Tag Archives: Farmington River report

Hendricksons are here!

We all could use a good Hendrickson hatch, and now we don’t have to wait. Well, you might have to get to the river early enough to secure a spot, and then wait for the bugs to pop — usually early afternoon — but the hatch is on and moving upriver. I guided James and his daughter Charlotte last Friday on the lower river, and the hatch was just getting started. With favorable air temps forecast for the entire week, now’s the time to jump on it. it should be on in the PTMA this week.

Pick an active feeder during the first phase of the Hendrickson hatch, place one of these soft-hackled Hendricksons over its lie, then hang on.

Hendricksons are one of the mayflies that will be featured in my book. They’ll be part of a general chapter on mayflies (caddisflies, stoneflies, midges, and other food sources are the other four categories) which then breaks down into some of the more popular/important specific hatches. The intent is not create an in-depth, Latin-heavy, scientific bug-biology geek white paper; rather, it’s to give you meaningful, useful information. The better you understand the hatch, the more fish you’ll catch.

Here’s this again in case you missed it: The best soft hackles and wet flies for fishing the Hendrickson hatch.

Monday Potpourri: media, book, fishing, best Hendrickson soft hackles and wet flies

Happy Monday. It’s finally not stupid cold and snowing/raining. And yet, here I am, sitting in my lonely writer’s garret, writing this, then back to writing the book. Sunshine beckons. On the other hand, writing about fishing as a job doesn’t suck.

If you read yesterday’s Courant, you saw the front-page article about the propose hatchery budget cuts. Yours truly is quoted often.

I’m getting toward the home stretch in the book writing. I alternate days when I think I’m in good shape with those when I project abject terror. Ok, that’s a little strong, but I’ll be happy when I’m finally done. I’m still loving what I’ve written so far, and that counts for something.

I will be getting out to the river this week to do a little more location scouting, and then hopefully an hour or so of fishing. Won’t that be wondrous? Can you believe that I have not caught a trout yet this year?

If you’re thinking about taking a lesson with me, please wait until June. I’m doing only one this month, which is unheard of for me, and I may be doing only one in May, also unheard of.

I’ve said it before, but I appreciate everyone’s patience as I throw my energies into the book. Since it’s almost Hendrickson time, here’s one from the archives for all you soft-hackled fly lovers: The Best Hendrickson Soft Hackles and Wet Flies.

Farmington River Report: Fishing with Torrey, congratulations to Antoine!

In case you haven’t heard, veteran Farmington River guide Antoine Bissieux was just named the 2025 Orvis-Endorsed Fly Fishing Guide of the Year! In addition to being an exceptional guide, Antoine is also a friend and a contributor to the Farmington River book. You’ll get to see a few of his favorite fly patterns, and his wisdom will be sprinkled throughout the text. Congratulations, Antoine. We’re all tremendously excited for you.

From a photo shoot for the book this past August, Antoine patiently scans the water looking for a rise or the signs of a lurking trout. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to draw from Antoine’s knowledge and experience. When we’re out doing these shoots, I’m not only working — I’m also engaging in professional development: watching, learning, and just enjoying being on the river talented anglers like Antoine.

Speaking of anglers who know what they’re doing, I spent Wednesday afternoon on the river shooting Torrey Collins from UpCountry Sportfishing. We had a slow day; a cold front came through the night before, which was strike one. Bug activity was light (strike two) but we did see midges, early stones, and some olives. Torrey was Euronymphing, and we hit the lower end of the PTMA, and then two marks below it. It was a few stocker rainbows until Torrey connected with an archetype wild Farmington brown, a handsome buck in the upper teens. What was eye-opening to me was where Torrey caught him. I’d never fished there before, but I’ve driven past it hundreds of time without giving it a second thought. The more I write this book, the more I learn about the river — and the more you’re going to learn when you read it.

Torrey working the water, expertly covering every seam and hole in the pool. While I’ve fished in far colder temperatures, this was the coldest I’ve been on the river in a very long time. While the bite never really got going, we did our best and I got some excellent shots. Thank you, Torrey!

Re-discovering the Farmington River, or: There’s a lot of sexy water below Collinsville

I spent a good chunk of last Thursday banging around the lower Farmington with Farmington River guide Steve Hogan. (Steve grew up in the area, and knows that section way better than I do.) To say we covered a lot of ground would be an understatement — Steve’s device said we walked 20,000 steps, which, for those of you keeping score at home, translates to over 8 miles.

Exhibit A. So many pockets to pick, so little time.

But the point isn’t that we got some exercise. The point is, man, there is so much incredible water between Collinsville and Unionville! That I’ve fished so little of it boggles my mind. The wet fly possibilities are virtually endless. Yes, you have to walk to get to much of it. Yes, a good percentage of it will be tough wading. Yes, sometimes there’s bushwhacking involved. Yes, there will likely be many spin/bait anglers. And yes, that area can get very trout-unfriendly by mid-June. But I’m licking my chops at the thought of going back and fishing some of the marks that, incredibly, I had never seen before last week.

Virgin water for me. A challenging walk and wade for sure, but I’ll bet it would just be you and the trout!

Swinging with Dave, 2H rods, fishing starting to pick up

I spent last Wednesday afternoon with Dave, who wanted to explore the river and learn how to swing streamers and wets, and give his trout spey rod some action. We hit several marks within the PTMA, both to fish and investigate. While the weather was gorgeous (mid 60s and sunny), the water was still very cold (below 40 degrees in New Hartford). That’s a little chilly to expect significant action on the swung fly. Still, we managed a couple touches, and Dave did a fantastic job casting and managing his drifts. In another time and situation, he’s going to be a dangerous trout-catching machine.

