Hi Folks, Guided my first trip of the new season yesterday afternoon. Still pretty challenging conditions out there with high, dirty, and cold water. A good percentage of the lakes I like to fish in the Stowe area are still locked up with ice. They should break any day. Water temperature was 37 degrees at the confluence of the Little River and Winooski River. Very well known fishing spot as was evident from all of the trash, uggh. Still not a bad spot this time of the year with clear warmer water merging with dirty colder water. We kept in simple yesterday as I guided a young aspiring angler. We fished spin gear with small red hooks dressed with garden hackle. We focused on a big eddy and that where we landed a nice 11" wild rainbow. Not a bad start for the year. Conditions will only improve. We witnessed a good hatch of #14/#16 little brown stone flies and a few hung up in the eddy we fished. No trout responding to them on the surface. Only a matter of time before we begin to see #14/#16 Quill Gordons, #16/#18 Blue Quills, and then the much awaited #14/#16 Hendrickson hatch. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun. Willy
