Housatonic 5.16.2009

**AaronJasper** · 05-17-2009, 07:12 PM

I haven't reported many of my guide trips this spring but Saturday was so good that I had to say something

I drifted from Push 'Em Up to the Park and the fishing was excellent. Every time the anchor dropped the rods were bent. If anyone here is looking for a place to practice nymphing, wets or any technique for that matter... the Housatonic would not be a bad decision. Of course the water came up with the recent rain but it will be back in shape for the weekend. We really didn't see many insects hatching but the fish were fat and healthy.

Here are a few pictures...

**USCG716** · 05-17-2009, 08:06 PM

That's awesome to hear you guys had a good trip, I was hoping to fish the housy Monday and Tuesday but I just checked the USGS flow and looks like the housy is at over 2000CFS right now.... Don't think it will come down by Tuesday.... I'd much rather fish the housy, but maybe the Farmington will be my best bet...

**AaronJasper** · 05-17-2009, 08:12 PM

I guided today on the Farmington. We did well in the Riverton section. The TMA was slower as the water was muddy. There was an excellent BWO hatch and the Hendricksons and Blue Quills were coming off at a good clip. We saw lots of fish eating them off the surface.

**jovalle** · 05-17-2009, 10:11 PM

I second the Housy was in phenomenal shape on Saturday (I fished by where you put in). Fished for about an hour and a half between 5 and 6:30, landed six, and missed a few others. The bows were slamming the woven nymph, both deep and on the swing. HRO put in some pigs yet again, and they remain in great shape. The CT hatchery browns remain sad sights. It is no wonder the mortality rate is 90% per year given they lack the fins to move around in the current.

With the deluge we got overnight, it will be another slow week as the valley drains out, but should set up nicely for memorial day weekend. There were two green drakes on my porch this evening...

alanb_ct · 05-18-2009, 06:55 AM

jovalle: Mortality is due to many factors, and I think your 90% rate is generally too pessimistic. In a typical year with good water flow and normal summer heat, I believe it is much lower than that, maybe 50-80%. The Hous is blessed with many thermal refuges. This is not to say that everything is perfect, of course, as issues such as poaching continue to take their toll.

**jovalle** · 05-18-2009, 07:17 PM

Harold gave me a lecture once, and it involved a calculator. His point was 10% of 10% = very few three year holdovers. Of course he has an agenda with such statistics, though it is an informed one. Between poachers, mergansers, herons, eagles, fly fishers manhandling trout and trout that are in pathetic shape when put in, I can't imagine its more than 20% in a great year like the last. Either way, the river is in great shape, and the extra stockies are making spring more interesting...