I don’t usually talk about specific pools, but when we hiked into the Boneyard — the gate is still closed — the advantages of the two-handed rod became glaringly evident. Especially if you’re swinging a streamer. Dave was making effortless 60-75 foot casts — well, semi-effortless — and reaching spots most single hand casters would struggle with. Food for thought if you’re considering the 2H rod.

Ed releasing a lovely wild brown his buddy nymphed up. The size of the fins and the fish’s skinny I-made-it-through-winter body told me that it has been in the river for a very long time.

After our session, I went to do some scouting for the book, and I ran into Ed and Drew from the Avon Orvis store. They were nymphing with a couple friends below the PTMA, and having some success. To illustrate how a cold front can squash the bite, I went back the next day to do more recon, and hit the marks where they were getting into fish. Not. A. Touch. The overnight cold front and gale-force winds clearly had the trout in a dour mood.

Still, the fishing is starting to pick up. And it will only be getting better as we get into April. Fish ’em if ya got ’em!

Fishing with Joe, trout stocking, and finally a weather break!

I gave Joe a wet fly lesson last week — a little early to expect action on a swung fly, but that’s when we had a window. The rain held off, and we enjoyed having vast stretches of the river all to ourselves. The bite was predictably slow, but Joe did a great job with his presentations. I have the highest confidence that he will be a deadly wet fly machine this spring once the Hendricksons begin to pop. Sadly, I saw very little bug activity — not even some courtesy winter stones — only a couple lonely midges.

How Pipeline Pool got its name. I’m working hard on researching accurate information on river access, including parking. Of course, each of you is ultimately responsible for where you park and fish. Pipeline is one of those places where there is plenty of easy access and parking.

The next day, I spent a few hours on river recon for the book — it was blustery and cold and we even had a few sun snow showers to add to the wintry ambiance. But today, it’s warm, and it looks like a decent week to get out and fish. I’ve got more recon time scheduled tomorrow, and hopefully I’ll be able to play a little hooky and wet a line. The river got blasted by that rain last Wednesday/Thursday, but has dropped nicely. What’s more, the state has stocked the Farmington (and a lot of other rivers) — not within the PTMA, but from Hogback Dam down to Whittemore; below the 219 bridge down through Canton; and from Collinsville dam down to Unionville. Enjoy the fresh fish while they last.

Hatcheries update, Yale, fishing, and who ordered this cold weather?

Happy Monday. I suppose I am one of the lucky ones who doesn’t view Mondays as a collective negative. Such is the fortune of working for yourself at a job you love. (Of course, the money stinks, but that’s a different story.)

I’ve learned that at this moment, we’re in a holding pattern with the hatcheries budget thing. DEEP was surprised to see this manifest, and for now it’s just a line item on a proposed budget. When I hear that it’s time to take meaningful action, I’ll let you know, and what your action should be.

Many thanks to the Yale Fishing Club for hosting me last Thursday. We tied some soft hackles, and at some delicious New Haven-style apizza. While I loved the white clam pie, the potato and bacon was on another level of wonderfulness.

Now that’s a bird’s eye view! Many thanks to filmmaker extraordinaire Matthew Vinick for lending his time and fine drone photography skills.

I did manage a couple hours of fishing during last week’s research/photo outing. Total blank. But I’m not surprised, given that fact that there was an active snow melt which was dumping gallons of icy cold water into the system. And today, we have more winter-like temperatures. Thankfully, those are supposed to go away soon.

Steve Culton Edison Fly Fishing Show Schedule and Farmington River Frozen

First things first: the Edison Fly Fishing Show starts tomorrow, Friday, January 24. I’m there two days, Friday and Saturday, doing a class and a seminar each day. The seminars are included in the price of your admission, and we have Finding Small Stream Nirvana in the Catch Room on Friday at 10:15am, and Wet Flies 101 in the Strike Room Saturday at 9:45am. I’m teaching classes both days in the afternoon. There’s still room if you want to sign up for Tying and Fishing Wet Flies on Friday and Beyond Cast & Strip: Presentation Flies for Stripers on Saturday. You must register for those classes here.

Here’s a pdf of my show schedule:

Last but not least, I went to the Farmington River yesterday to shoot photos. Due to the Arctic blast we’re experiencing, Church Pool is completely covered with ice, from the bridge down the length of the pool. If you must go fishing, you best bet is from the dam to Riverton. However, once you get just above Riveton, there is shelf ice, so beware. Also, none of the lots or pullouts are plowed, so I wouldn’t attempt to navigate snow drifts unless I had a very reliable 4WD vehicle. Just go to Edison and have a fly fishing blast (and stay warm while you’re doing it).

Currentseams Best of 2024 #1: Ladies and Gentlemen, Steve Culton is Writing a Book!

You probably saw this one coming a mile away. Obvious or not, signing a publishing contract with Stackpole Books and beginning work on the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River was easily the biggest deal for me in 2024. Technically, I’m halfway done. Practically, I’ve got a lot more work to do.

For starters, even though I’ve finished my first 50% of the work, I’ve still got to go back through it all and make some editorial adjustments. This isn’t merely changing a few words; the workload can probably be counted in weeks. No complaints, though! It’s a privilege to be charged with writing this book, and anything with my name on it is going to be the best it can possibly be.

I’ll be back to it sometime in early January. And of course, you’ll hear all the latest and greatest right here as things develop.

This is where the magic happens. I really like my writing space — although, the vista behind me is currently brown and white and gray. Winter is a good time for a big writing job.

Another week of writin’ and talkin’. (But will there be any fishin’?)

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.