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Northeast Fishing Report 10/31/2025
Hello Compleat Angler friends! This weekend will be tough for fishing opportunities with high winds from the storm until things settle. The good news is anglers have been finding trout on our local freestones throughout Connecticut thanks to Fall stocking, and we have some much needed water in our rivers. Many options are rising and are now above average, and some rivers will need a day or two to clear up. Trout will be aggressive on a variety of streamers and nymphs. On the Housatonic River subsurface fishing is also working well, however it will be worth bringing some Blue Winged Olive for hatches towards dusk. Check your flows as the increase in flows will make for difficult wading in some sections. The Delaware River has also had some great Blue Winged Olive hatches this past week, and streamer fishing is starting to improve as Brown Trout get ready to spawn throughout the Northeast. On the Salmon River, the notable improvement is the arrival of more Steelhead in the lower river, and there are still some Salmon entering to keep anglers busy. The saltwater fishing will prove challenging due to weather, but before the winds anglers were finding Stripers centralized in harbors, coves, and the mouths of rivers. The better Stripers are in the mid 30” range. Further East anglers are finding great migratory Striper fishing along the Southshore of Long Island and into New Jersey. The overall trend is that Albie and Bonito fishing has been tapering off in most areas.
Read on for more…
Connecticut
Local Rivers
Flows have jumped up considerably from this past week's rain. For instance, the Saugatuck River is reading 335 CFS. We recommend waiting a day or two for clarity to restore, as some of our option may be blown out. The good news is that most options have been stocked, with the Saugatuck being stocked last week. Thanks to increased flows, trout will spread out into a variety of water types. Many options have improved for fishing as a result, and trout will be forgiving in terms of fly selection. You can expect hatches of Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Light Cahill, Isonychia, and some Midges. Most of the fishing will be best subsurface during high flows. It will be worth bringing streamers as stocked trout can be aggressive. A double nymph rig with bead head flies will help keep your flies in the strike zone during above average flows, as well as offer options for the trout. Stocked trout will be taking a variety of gaudy and larger flashier nymphs until the key into the natural forage.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (Overcast Days) 18-24
Adams Parachute (Attractor) 16-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Chartreuse, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Naugatuck River
Flows on the Naugatuck jumped up to 2270 CFS at the Beacon Falls Gauge, and the Naugatuck will be high and stained, with some sections being tricky for wading until flows drop a bit. The good news is that the state has stocked Atlantic Salmon and trout in both the lower and upper sections, which will now have the chance to spread out with high water. A variety of streamers will work, from Woolly Buggers to more traditional Atlantic Salmon Flies. Try swinging your fly through the pools, and sometimes varying your presentation, such as stripping you fly, will entice a grab. You may also find some trout, and similar bug activity to out local rivers and streams report. Nymphing will be effective when there is no hatch activity. The Shetucket River was also stocked with Atlantic Salmon and Trout this Fall.
Farmington River
Flows on the West Branch of the Farmington River are above average but will still be at ideal fishable levels. At Riverton, the West Branch Gauge is reading 325 CFS, while the Still is adding 928 CFS. If fishing soon, we recommend staying above the Still River until flows drop and clear up. Water temperatures on the West Branch are in the mid to high 50s, and temperatures will be ideal in all sections of the river. Hatches haven’t been exceptional; however, you may find some Tan/Olive Caddis, larger October Caddis, Blue Winged Olives (overcast rainy days), Light Cahill, Midges, and Isonychia during the evenings. The insects will be small this time of year, so you will want to bring small dries and an assortment of small nymphs, but bringing some larger flashier nymphs during above average levels will also work. Also, a consideration is terrestrials, such as ants and beetles. Nymphing will be best throughout the afternoon, when hatch activity tends to slow down. Trout are now spread into the well oxygenated faster water and all water types, and it will be worth fishing off the beaten path. Streamer fishing will also be working well in this high water, and Brown Trout are getting ready to spawn and will be more aggressive. For dry fly fishing with smaller flies, we recommend a 9-12’ leader in 6x. As a reminder, since Brown Trout will begin their spawning soon, you will want to avoid fishing to paired up spawners and avoid stepping on Redds.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Larger Articulated Streamers on a sinking/sink tip line
Housatonic River
Flows on the Housatonic River have increased considerably with the rain, and are still increasing. At Falls Village flows are 1150 CFS which is above average and will make some sections tricky for wading. When flows levels off, trout fishing will be good as the Housatonic was stocked for the fall, and trout will have a chance to spread out. Trout have been recently stocked on two occasions, and these fish will be forgiving in terms of fly selection. This means Mop Flies, Squirmy Worms, and a variety of streamers will be effective. Anglers are also still finding some Smallmouth Bass. More educated trout that have been in the system longer are keying in on small Blue Winged Olives and some Isonychia during the evening. For Smallmouth, we recommend streamers such as Wolly Buggers, Crayfish Patterns, and popper flies.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Larger Articulated Streamers on a sinking/sink tip line
Saltwater
The Western Sound has seen more action from migratory Stripers which will keep improving in the next few weeks, as well as some resident fish preparing to hold over. Focusing on rocky coves, shallow water, and the mouths of rivers you may find fish blitzing on Peanut Bunker. The Eastern Sound is also seeing some action from the mouth of the Housatonic to Fisher’s Island and the mouth of the Connecticut River. You may find Stripers and some larger Bluefish, as Albies and Bonito are more scattered when compared to their numbers pre storm. This past week the Stripers are more concentrated around key areas which include the mouths of rivers, versus the open Sound. The most prevalent bait is Bay Anchovies and Peanut Bunker. Things are likely to change after this storm with high winds passing through.
