Tag Archives: Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River

Thank you, Compleat Angler, a very busy fall, and other odds & ends

Happy Monday! Despite the weather — Saturday was one of the ten best weather days of the summer — we had a strong turnout at the book signing event at The Compleat Angler in Darien. We had one customer buy three books, and three more buy two books. I love it! As I did with UpCountry Sportfishing, I signed dozens of copies for them to have on hand, so it’s not too late for you to get a signed copy at either location. If you’re looking to order a signed, dedicated-to-you book directly from me, you can still do that, too.

Or, you can see me at one of the many stops I’ll be making this fall and winter at shows and club meetings throughout the northeast. I’ll be bringing a box o’ books, and you can get a signed copy from me at any of the clubs. (You should plan on buying at the bookstore at the Symposium and Fly Fishing Shows.) There will be more dates added as they come in!

I’m truly grateful for all the positive feedback I’m getting from you about the book. What a thrill to know that you’re liking what you’re reading.

A reminder that the DEEP will be drawing down the Farmington River in early September for their annual fish census and broodstock collection for the Survivor Strain program. I don’t have the date yet, but I suspect it will come after Labor Day.

I hate to see summer go, but I’m looking forward to some serious fall fishing. Brook trout, stripers, Farmington River trout, steelhead…man, I’m just about salivating.

Thank you, UpCountry Sportfishing, and on to Compleat Angler this weekend!

Many thanks to UpCountry Sportfishing for hosting the book signing event on Saturday — and many thanks to everyone who showed up to buy a copy of my book, Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, or have me sign their already-purchased copy. I was truly delighted by your enthusiasm for the book, and that the writing resonated with so many of you. It’s a little surreal and a bit humbling seeing people waiting in a line to have you sign their copy of your book, but of course it’s all good. Again, my most sincere thank yous!

If you missed the UpCountry signing, or if you live downstate or in the NYC/Westchester area, I’ll be at The Compleat Angler this Saturday, August 29, from 11am-2pm. Same deal: you can buy a book there, or you can bring in your already-purchased copy. Hope to see you there, and stay tuned for more signing events.

But wait, there’s more. I’ll also be making the rounds this fall and winter to fly fishing clubs throughout the northeast to talk about the book and the river. Plus, the IFTS in November and The Fly Fishing Show, and the CFFA Expo. If you’re in charge of booking speakers for your club, I’m a professional speaker and I’d love to present to your group. Contact me and we’ll set up a date.

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Reminder: Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River book signing this Saturday at UpCountry Sportfishing

My apologies for not having a more fun or substantive post for today, but I am being relentlessly harassed by the Time-Space Continuum. I’m sure you understand. So for today, a reminder that I will be doing a book signing on Saturday, August 22 at UpCountry Sportfishing in New Hartford from 11am-2pm. You’ll be able to bring a book you’ve already bought for signing, or UpCountry will have books available for purchase. Also, one week later, Saturday, August 29, I’ll be at The Compleat Angler in Darien, CT from 11am-2pm. Hope to see you there, and I hope you’re enjoying the river, the summer, and the book.

We got books and pens and we’re ready to sign.

Book signing events at UpCountry Sportfishing 8/22 & Compleat Angler 8/29

Hot on the heels of the release of my new book, the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River, I will be doing two book signings at Connecticut fly shops. On Saturday, August 22, I’ll be at UpCountry Sportfishing in New Hartford from 11am-2pm. You’ll be able to bring a book you’ve already bought for signing, or UpCountry will have books available for purchase. One week later, Saturday, August 29, I’ll be at The Compleat Angler in Darien, CT from 11am-2pm. Ditto bringing your book or buying one there. Support your local fly shop (and of course your local author). Hope to see you there!

There have been discussions with other area fly shops for book signing events — no firm dates yet — but naturally you can read all about them here as they are posted. I’ll also be making the rounds at many northeastern TU and other fly fishing clubs. If you’re looking for a speaker, here I am!

The book is getting rave reviews, and I couldn’t be happier. I’m so grateful for your support. Get your copy signed by yours truly this month at UpCountry Sportfishing and The Compleat Angler.

Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River official release tomorrow August 4, On The Water feature article, IFTS moves to PA

If you ordered the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River through an outside vendor, it should start shipping tomorrow. Yeeeee-hawww!!!! I’ve changed my tune a wee bit on selling copies directly to you; if you would prefer to get a signed, inscribed copy from me, you still can. You’ll find out how if you click here.

I’m pleased to announce that once again, Tony Lolli has featured me in his At the Vise column in On The Water magazine. The format has shifted a bit; instead of a “guide flies” focus, it’s more of a profile, and it also features the book.

You know that guy! On The Water is a terrific magazine with excellent photography and printed on a paper stock that feels good in your hands. Well worth seeking out. There’s an digital version, too. Many thanks to Tony for letting me play again.

Finally, the International Fly Tying Symposium has moved from Somerset, NJ, to Lancaster, PA. Lancaster is a ~most excellent~ space — it’s where they hold the Fly Fishing Show. This year’s IFTS is November 21-22. More details to come!

If you reserved a signed Farmington River book from me, please get the transaction ball rolling

First, thank you to everyone who requested a personalized, signed copy. I received over 50 requests, which was fantastic!

But less than half of you have mailed a check or made an e-transfer. The situation is that I’m not going to the P.O. every day. I’m waiting to get at least 12 orders processed before I make a trip, and I’d like to be done with this ASAP. I don’t want to be doing this in September. The first dozen books went out last Friday. The next dozen are going out tomorrow. Then, it’s wait for 12 more orders to be finalized. So please don’t delay. Besides, you really, really need this book now. Dontcha?

