There probably were more fish last Winter, it was the best year of Winter fishing I ever remember on the Farmington. However, there are still plenty enough to catch, the water temps are still on the colder side, bouncing between the mid 30's and low 40's- still needs to get a touch warmer, and then the fishing will really pick up.

I've mentioned before, the fish are biting super-light, and I'm of the opinion that people aren't detecting most of the hits they get. I might have had one obvious take in the last 6 or 8 outing, other than that every single other one was either my line pausing or stopping momentarily, that's it- no twitch, no jump, no tap-tap.

Sholgate-
If I feel I'm over fish but not getting any, I'll change up every 15-20 mins or so, unless I'm 99% sure I've got the killer flies on. Or I make make one pass thru a run, and then change one or more of my flies for the second run thru.

I use a 2xl hook mostly on my Cased Caddis, as the naturals are straight. You are right that the scud hooks snag bottom less though. I used scud hooks for my non-Cased Caddis because the naturals do drift with a curve to them.

RipnLips-
Yeah one of those browns looks like you got 'em, Lol.

Lopat-
That's the Farmington.

headhunter-
It was milder last Winter, this was one of the coldest I can remember in my entire lifetime. My experience on the Farmington is that brutal Winters make for slow fishing until the water temps get back into the mid 40's & above. I think the trout back down into the slowest, deepest water where it's really hard to FF for them.