Finally! With this week’s inch plus of total rain, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief. The New Haven peaked last night at just over 200 CFS, a flow level it hadn’t reached since 96 days prior, back in June. It’s back down to around 135 CFS, but that is still a steady improvement to the previous conditions. The Otter in Middlebury is up to right around 200 CFS and climbing. If it continues to rise and with the lower temperatures it has, fishing the Otter could be worth considering. The other tributaries, further south, have also been fishing well.

Generally, at least prior to the rain yesterday, fish have seemed tucked up tightly to structure, in the forms of rock ledges or shelves in particular. They often need to be convinced to move onto your fly; either by making very stealthy, natural drifts with small natural patterns and light tippet, or by luring them to move from their lies with a larger meal in the form of a stonefly, crayfish, or other streamer.

For those who like to fish streamers, now is certainly the time to do it. Medium sized patterns in olive, tan, and brown would be my main recommendations, but larger articulated patterns may also be the ticket to get a big prespawn brown to eat. On a clear sunny day, a white fly or in muddy water a black fly are good options to have in your fly box too.

In terms of bug life, we’re seeing lots of isos, especially up in the higher mountain streams like the upper Middlebury at the moment. We’ve also seen the usual assortment of smaller caddis, as well as a few larger october caddis. Keep a look out for baetis hatching during rainy days as well. I haven’t seen many fish looking up to eat recently, but that doesn’t mean if there is a strong evening hatch they won’t come to the surface to eat them. 

Patterns I’d recommend would be Duracell jigs, Blowtorch’s, or other soft hackles, Caddis patterns like the sob-czech, or Keslar Iggy, Prince nymphs, and jig streamers. 

Also do watch out for spawning fish, with this push of water, many of the browns and brookies will be looking to move to spawn in the coming weeks.

If you need any gear, suggestions, or have any questions, swing by the shop on 56 Main Street in Middlebury. We have a full table of flies, as well as an arsenal of tippet and leaders to get you geared up and back on the water. We’re also coming towards the end of the guiding season so if you’d like to see some of the water we’re fishing or the tactics we are implementing this time of the year, don’t hesitate to call the shop and book a trip.

Tight lines and good luck on the water,

Jake