, on
the areas of the Connecticut
River which I guide on and
also make a few improvement
changes on my Site. I intend
to promote more scenic
floats while still offering
quality fishing floats.
Because of this goal
I have purchased the finest
Binoculars from Steiner,
Swarovski and Zeiss and a
Zeiss Diascope 85 Spotting
Scope compatable with a
digital camera - all for your
viewing and picture taking
pleasure. I also have a CD
Burner on my computer
enabling me to send you a
picture CD of your float. I
have 15 years of Guiding
Experience for Trout and
Smallmouth Bass Float Trips
on the Connecticut River. As
a graduate of
the Culinary Institute of
America, Hyde Park, N.Y. I
am able to provide
Delicious Streamside Lunches,
served on a table with a
table cloth, china and
sterling silver flatware, in
a delightful setting. Food
for scenic floats will
consist of a guests choice of
snacks or a full lunch.
Snacks will consist of Jumbo
Shrimp Cocktail, Assorted
Vermont Cheeses, Carrs
Crackers and Smoked Salmon,
all served in a delightful
setting.
My
computer will be down for
the next two weeks because of
extensive renovations at my
home. We just paid our last
Mortgage Payment in April
2003 and now my wife feels
that it is time to remodel.
(Whatever She Wants) Anyone
needing to
contact me please call or
fax.
My phone
number is 802-457-4021
My fax is 802-457-6177
Special Report
Fly Fishing for
Trout in
Moving Water
Demystifying Emergers
There are many different
techniques and riggings in
river fishing for trout.
Usually this depends upon
what the trout are feeding on
at that particular moment,
what level, (top, middle, or
bottom) and the river
conditions (low water, high
water, stained water, lightly
stained water, perfect
conditions, etc). Trout will
feed on many different food
items such as sculpins,
leeches, dragons flies,
damsel flies, dobson flies
(helgramites), crane flies,
terrestials such as worms,
beetles, ants and hoppers,
bait fish, smaller trout,
mice and even baby birds,
etc. However the four food
forms usually utilized by
river trout for food are
Mayflies, Caddis flies,
diptera (midges) and
stoneflies.
The ideal conditions
upon arriving at your
favorite stream are when
trout are exposing themselves
in good numbers while
feeding on or near the
surface. This usually means
that there is a hatch
underway. For the best trout
deceiving success you will
need to offer them an
impression of the food item
they are feeding on at that
time. Most fishermen are
aware of this but may
encounter frustration by not
being able to hook up while
fish are showing all around
them. Where they are probably
missing the boat is not
realizing that the trout may
be taking a smaller insect
than is visible to the
angler, a terrestial insect
in the film or keyed upon a
specific stage of insect,
mayfly, caddis or diptera,
under or in the surface film.
Trout will develop a
preference for a particular
stage of an insect during a
hatch, especially on hard
fished public water or long
placid pools and flats. Allow
me to explain.
Most trout feeding
during an emergence will
focus on the stage of insect
which at that particular time
offers the most food mass.
This feeding relates to OFT. -
Optimal Foraging Theory,
which means all creatures
must consume more calorie
intake than the energy
expended in that food items
capture or they will die.
Trout have become, through
repeated feedings, masters on
energy efficient feeding.
They consider feeding on
these changing stages that
have the most food mass at
that time as being a safe
reliable food source offering
them the most calorie intake
for the least energy
expended. It is more energy
efficient for them to to feed
in this manner than to move
hither and fro consuming all
food forms. This is most
evident on those challenging
slow moving rivers containing
large flats and pools. The
larger the slow moving flat
or pool the more challenging
the fishing will be.
This is when it is
imperative that you realize
trout will not only become
selective to different
insects but can also develop
a preference towards
different stages of those
insects.
Almost every pool or
flat will have current lanes
moving through it. Sometimes
there will be three or even
four barely noticeable
current lanes. The greater
majority of insects -
emerging, falling and also
floating down from upstream
will find their way into
these current lanes. This
creates a situation where
large condensed quanities of
insects slowly move through
these pools and flats trapped
in these narrow strips of
water - moving just slightly
faster than the main body.
This is where the trout will
be lined up to take advantage
of this efficient feeding
opportunity.
Lets follow the
progression of most emerging
mayflies. They are first
available to trout near the
bottom of the stream as a
nymph. When ready to emerge
they make their way to the
elastic like miniscus called
the surface film (Surface).
Each insect may make two or
three attempts or more before
they finally reach the
surface film. (Many
biologists refer to an
insects difficulty in
breaking through this surface
film to become airborne as
similar to a human trying to
push through six feet of
dirt. No simple task.)
Depending on the hatch there
can be anywhere from hundreds
to almost uncountable numbers
of these emerging insects.
Just under or in the surface
film most insects begin to
literally crawl out of the
back of its thorax. This
stage is called the emerger.
The insect is very
susceptible to the trout at
this time. Huge quantities of
vulnerable insects during
this stage can be efficiently
sipped from the surface film.
