In case you didn’t get the email, DEEP is considering the expansion of the PTMA on the Farmington River. There is no specific timeline for this; rather, it’s information gathering only. Here’s their text and then the survey link:
“The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Fisheries Division is collecting information on a possible expansion of the year-round catch and release section of the West Branch Farmington River Trout Management Area (TMA). No immediate plans to expand catch and release regulations are in place as this is only an information gathering period. Please take time to answer each question below as your opinion matters, and please also provide comment. These same questions were asked of anglers on the Farmington River as we conducted a yearlong survey from the Goodwin Dam in Barkhamsted down to Route 177 Bridge in Unionville in 2024.
Your participation in this survey is encouraged and appreciated. Thank you!”
First things first: Don’t forget to get your 2025 CT fishing license!
I hope you had a festive and happy new year holiday. I did. Today is a catchup day for me; I’m getting a lot of odds and ends done because on Monday, we’re back to the grindstone.
First up is show prep: getting things ready for the Marlborough and Edison Fly Fishing Shows, both coming up fast. Then, it’s book writing. And more book writing. All, of course, a labor of love.
In the next few weeks, I’ll be sending out more information about my show schedules. I’m hoping to see a lot of you there!
It won’t be long until we start seeing Tiny Black Stones.
I don’t usually make posts like this. But if people want to know what to get you for the holidays, and you’re struggling with gift ideas, here are two suggestions.
Book a guide trip with me for 2025. There’s no real gift certificate, but there is the promise that we’ll go out fishing for four hours next year. Your gift giver pays now, but it’s at my 2024 rate (rates usually go up every few years). I build a 20% gratuity into the price, so all you have to do is show up with your gear on a mutually-agreed-upon date and time and we have at it. If you’re interested in wet flies, we’re looking at a May-Juneish window. Because of the book writing process, I will be limiting my guide trips in 2025, so this is a great way to lock in. Easy-squeezy…
Insert your likeness here.
Take a “Classes With The Experts” with me at the Fly Marlborough Fishing Show. With this, you get almost instant gratification. Two choices: Saturday, January 18, 2pm-4:30pm, Tying and Fishing Wet Flies with Steve Culton: Watch Steve tie classic North Country spiders, winged, and wingless wet flies that trout can’t resist, and learn how to rig and fish them. The course also covers basics like leader construction, matching the hatch, fly selection, where to fish wet flies, and how to fish them. All levels.
Or, Sunday, January 19, 8:30am-11am, Beyond Cast & Strip – Presentation Flies for Stripers with Steve Culton: Learn how to tie (Steve will demo) presentation flies – traditional New England-style flies that create the illusion of life even when at rest – and how and where to present them. All Levels.
For the Fly Fishing Show classes, you cannot register and pre-pay through me. You do that on the Fly Fishing Show Site, which is here.
I’m hoping to be offering the same for Edison on January 24-26, but that schedule has not been released. Stay tuned for my full Marlborough and Edison schedules.
I’m busy. You’re busy. But this takes less than five minutes.
From the ASGA: “The Board (ASMFC) will reconvene on December 16 to consider management actions for 2025. We are once again calling our community to support equitable, conservation-focused management. Our Striped Bass Action Alert Page is now live on our website. There, you will find a host of resources and the form to sign our Official Letter. We understand … the holidays are on the horizon, but this decision will impact our fishery for years to come – and it’s happening whether we like it or not. Don’t miss your chance to speak on behalf of the resource!
Last week, I reached my first manuscript milestone, which included 50% of the text, maps, and a couple dozen photos with captions. Off it went to the publisher, and here I sit with a satisfied smile on my face. So, this seems like a good time to give you a detailed update on the work.
Let’s start here: I’m really excited about what I’ve written so far. I don’t do anything halfway, so it’s particularly gratifying to be able to work on a project that I’m so passionate about. I think I’ve found a nice balance between dispensing facts, being conversational, and mixing in both anecdotes and even a little humor.