Hot Flies for Summer/Fall:
Custom Tied Baby Bunker (Super Realistic!)
Bob’s Banger (Stripers and Bluefish)
Surf Candies for Bonito and Albies
Good Fly Lines for Fall:
Rio Outbound Short (Good for big flies and big winds)
Rio Striper (Good all-rounder)
Leaders:
9' 16lb Fluorocarbon Leader for Bonito and Albies
Please report any poaching to the DEEP by calling 800-842-4357.
New York
Salmon River
Flows are increasing on the Salmon River from rain, but are still low, with the Pineville Gauge reading 430 CFS. This jump in flows will help push more fish into the system, and fishing will be good for Steelhead once they level off. Salmon are spread throughout the entire river, and Kings, Steelhead, Coho, and some nice Brown Trout are entering the river with the occasional Atlantic Salmon. This week Steelhead have been primarily entering the river into the lower sections. For Kings and Cohos, we recommend using a 16-20 tapered leader with split shot rigged above a micro swivel to avoid having your split shot slide down to your fly. For flies, more aggressive fish in the lower sections will grab larger and bright colored intruders from Pink to Blue and Chartreuse swung on single and two-hand rods. Egg sucking leeches, Woolly Buggers, Glo Bugs, and Estaz Eggs in a variety of colors will work well. Kings are now spawning in a variety of locations throughout the river and are now into the smaller tributaries.
Catskills
Flows on the Mainstem of the Delaware River are below average but increasing, with the Lordville Gauge reading 1930 CFS. Water temperatures on the Mainstem are now in the low to mid 50s, and flows will be clear and still fishable by drift boat while a little high for wading this weekend. The East Branch flows are now near average, 1120 CFS at Fishes Eddy, and the West Branch is above average reading 711 CFS at Hale Eddy. Hatches have been improved, and some days have been producing great Blue Winged Olive hatches. On brighter sunny days you can expect the hatches to be best during the evening. For hatches you can expect Blue Winged Olives on overcast days, Light Cahill, Tan Caddis, and Isonychia. Often, fish will be keyed in on very small Blue Winged Olives (Pseudos in size 20-28) during the afternoon. It will also be worth bringing a few ant patterns. Nymphing will be the most effective method when there are no hatches, and streamer fishing will be improved with higher flows. Sticking to streamer fishing during the morning with floating or sinking lines will pick up a few aggressive pre-spawn Brown Trout. With current water temperatures Trout are spread out into a variety of different water types, so don’t overlook the faster riffles, especially using an Isonychia as a searching pattern towards the evening. The smaller rivers around the area still have fishable temperatures, especially during the morning. Hatch sizes will be small and trickier to fish this time of year, and we recommend a leader at least 12’ long in 6x.
Dry Fly Hatches:
Blue Winged Olives (overcast days) 18-24
Blue Winged Olive Emerger 18-20
Nymphs:
General Mayfly Attractor 14-18
Streamers:
Krystal Bugger (Black, Brown, Olive, White, Burnt Orange) 6-12
Larger Articulated Streamers on a sinking/sink tip line
New York Saltwater
The South Shore of Long Island into New Jersey has been seeing the best Striper action as of recent, with Peanut Bunker and Sand Eels being the primary bait. There’s quite a few smaller Bluefish along the Northshore, with some Stripers blitzing during lowlight hours. Anglers have been seeing a few Bonito along the Northshore and middle of the sound sporadically. Albie fishing has slowed a bit; however, you may encounter them fishing the Southshore by boat. There are a few Stripers being caught on the East End towards Montauk although numbers haven’t been phenomenal. There is still good Striper fishing in the bays.
Rhode Island Saltwater
It’s a similar story in Rhode Island, and anglers are still finding some scattered schools of Albies and Bonito on the south shore on small Bay Anchovies and sometimes Peanut Bunker, as the hardtail season tapers off. Bass fishing has remained consistent for topwater, and anglers are still finding good action in the Providence River. There are some Stripers around Newport, which has been best during low light hours. Block Island is seeing some Stripers and more sizeable Bluefish with some Stripers holding in the deeper water ledges as they migrate through. Watch Hill and Point Judith are still seeing Striper blitzes along the beach, with some scattered pods of Albies and Bonito.