Hi Folks, It has been a busy week of guiding. Just completed back to back doubles and preparing to do it again today. The fishing has been pretty decent. Our rivers have settled from the early week rain and we could use some more rain. I have been mixing it up and fly fishing for smallmouth and northern from my motorboat and river wading for trout. The Winooski gave up a the Vermont cycle yesterday. We landed a native brook trout, wild brown trout, and wild rainbow. The river was 65 degrees. Not a ton of hatching activity. A few #18 sulphurs, a few some random #18-#20 micro caddis along with a few #14 tan bodied caddis were hatching at dark. We nymphed up our bigger fish and caught the smaller trout on dry flies. A #10 orange bodied Stimulator drew a lot of interest from young wild trout. A #10 double tungsten black stone fly with a #16 caddis pupa dropper as well as a #12 Prince nymph under an indicator was very effective. All of the trout that ate nymphs were holding in heavier water loaded with great big rocks. While still water fishing for bass and pike and I started to see some of the large #4-#6 Hex May flies coming off. Now is the time to start exploring the various cold water lakes in Vermont on search of large fish rising to eat the Hex at dark. The bass fishing has been pretty darn good. I have done several smallmouth trips the over the last few days from river fishing to lake fishing. The top water bite has been inconsistent, but the fish that have been eating off the top have been large. We landed a 18" smallie the other day on a frog popper that absolutely hammered the fly, A big bass will really put a bend in a 6wt. fly rod. A #8 bunny fur olive zonker has been consistent for a sub surface pattern. The spin anglers have been enjoying a lot of success with a fire tiger Rapalas and the incredible edible Senko. A 3" to 4" Senko in watermelon black magic has been very consistent. The Rapala really was effective catching small northerns and pickerel. An erratic retrieve while attempting to dance the lure over weed patches got the fish interested. We located all of our fish in less than 10' of water. All in and around rip rap, rock, and forming weed beds. The river fishing smallmouth has mostly been a subsurface thing. Water temps in the rivers are a bit cooler. The lower Lamoille was 68 degrees and the Winooski trib. 60 to 61 degrees. Slow drifts with 3" crawfish Senkos and a 3.5" baby bass swim Senko were just the right ticket. for the cold water and lethargic smallmouth. We did get a few eats on a fire tiger Rapala and a small bass popper that imitated a frog. We landed 20 plus smallmouth this morning fishing big giant rock laden pools. I think once the bass water warms above70 degrees then the top water fishing will improve. I am floating tommorow. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-natives species at home. Have Fun, Willy
