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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
This can be a tough time of year to fish. A lot of what is hatching is small. Usually flows are low (not the case in either river) and warmer (ditto). Over three days, I saw very little bug activity, and the feed bag was never on. Still, there were some bright spots in all the dreariness.
Monday, August 26: Housy (Slower). I fished with fly tier extraordinaire and fellow smallmouth bum Lou Di Gena from 3pm to 8pm. It was not good. I managed to hook four smallies in five hours of fishing. I should be hooking four smallies on consecutive casts. Bug activity was minimal (small caddis) and there were no fish in some incredibly sexy new water we fished. We ended up in a pool where I once landed 50 smallmouth in an evening. Painfully slow that night. Of course, it’s hard to be bitter when you land your biggest bass of the summer…even if it was in the first 10 minutes of fishing.
This slob went 17″ and somewhere between 2 1/2-3 pounds. Taken under an indicator with Lou DiGena’s CE Crayfish, a small (2″) weighted pattern. A real forearm burner!(Photo by Lou DiGena)
Wednesday, August 28: Farmington (Slowest). This was a photo shoot day with fellow Farmington River guide Antoine Bissieux. He fished from 3pm-7pm with dry flies — I joined in for the last hour with wets — and it was disaster slow. We fished a mark below Riverton, and hatch activity was slim to none. I don’t think I counted even a half dozen rises in three hours. Antoine blanked (to give you an idea of how pathetic the action was, it was his first skunk of the year) and I managed only four bumps and one fish to net. The bumps were half-hearted, and the one I did land was arguably the worst hit I’ve had all year on a wet fly. (Insert heavy sigh here.)
Take your time, Antoine. You’re not missing anything.
Thursday, August 29: Farmington (Slow). I gave a wet fly lesson to Corey and his son Matt from 3pm-7pm. We started off in the bottom end of the PTMA, but that was not a happening place, so we headed north. Another mark, although quite fishy, was disappointing. Both Matt and Corey had some bumps, but no real hookups. Farther north was the call, and I’ve never seen the area below the dam so crowded. My best guess on the crowds is that anglers thought there might be pre-Labor Day stocking? (There wasn’t.) But we found a very nice section to call our own, and had at it. Ding-ding-ding! It was the winner bell and the dinner bell. Both Matt and Corey brought fish to net, and it was gratifying to see their hard work pay off. Well done, gentlemen!
They’re not big, but wild brookies on the Farmington are always a treat.
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