If the insect gets wet it
will prevent or delay
successful emergence. Because
of this many do not make it
and are consumed by trout as
cripples or stillborn. Isn't
it ironic that after spending
their entire lives as an sub
aquatic nymph their very
existence and purpose upon
emergence depends on their
not getting wet.
The next stage is the captive
dun. This is when the insect
has emerged but may still be
stuck to the nymphal shuck.
Usually they will twitch
violently trying to free
themselves - another
vulnerable and good stage to
imitate.
Then, the insect is finally
rid of its shuck, wings are
damp and a low silhouette is
present on the surface. This
stage is called the
transitional dun. When
feeding on this and all of
the preceding stages the
trout knows through prior
experience that they have
time and usually can casually
feed without fear of the
insect flying away causing
wasted energy. Not so with
the next stage.
This stage is called the dun.
This is when the insect is
fully emerged, free of its
shuck and high riding on the
surface with upright wings.
This insect can fly away at
any moment.
I am sure many of
you have seen a trout
expending energy on a fleeing
escaping insect which had
become airborne. I believe a
trout has a preference for
all the other stages but will
break into the outside world
beyond the surface to take an
insect if sufficient insect
mass warrants it or if there
is no hatch or insects
available. Individuals may
feed on the occasional
insect. Although many of the
smaller mayflies will emerge,
molt and mate within an hour
or two most mayflies take 24
hours. This stage is called a
spinner.
Upon mating the sought after
females with their high
calorie content eggs fall
upon the surface to deposit
those eggs. Some will make
their way down submerged
logs, rocks or even dive
under in order to deposit
them. These female spinners
offer still another trout
feeding opportunity.
Many insects will
begin hatching sometime in
April and continue through
October and even into
November. During the course
of a season these flies will
offer the trout many surface
feeding opportunities with
many different types of
insects hatching at many
different times of the day.
Sometimes a trout will only
accept a specific stage of
insect near the surface but
usually an imitation of a
floating nymph, emerger,
captive dun, transitional dun
or high riding dun will save
the day. I like to fish two
different stages at a time
and let the trout tell me
what they want. This
preference can change as the
hatch progresses or another
insect begins hatching in
greater numbers.
That is what to me offers the
greatest challenge. If we
could go out and fish for
showing trout with the same
fly every time and receive a
strike on every cast I
believe we would soon find
another sport.
Good observation, knowing a
little about entomology and
knowing how to read rise
forms will go a long way in
helping you to choose an
offering necessary to
accommodate the many
different types of trout
feeding behavior challenges.
For a two fly rig I
simply tie a 10 to 12 inch
tippet to the bend of the
first fly. For smaller flies
16 to 24, I thread the first
fly then tie on a 1 to 2
foot tippet. The knot will
stop the fly from sliding
beyond it. Now tie on the
second fly to the end of the
tippet. Another rig I use is
to tie on the first fly
leaving a twelve to sixteen
inch tag end. The second fly
is tied to this leftover,
hanging piece of tippet.
When fishing on or
near the surface I generally
use 3x for size 6 to 8, 4x
10 to 12, 5x 14 to 16, 6x 18
to 20, 7x 22 to 24.
Emerging
Stages
Suggested Flies to match
1. Nymph
Fished on the bottom or
rising to the surface
2. Floating nymph
No
weight, mole fur or cdc added
to thorax region -
Fished
just under or in the surface
film
3. Emerger
Soft Hackle or CDC
emerger
4. Captive Dun
Compara Dun with an z-lon or
antron shuck, -
light, medium
or dark dun cdc or elk can be
used for wing
5. Transitional Dun
Compara
dun - light, medium or dark
dun cdc or elk can
be
used for wing
6. Dun
Classic catskill
tie with cock hackle tail and
hackle. -
Wood duck
wings for most ties. Hackle
can be clipped
below the
body to present a flush in
the film
imitation
similar to a Transitional dun
Spinning for Trout
Try to concentrate on
targets. Those areas a trout
is most likely to be holding.
Try in front of or behind a
current breaking obstruction
such as a boulder or log.
Look for shade, or where
darker water meets clearer
water, pockets, drop offs,
cuts in the bank, downed
trees, where tributaries
enter, seams near the faster
currents and shoals and
islands, etc. Stand above
allowing your lure or plug
to swing through theses
targets. Let any current do
the work for you. Depth and
control will best be
achieved by raising or
lowering the rod as your
offering is steered through
good fish holding structure.
Reel in fast enough to gain
the desired depth while
keeping the blades turning,
spoon wobbling or good plug
action continuing.
Concentrate on the drift but
more importantly on the
swing. Many strikes occur
through or at the end of the -
in the current swing. This
is when your offering will
begin to rise from the bottom
due to increased current
velocity. This causes the
spinner blades, spoon or plug
to give off more vibration
and fish attracting action.
Be ready. I use 4 - 8 lb
line depending on conditions.