In case you missed it, here’s what you need to do: 1) Pay me. Between the my cost of the book, packaging materials, and postage, it’s a nice, even $50. You can do one of three things: mail a check to me at Steve Culton, P.O. Box 657, Durham, CT 06422; pay me via Venmo (@Steven-Culton) which I prefer, or second choice PayPal (Steven Culton). Easy-squeezy.

2) Send me your address. Email your shipping address to swculton@yahoo.com. Please do not post your address on this website. Please remember I cannot ship outside the U.S. Ditto easy-squeezy.

3) Wait. Hopefully, just a little. I’m not going to schlepp down to the P.O. every day; rather, I’ll try to send them out in batches of 10 or 15 or whatever, as orders trickle in. I’ll send you an email back when your book is shipped.

If you’ve already squared up, this could be your book…

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your book purchasing engines!

Finally, the day you’ve been waiting for! I got a visit from the UPS guy, who dropped off three cartons of shiny new books for me to sign and send off to you.

If you’re one of the 50 or so people who signed up for a personalized, signed copy, here’s what you need to do:

1) Pay me. Between the my cost of the book, packaging materials, and postage, it’s a nice, even $50. You can do one of three things: mail a check to me at Steve Culton, P.O. Box 657, Durham, CT 06422; pay me via PayPal (Steven Culton); or pay me via Venmo (@Steven-Culton). Easy-squeezy.

2) Send me your address. Email your shipping address to swculton@yahoo.com. Please do not post your address on this website. Please remember I cannot ship outside the U.S. Ditto easy-squeezy.

3) Wait. Hopefully, just a little. I’m not going to schlepp down to the P.O. every day; rather, I’ll try to send them out in batches of 10 or 15 or whatever, as orders trickle in. I’ll send you an email back when your book is shipped.

I thank you for your excitement, your enthusiasm, and your patience. I can’t wait for you to read this book!

Back from Block and book order information to (hopefully) come this week!

Let’s get the bad mojo out of the way: the Block Island stripers-from-the-shore fishery has officially cratered. Five nights, not a touch. (What?!?!?!) More details on the misery to come.

On the exciting news side, my author’s copies of the Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River have arrived. These are not the ones I have earmarked for sale to you (those people who have said they want a signed copy, and if you haven’t, it’s still not too late to reserve one). The book looks and feels great, and I’m beyond pleased with how it came out.

For those who have reserved a signed copy: my order with the publisher has been placed. My guess is that the books will arrive sometime in the next two weeks, hopefully on the shorter side of that. The mailers have been ordered. I just need to calculate the cost to you, and set up payment, which will be check, Venmo, or PayPal. I’m hoping to have that information to you this week. I thank you for your patience. Really. Hang tight, and you’ll be reading before you know it.

Look, ma! I wrote a book!

Steve Culton Interview on the Farmington River Book

In late winter I sat down with Carl Ochnio to talk about my upcoming book, Fly Fishing Guide to the Farmington River. (There’s still time to put your name in for a personalized signed copy.) This is part of a the “Hooking Up” interview series Carl has been doing for the CFFA. With his kind permission, I’m able to share a pdf of the entire interview. You can find it in the link below the photo.

Please note that publish date is now August 4. Sorry for any confusion!

Click to access steve_culton_cffa_interview.pdf

Farmington River Report 4/23/26: One-half of Bob and Andy, Hendricksons galore, but where were the trout?

I fished the lower end of PTMA yesterday from noon to 3:30pm. Once got to the river, I ran into a group of wonderfully chill gentlemanly anglers, and we had a short gab-fest before I decided to head into the river for some pre-hatch prospecting. Bob, of Bob-and-Andy fame, was also there. I’d met Bob-and-Andy at this mark many years ago, and since then, it’s really not April unless we cross paths on the river.

The wind made it an unfavorable day for casting a team of three wets, but I managed to go almost the entire session without a fouled-up leader. After an hour that produced one lonely bump, I declared to the group that one or more of three things was true: there are not a lot of fish here; the hatch is going to be underwhelming; the trout are content to feed on the bottom. It turns out that options A and C were likely in play. When the hatch finally got going, around 2:15pm, there were bugs everywhere: in the air, on the surface — and precious few trout rising to them. I’d give this hatch volume an 8 out of 10; when you can count the rises per minute on a few fingers (instead of dozens) that’s not going to make for epic fishing. Normally, with this Hendrickson hatch volume, I’d bang up a good dozen fish or more fishing wets pre-hatch and during the emergence. Not today.

Hello, old friend. This would be a male Hendrickson; three tails, darker cast, large eyes.

What did follow script was the place in the water column where the fish were feeding. Pre- and during emergence, they took the wet, until the point where they didn’t, and then it was dry flies on the surface. This is a good time to talk about shadow hatches, which I do in the Farmington River book. In addition to Hendricksons, there were also caddis and BWOs in the mix. The savvy wet fly angler will want to have at least one of those other food groups represented. What do you know? Of the three trout I took on wet flies, two came on the caddis middle dropper (Hare’s Lug and Plover).

I managed two more on the surface, bringing my total to five. At the risk of sounding ungrateful, I was not impressed. Of course, I could have gone elsewhere. But with three anglers below me and five above me, real estate was scarce. So I stayed.

Today, writing about it, I have to scold myself for being so dour. It was a sunny, April day. The Hendricksons were out. There were some rising fish who wanted to eat. I got to reconnect with old friends and make some new ones. I didn’t put two dozen in the hoop or land a 20″ wild brown. But, yeah. That’s still a really good day of fishing.