Fishing Reports

General Fishing Report for April 20, 2018.

Greetings! Now that we have another successful Otter Creek Classic in the books its time to get down to the serious business of early season fishing! First congrats to our OCCX winners, Josh White in the amateur division and GMA's very own Devin Wendel in the pro division. Conditions were not ideal for opening weekend, but 36 fish were caught, most on the longer and slightly warmer first day. What surprised me was that not all fish caught were associated with early season water. I heard of several fish getting landed in pushy runs, some on swung streamers too. I was able to get out this morning for my first official day of the regular trout season (the ten minutes Saturday and Sunday without waders doesn't count as official!) and despite the 38 degree water, I was able to put five quality fish into the net on the lower New Haven. Most fish took my favorite stonefly, the girdle bug, but two took a nymphed white wooly bugger. The fish were associated with the current, but definitely to the soft side. Some of the really slow runs did not produce. Having my pair of nymphs near the bottom and bouncing bottom occasionally was the ticket. The majority of the fish are still on the soft side of the current and until the water warms to the 50's, this is where you should be concentrating your efforts. Same with fly selection: stones, worms, mops and larger pt's and hares ears. Keep some smaller more naturals on hand with clearer water. Look for the trout activity to improve next week with some warmer temps and rain near the end of the week.

It's a great time to be out-- no lawns to mow yet and in my opinion the best time of the year to land some big fish. I've had the best luck with the bigger fish when the water is stained this time of year.

Email me with questions dave@mmvt.com and I hope to see you out on the water!!

Cheers,

Dave

General Fishing Report 4/6/2018

Greetings Anglers! I take it that everyone is getting excited for the start of the upcoming fishing season, now only a week away! In true late winter/early spring the weather is bringing us all sorts of changes, snow perhaps today and maybe upper 50's by opening weekend. For those of you fishing in the classic, this means for you to have many options available come opening morning! I'm thinking that fishing on the Creek is going to be tough for next weekend; perhaps the lower stretches might be fishable,but the areas around Middlebury might be difficult.

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General Fishing Report 3/4/18

To all anglers, friends, and families,

I hope this report finds everyone well. We are very excited here at the shop to start to transition out of the winter season and to start thinking spring, and perhaps on the forefront on all of our fishy-minds - opening day! This year marks the 10th annual Otter Creek Classic fly fishing tournament which will take place on April 14th and 15th. Anyone who has participated in years past knows that this is a great event that goes towards a great cause. In the last nine years the Otter Creek Classic has almost raised $18,000 for the NHRAA. The purpose of this event is to continue the support of the NHRAA and advocacy of our local watersheds. If you haven't registered for the tournament already, make sure to do so! The night before the tournament we will also do a rules review and then head over to the Fly Fishing Film Tour hosted at the Town Hall Theatre right here in Middlebury - tickets are still available!

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General Fishing Report 2/2/2018

General Fishing Report for 02/2/2018. Hello Anglers and Happy New Year! It's been a tough winter so far if you are an open water trout angler. Early snow, then cold has left the Otter either locked in ice or bank full. Currently it is at 1460 cfs and dropping, so barring any rain or thaws, we could be back into fishing on the creek in a week or so. I've been out a few times since Mid-December with some success, but most of the winter so far has been dedicated to filling the bulk fly box! A great winter if you enjoy tying flies! Beside the Creek, other local waters seem to be faring the same. Some NY Lake Champlain tribs have been fishing ok when conditions warrant. I have not heard much about Lewis Creek this year, but the upper part of the open section has been looking good (Starksboro, Monkton, Hinesburg area). I have not driven over the lower stretch recently. If you do make it out, make sure you find some winter holding water. I look for depth with a bit of current.

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General Fishing Report 12/6/2017

General Fishing Report for December 6, 2017

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General Fishing Report 11/19/17

Greetings readers! The regular trout season end has come and gone so here we are with the seasonal catch and release season on some local waters. Please note: You are responsible for knowing which waters are open to fishing this time of year. Locally, the Otter Creek has produced well for me this weekend, both Friday afternoon and this (Sunday) morning. Fish were happily hanging in feeding lanes picking off my offerings. This time of year I look for a nice seam adjacent to some deeper water. In the trout stretches on the Otter Creek you won't find many of those deep, deep holes, so anything that is deeper than the average might have some fish around it. The flow was hovering around 600-700 CFS which had some runs pretty heavy, but also I was able to easily pick out the seam. Nymph patterns that worked were Princes, Pheasant Tails (or Frenchies and some smaller #14 mayfly nymphs like hares ears and darker iron lotus patterns. The bigger flies were in the #10-12 range.

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