A Few Recommended Lures and
Plugs for Trout
1. 1/16oz - 1/4 oz Spinners
and Spoons
a. Mepps Aglia - gold or
silver
b. Panther Martin - 1. gold
blade-black body-yellow
dots,
2. Panther Martin - Silver
blade-yelow body-orange dots
c. Cleo Spoon - 1/8oz to 1/4
oz - gold
d. Al's Goldfish - 1/8oz to
1/4 oz - gold
2. Rapalas
a. Sinking Rapala, size 3 -
size 9 - most used 5-7
b. Floating Rapala size 5 -
size 11 most used 5-7
3.Small Crankbaits
a. Baitfish Imitation
b. Crawfish imitation
c. Insect Imitation
Hot Fly Patterns
There are a lot of patterns
which can work at different
times. For trout on or near
the
surface this time of year. I
like to use soft hackles and
nymph combinations such as
pheasant tails, princes and
hares ears in sizes 14 to 20.
Cast this two fly rig to
showing
fish and either allow to
gently swing or flow drag
free. One soft hackle rig
which I particularly like for
challenging, showing fish is
a 14 hares ear soft hackle
with a 18 or 20 pheasant tail
nymph as a dropper.
I
like parachutte
adams and compara dun bwos
for an imitation of many of
the smaller flies. The
little chartreuse Stone flies
will be accepted most of the
season from mid June on as
are the Pale
Evening Duns - Both size 16 -
18. A good
imitation for the isonychia
is a red quill variant. At
times cutting the hackle
flush on the bottom of the
fly is a good thing. Light
Cahills will be productive at
times right through to
September. Do not forget to
try a parachutte light cahill
in 14 - 16. I have taken
quite a few trout on them.
Another very important fly to
have is a selection of Elk
Hair Caddis in sizes 14 thru
20. The body types I like
are hares ear, peacock herl,
pheasant tail, orange floss,
yellow floss, olive floss,
muskrat gray and brown.
As we get further into August
and September make sure you
have a selection of
terrestials (Ants, Beetles &
Hoppers) and be ready with
smaller bwo compara duns and
nymphs from 18 to 24.
Wooly
Buggers, Cone Head Flash
Bugers and
Bead
Head Buggers all work in
Black,
Brown
and Olive, Muddlers and also
many of the deer hair and
maribou streamers such as
Black ghost, Brown, Brook and
Rainbow streamers.
You can not go wrong using
Black or Brownish Stonefly
imitations from size 8 - 10.
Also a Hares Ear, Pheasant
tail or Prince Nymph in sizes
14 - 16 with a small piece of
lead free shot place about 10-
12 inches above the fly will
catch you a lot of trout if
fished in pockets, slicks,
runs or anywhere that looks
fishy. Use the high sticking
technique in most situations.
For smallmouth fly fishing I
like cork poppers and hair
bugs from sizes 2 thru 10.
Favorite colors to have in
there are red, yellow,
orange, chartreuse, olive,
and also a few natural colors
such as cream, grey, brown
and black. Bring wooly
buggers in brown, black,
olive, white and yellow as
well as a sink tip and a
short 3 foot leader tapered
to 2x or 3x. Black ghost,
muddlers and bucktail
streamers such as a Mickey
Finn work as do clousers in
sizes 2 thru 8.
For smallmouth spinning the
best top waters I like are
pop r's, baby torpedos and
zara spooks. For sub surface
use rapalas, both sinking and
floating - straight back and
broken back in sizes 3 - 11
depending on conditions and
depth needed to fish.
Favorite colors are black &
silver, rainbow and perch.
Crank baits for fishing
deeper are a good idea to
have such as rebel crawfish,
Luhr Jensen speed traps and
hot n tots. I use from 4 - 8
lb line depending on
conditions. For very tough
clear low water conditions I
will tie on a 2 - three foot
section of flouro carbon
before tying on the plug. Do
not forget a selection of
spinner baits in sizes 1/8
oz. to 1/2 oz., curly tail
jigs and tube baits.
River Flows
The Upper Connecticut River
is running at 297cfs as of
October 4. She
is at present in good shape
with a lot of trout. Now all
we need to
do is catch a few.
One hundred and twenty five
miles south where I offer my
Smallmouth Floats, the water
levels can change day to day
or even two or three times
during the day, depending on
the releases at Wilder dam.
They will usually vary from
minimal flow, which is about
800cfs to 1 gate, 2 gates or
three gates. One gate is
around 3500 to 5,000cfs, 2
gates is around 7500 to
9,500cfs and three gates is
around 12,000 to 13,500cfs.
This is bigger water here
and with it comes the need
for better judgement when
enjoying the river, be it
swimming, wading, canoe,
kayak,
raft, flat bottom or McKenzie
Drift Boat.
Water Temperature
The water temperature on the
Upper C on October 4th is
running at around 58 - 59
degrees.
The
next
few
days
the air temperatures should
be in the low to high
fifities
with
cooler
nights near or below
freezing. Look
for the water
temperature to drop a degree
or two in the next few
days.
The water temperature below
Wilder Dam, 125 miles south
of the Upper C was 63
October 4.
"Good Judgement is Imperative
When Wading" especialy now
that the water and air
temperature is cooling down.
 This fishing report brought to you by River Excitement Guide Service.
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