Our watersheds here have been getting plenty of water since my last post. On the same day(July 9th) that we got historic flooding last year, many areas had it happen again. Since then, many areas across Vermont have been getting rounds of heavy downpours that have been keeping some larger rivers muddy and unfishable.
The last few days have been dry and cool. Highs only in the upper 70’s. We have a chance of Tstorms and showers today and tomorrow, then a string of nice weather that goes through the weekend. Hopefully the water works give us a break so we have more options to fish.
We are lucky here in Vermont. We have high gradient mountain brooks that clean up quickly and fish very well 24hrs after a big rain. So we can always find good water and active fish. Brook trout fishing has been outstanding. It’s important to have your casting skills honed while casting a dry fly in the tight quarters of a mountain brook. The rewards are beautiful.
There have been a couple days when we could get out after browns and bows. On those days we found active fish taking flies in all sections of the water column. It is definitely hopper season. We have been getting most of our surface action on hopper patterns. The bigger the better.
We have been having a bunch of fun with all the beginners we’ve been getting. It so gratifying to teach someone how to cast, tie knots, aquatic entomology and all the gear necessary to fly fish and then have them catch their first fish.