Winter dry fly action on the Farmington ?

[Walter1023]

I fished and made the trek to the Farmington for this first time ever last saturday. I spent about 4 hours in the "Church Pool" which true to its reputation was a mob scene. Alot of surface activity - but while I had one 2 second hookset and a quite a few takes w/ no hookset - I was skunked. It did inspire me and i returned last Monday...but decided to find more solace upstream. I also was more prepared as i tied some small 24 midge type parachutes on the TMC 2488 hooks I bought (thanks to another post on here)....and was blown away by how much surface activity I saw for a late November day ? I managed 6 browns on top - all in the 12" range - but I sure missed quite a few - not to mention the numerous outright refusals. Unless it was a fluke due to milder weather ....I really was amazed at the bug activity....not to mention all the various pools that seem picture perfect for the dry fly. I have since dusted off my old farmington guide book - and have started tying small winter caddis as well as some more midge type patterns as I think the olives may be done. I just have to inquire....how is the January/February action? How small on tippets do you go ? I was using 7x as frankly that is the smallest I have......sz 24 and 26 is as small as I can tie A final question ......why does the Church Pool remain elbow to elbow (almost literally) when so much other productive water seems to be available ?...am I missing something here.

[Esopus Guy]

There are fish in almost every inch of that river it seems.

[frankm205]

Time to start tyin up some cripples!

[Esopus Guy]

Indeed!..... The one place where I actually fish an olive hatch lol.

[DrBob]

Others may say better, but I never saw "alot" of surface activity - I liken it more to slow steady surface activity on the flat pools. There are alot of guys that say the midge fishing in the winter is really good. That churchpool is always crowded. Those fish have seen everything in the book a million and a half times! I used to live 10 min away and never fished it much. Now I live and hour and a half away and go there with my kids fairly regularly, go figure! ???

I think the further up the river the water temps are more regular hence the bug activity is better. One of the guys that works at Upcountry raves about winter midge fishing. I think I'll have to try it this year.

P.S. Just got my kids out the last few weeks to catch some small wild browns and bows on small streams with the flyrods....

[Adam]

I would venture to say there are a few reasons why people love to fish Church Pool. It is easily accessible, it holds fish and it is the "most" popular named pool. I fish it a couple of times a year when no one is standing in there..

Just my .02

[Gregorygob]

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[Gregorygob]

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[Gregorygob]

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[Gregorygob]

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