Hi Folks, Despite the hot humid wet weather, the last couple of weeks of fishing has been very consistent. My focus has been small cool trout streams and still water opportunities for bass. Lake surface temperatures have ranged from 74 to 79 degrees. Small streams/brooks have ranged from 63 to 66 degrees. Our big water trout streams/rivers should not be fished currently. Those water temperatures are in excess of 70 degrees. It is hard on the trout and in my opinion unethical to fish for trout in warm water. The best time of day to pursue small stream trout is early in the morning. I have been meeting guests between 6am and 6:30am. The coolest time of the day, the water has cooled off, and there is no pressure on the water at all. Afternoon trips for bass have been starting around 4 pm to dark. It looks like Vermont will have a welcomed weather change in a few days with a significant cool down. We do not need anymore heavy rain currently. Enough havoc has been wrecked on the state over the last few weeks. It is terrestrial season. We have been casting a lot of hopper patterns. I like a green #12-#14 GFA or a green bodied #14 Chubby. There are a variety of hopper patterns that will work. Ant patterns have been successful as well. A #14 Atomic Ant has been consistent. When the the water clears and becomes low we have been casting slightly smaller patterns like a#14/#16 Royal Wulff, #14/#16 Goddard caddis, a #14 green bodied stimulator, #14/#16 Adam’s parachute and an #12/#14 orange bodied stimulator. Lots of #10-#14 golden stone fly shucks on rocks currently. Chubby patterns are excellent imitators of stone flies and hoppers. They float well and their profile look similar to a stone fly or hopper. We have landed some big trout lately in small water. Loads of fun on 3 wt. rods. The bass fishing has really picked up. I am a surface snob when it comes to smallmouth. Love watching them hammer a popping bug. I think the fly rod is perfectly suited for this style of fishing. Hot humid days with cloud cover seem to be the days when the fish are really looking up. We have been focusing on edges of duck weed, points, dead wood that extends into deeper water and sharp drop offs. The take almost always happens from when the fly lands to within a few feet of where it landed. #6 yellow/black foam poppers, #6 Boogle Bug, #2 Crease fly, and an assortment of #2/#6 deer hair bugs are getting clobbered by big aggressive bass. Spinning lures like a perch Rapala, a Heddon torpedo in frog or black, Rebel popping bugs, and the good ole jitterbug have produced similar results. When the bass are not looking up, the fly fishing for them is more tricky. #4-#6 Clouse minnows in olive/white, brown/white, olive/yellow are my typical patterns I like to cast. Spin anglers have an advantage when the bass are neutral or non-aggressive. 4” and 5” Senko in watermelon red magic, baby bass, and crawfish always catch fussy fish. Fish the rubber slow and on the bottom. It is slow methodical method that is effective. So, the fishing has been good.If trout fishing carry a thermometer. There are plenty of fishing options without hassling thermally stressed river trout! Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.Have Fun, Willy