In terms of content, the template of Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River will generally reflect the other books in the Stackpole line of “Fly Fishing Guide To…” books. In my book, you’ll get a little history of the river; general information about the trout that live there; maps of the STMA that point out pools and major parking areas; descriptions of the major pools and the river in general; and outlines of the most productive fishing methods.
After reading the book, you’ll know that tying a big Isonychia soft hackle on point in August and swinging it through snotty pocket water is a very good idea.
But the truly useful part of the book will be the sections on hatches, seasonal conditions, and fly patterns. My goal for the work is that you’ll be able to read it and have a pretty good idea of where you should fish on December 2, with which method, and what flies to tie on. The book will feature over a dozen local patterns that are proven producers.
Even if you think you know the river, I guarantee there will be lots of information that will be new and useful to you. I’ve been fishing this river since the 1970s, I’m writing the damn thing — and I cannot tell you how much I’ve learned while writing this book.
A book like this cannot be written by one person without the help from others. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to get input from guides and local experts; their knowledge, experience, and wisdom has been invaluable. My final deadline is June 1, 2025. My hope is that next year at this time, we’ll have a book ready for you to read!
Thank you so much for continuing to follow currentseams during this busy time. I’ll try to get you caught up a bit this month on other happenings. Up next, in this order: the IFTS redux, western PA steelhead, and SR steelhead reports. Also, the Fly Fishing Show in January. I’ll be at Marlborough and Edison.
Hot on the heels of the International Fly Tying Symposium, I went to fish Lake Erie tribs for a couple days. I plan and writing about both, just not today as soon I’m heading up to Pulaski with Number One Son Bill for more steelheading. Then it’s Thanksgiving. So, I’m busy, and I’m sure you’re busy, too. Rather than write a half-assed report on the Symposium and the Erie trip, I’m going to wait until I can do them justice.
Here’s what I can tell you: my first deadline for the Farmington River book is December 1. I’m going to take a wee break from writing then, and I’m hoping to be able to give you some better (and more) content here, if only for a short time. I’ll also have a Salmon River report for you. Plus, I have my Fly Fishing Show Marlborough schedule for January 17-19 — Edison to come soon as well.
I’ll give you all an early Thanksgiving shout-out: I’m very thankful for everyone’s patience as I write the book, and I’m grateful that so many of you have told me how much you enjoy Currentseams. So, thank you all!
All work and no play etc., so I played hooky for a few days this week, and I’m going to do it again in short order. Here’s a fine, fat, egg-laden hen from Wednesday.
Hello, fellow fly fishers and readers! I ‘ve been on an intense writing jag this week, trying to finish up the bug and food forage sections of the book. I think it’s going to be very helpful. It’s divided into mayflies, caddisflies, stoneflies, midges, and other stuff trout like to eat. There will be some hatch details (although it’s not meant to be a biology or Latin names monograph). And then, for you fly tyers, there will be photos and recipes of some essential, proven fly patterns, mostly from local experts, guides, and anglers.
Current situation…add the sfx of fingers on keyboard…
To the Farmington we go! Water remains low, but fishable. It’s plenty cold and that’s the good news. Caddis is the main hatch right now, soon to be joined by Tiny BWOs. We’re getting near spawning time, so if you see a redd — a light oval shaped patch is gravelly riffles — keep your distance. Mark its location in your memory so you don’t walk through it in the winter and accidentally wipe out the next generation of wild browns. Please do not target trout on redds — it’s bad form.
Two more notes: as we get deeper into fall, streamers will increasingly come into play as a primary fishing method, as will egg patterns. Try an egg this winter as an attractor on a two fly nymph rig, and make the top dropper something small and match-the-hatch. And remember that the entire river from the dam down to the steel bridge in Unionville is catch-and-release. If you see poaching, please call the TIP line: 800-424-HELP. Program it into your phone so you’ll have it ready when you need it.
