FFC Blog Roll

Northern Vermont Fly Fishing Report

June 23, 2009

Lawton Weber of Pleasant Valley Fly Fishing Guides reports:

We've had some windy, weird weather over the past two days, and I'll be happy when its gone. It's kept temps down enough to keep the big rivers from hitting 70, but I saw very little bug activity and rising fish seemed to be a bit rarer despite lowering water levels. I was on the Big C yesterday and we had some of the strongest winds I've ever had to guide on. Northeasterly winds of 10-30 mph, blew downriver all day. We hooked over a dozen fish, but it was tough going in the casting department. I came back home to do trip on a trib of the Lamoille today where I taught a 12 yr old kid to fish and he did great, landing a native brookie on a dry as his first trout. He hooked a few more brookies and browns and made some tough sidearm casts under trees and bushes. I'll be back up on the Big C starting tomarrow through 7/6. I have some openings to do trips up there if anyone is interested in either a float trip or wading. With the Big C reaching some of its lowest levels of the year and the local big rivers reaching the low 70's by this Thursday, this is the time of year when the Upper Ct. really come into its own. Cool water, lots of fish, and literally hardly a soul on the river from Canaan to Bloomfield. We've got one more day of "weird" easterly weather, and then summer arrives bigtime with heat, humidity and t-storms on Thursday. With highs in the mid 80's, the outstanding streak of water under 70F on the big rivers will come to an end on many reaches. Mornings should still be ok, as weather later in the weekend and early next week looks a bit wetter and cooler. Obviously t-storms could bring levels up and dinge up some rivers, so just pay attention to the river flows before heading out after t-storms have been in the area. Thur-Friday looks the wettest over the next 5-7 days. Hatches consist of Sulphurs #16-20, Light Cahills #12-16, Tan Caddis #14-18, Blue Winged Olives #18-20, Summer Blue Quills #18-20, Big Golden and Brown Stones #6-12, and ants/beetles #12-20. The Hex hatches should start on the Northeastern Kingdom lakes by the end of the weekend and early next week. I'll try to do some reports while I'm up on the Big C. Good luck on the water!

Lawton Weber of Pleasant Valley Fly Fishing Guides guides the Green Mountains of Vermont.

He also reports on the Lamoille and Winooski for Fly Fishing Conditions at: www.flyfishingconditions.com/vermo