Reely Informative
Current conditions play a huge role in species availability, tactics, and fish behavior. Not all fish are available all seasons, with all methods being as equally successful as others. Read seasonal summaries below for more. If you have desired tactics or species, let's chat and plan the perfect trip for you!
Stay up to date on the current flows and water levels with USGS data below!
Spring
April, May, early June
Spring hatches are in full swing and fish are looking to eat. Nymphs, dry flies, and streamers are all on the menu as trout rebound from their spawn and smallmouth shake their winter lethargy and gear up for battle. Driven by rising water temperatures, pre-spawn smallmouth, and post-spawn rainbow trout overlap for a precious few weeks. Full day trips often offer the best of both worlds, trout in the morning, and smallmouth in the afternoon. Strong fighters and big eaters, the both of them. You do not want to miss this.
Wild brown and rainbow trout rule the roost before stocked fish are added to the rivers. Local rivers and ponds are usually stocked by the second week of May. Stocked trout represent a great opportunity for life long anglers and beginners alike. If you are new to fly fishing or have limited experience, stocked trout present ample targets and opportunities to make mistakes and learn at accelerated rates. Seasoned anglers can knock off the rust and prepare for the season ahead. This early season window truly has something for everybody.
Towards the end of April and into early May I am wrapping up my maple sugaring season and dates are limited and condition dependent as runoff season and spring rains impact our watersheds.
Summer
June into early September
As water temperatures surpass 65°, most of our trout opportunities are paused. Select small stream trout trips remain, but smallmouth become the primary quarry at this time.
Post spawn offers hungry and aggressive smallmouth with many large bass remaining in mere inches of water. The lines between hunting and fishing blur, and the hunt is on. Anglers and guides work in tandem to pick targets and utilize a variety of tactics. We move slowly, and decisively, fully immersed in the pursuit of a single target. You will not find better sight fishing than this.
As summer progresses and water levels drop further, top water action peaks. Explosive eats from acrobatic fish abound. Smallmouth key in on frogs, grasshoppers, dragonflies, cicadas, and other large insects that find themselves in the sights of a hungry bass. Want to see a 5lb bass recklessly crash a frog popper, or sip a big foam fly with the delicacy of a wary trout? Now is your chance. The best top water fly fishing of the summer is not in Montana, it’s right here in Vermont and New Hampshire.
Fall
Late September into November
Fish of all species are loading up on calories preparing for the long winter ahead. Trout are back in play as water temperatures cool to a safe level of 65° and below. Fall hatches can be great, and streamer fishing can be hot.Fall also brings pike back from the depths. If throwing big flies to angry predators is your thing, now is the time.
Fall fishing conditions and opportunities are heavily dependent on summer rainfalls and temperatures. Every fall is different! Come fish with some of the prettiest back drops in all of New England. Fall foliage is even better from the river with a fly rod in hand.