Forgive the brevity, but I’m up against it today. First: thank you EJTU for hosting me on Wednesday night. I presented Wet Flies 2.0, the turnout was excellent, and we had an engaging post-talk Q&A.
Gadzooks! Fishing twice in one week? It’s true. On Tuesday night I braved a snotty surf and 10mph wind with surfcaster extraordinaire Toby Lapinski. We fished a top secret rocky reef, and although the conditions seemed perfect for fall bassin’, we managed just one touch before we decided that it wasn’t happening. Yesterday, I headed to points far away to fish a thin blue line with #2 Son Cam. The water was painfully low, and leaves were a constant issue. The action was slow, but we had fun fooling wild brook trout on dry flies and deep jigs.
Finally, please take a minute out of your busy day to sign the ASGA letter to the ASMFC. Striped bass desperately need us to take action now. The following graphic on the Juvenile Abundance Index tells a dire story:
I played in a charity golf event today — “played” meaning “participated” — not my finest hours, although I did sink a very nice 21-foot putt for our team. Tomorrow’s a writing day, and — drum roll — maybe a night sortie to the salt.
Wednesday, October 9, I’ll be celebrating John Lennon’s birthday with an appearance at the East Jersey TU chapter in Rochelle Park, NJ. The meeting starts at 7:30, and I’ll be presenting “Wet Flies 2.0.” If you’re there, please say hello. I might even get out for some wild brookies on Thursday.
A quick thank you to the Bucks County TU group for hosting me last week. for understanding that a fed presenter is a happy presenter, they were awarded the Legion of the Cheeseburger with NE-style IPA Clusters. A great group, and we had an excellent Q&A session. Thank you again!
I hope you’ve been able to get out and do some fishing. We got poured on this morning in Durham, good enough to green up the lawns, but it had no substantial effect on our streams. The Farmington River remains low and clear at about 120cfs in the PTMA. Caddis is the main course right now, and we do have the blessing of cooler days and nights.
The spawn will be here soon, although this guy won’t be partaking — at least not in the Farmington River. As you read this, he’s back at the hatchery, swimming in a tank, ready to do his part to help make the next generation of Survivor Strain browns.
I just finished the chapter in the Farmington River book on caddisflies, and right now is one of those times when it doesn’t seem like much is hatching — and then, there are the caddis, ready to save the day. The truly are an underrated bug, and one of my favorite hatches to fish on the Farmington.
Greetings, fellow currentseamsers. I wish I could tell you that I’ve been out fishing, but alas, no. I’m nearing the home stretch for the first deadline for the Farmington River book, and that’s been my focus. I was visiting #2 son in Ohio over the weekend, took the train, and was able to bang out thousands of words. (I love writing on the train.) I’m really liking what I’ve written so far, and I think you will, too. I appreciate your loyalty and I’m looking forward to not only finishing the book, but getting back a normal posting schedule on currentseams.
On Thursday, October 3 (tomorrow) I’ll be speaking at the Bucks County (PA) Chapter of TU. If you’re in the Philadelphia area, come join the party. The topic is “The Little Things 2.0.”
Next week, October 9, I’ll be celebrating John Lennon’s birthday with an appearance at the East Jersey TU chapter in Rochelle Park, NJ. The meeting starts at 7:30, and I’ll be presenting “Wet Flies 2.0.” If you’re there, please say hello.
The Farmington River continues to run at a very low level. We need rain! The good news is that the water is plenty cold. Lower light will be your best time to fish.
Love me some fall wild brookies. I crossed paths with this handsome char just about one year ago. Those fins! Those haloed spots! Those parr marks! Yeah, I’m a big fan.
Finally, it’s fall, which is a great time to be fishing wild brook trout streams. If you’re going to partake, please read this quick article from the archives, Three Small Stream/Wild Trout Best Practices.
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