Plows opened the access points to the Wood. Fished for a few hours this afternoon. Fish are visable in the sun however the melt has started and snow is falling into the river creating havoc. The water level is already beginning to rise. With the warming trend and rain over the next few days the Wood River will blow out. Hopefully it will push the debris which is lying throughout the river. Next weekend my be a washout. Trout river close at the end of February. Dang...

Fished the Wood River yesterday from 1:00 to 4:00. Blizzard NEMO was just starting to hit southern New England. Water levels along the Wood River in Arcadia are excellent. The water is very clear and cold. Trout are spread throughout the river. They are pretty spooky at this time. This time of the year insect activity is null. Other than the occasional tumbling nymph or caddis larva trout will take up feeding lies with very few predators on the river. Bright egg patterns under a strike indicator have been working well euro dredging 3 flies will always catch fish. You can also can try down and across swing be targeting the far bank under-cuts and swing the fly slowly accross the river. Work gently down stream covering small sections of the river. With water temps in the low to mid 30's I don't anticipate trout to be holding in the limited fast water on the Wood. It's now 3:00 on Saturday, the storm is over and the sun is out. Hopefull some of the access points will be open tomorrow.

Cinder Worm Hatches & Striped Bass in Rhode Island

Aside of opening day the next big fishing event for fly anglers in Rhode Island is the Cinder Worm Hatch. Many anglers have been fishing for striped bass during this event. What triggers these worms to emerge? What drives striped bass into the salt ponds to feed on these small creatures which range in size from 1" up to 3"? Taking my own historical data into consideration here are what I believe are some of the factors and conditions to look for.

· Spring moons (New & Full ~ April & May) with the most dramatic high & lows.

· Water temperature

· Tides...

I have found that spring moons dictate to these little creatures when it is time for them to perform their mating swarm. When water temps reach the mid 50's around these moon tides it triggers the mating swarm. In many instances it seems the first batch of Cinder Worms Hatch in the further most reaches of the salt ponds where the water flow & temperature remains a constant. Once the emergence occurs in these areas, after a few evenings the hatch seems to emerge itself out and we find no more hatches occur in these areas. As water temps begin to rise throughout the pond hatches will occur in various areas. Thus explaining why worm hatches may appear in areas which may only be 100 yards apart. After a mild winter in 2011 we found hatch as early as mid-April. Mild winter water temps lead me to believe that this has a factor in the emergence; this also seems to be the case when we experience a cold front with big incoming tides which drop the water temps in the midst of good hatch nights. On those cold front nights worm hatches are null and void. Example: In May of 2010 we had some consistent nights with prolific hatches. Water temps approached 60 degrees. On one evening we had a cold front come in and the water dropped to the low 50's. Was this a shock to the worms or are water temps a dictating factor. I have also found that as May progresses and we find consistent rise in water temps throughout the salt pond, I have found myself in the presence of worms close to the outflows where water temps remain in the mid 50's to 60 degrees. Once the water temps hold in the mid 60's and we are working hatches closer to the outflow it seems the hatch is winding down.

What effect do tides have: Once we have consistent hatches and worms are secreting eggs & sperm phermonal activity drive striped bass into the salt ponds. Moderate tides seem to be the best as strong moon tide may on occasion bring cooler water sometimes slowing hatches.

Indicators of Hatching Areas: Seagulls & Swans both of which feed on worms, as a boat and wade angler as I seek out likely spots for worm emergence I look both feathered creatures. They feed on worms. On almost every occasion when I find a flock of either gulls or swans in a particular cove it is almost certain they will be worms emerging that evening. Nature has a way of letting us know what is about to happen.

 

Lets face it, Rhode Island anglers are positioned perfectly to intercept striped bass as they make the run from wintering areas. Striped bass in route to spring and summer feeding grounds such as Narragansett Bay are intercepted by swarms of mating worms. It reminds me of when I am looking for a nice place to eat and I am driving Atwells Avenue on Federal. The restaurant with the strongest smell of garlic is my place.

As for myself, I put 20 to 30 days on the water with and without clients during the cinder worm swarms. My post is not is purely observation, historical data and time on the water. The combination of the three factors above are what I have experience to be the combination of important elements which could make or break a night of successful angling during the last weeks of April through the first two weeks of June.

 

 

 

Captain David S.Porreca

www.riverandriptide.com

Winter Fishing the Wood River

Holiday Fishing the Wood River: I have recently fished the Wood River, a nice break during the Holiday Chaos here at River & Riptide Anglers. The winter months can be fantastic along the Wood River. Most the area I frequent is at the confluence of the Falls & Flat Rivers just up-stream from Rte 165 in Arcadia Mgmt Area. During the tail end of the year be to check the hunting regulations as Blaze Orange is required in varying amounts during the hunting season: http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/fishwild/hunt1213.pdf.
Water levels during the fall and start of winter can vary and you'll find a mix of wild brook trout and stocked rainbow and browns. The occasional wild brown trout may eagerly take the fly, a well noted surprise to Rhode Island anglers. This time of the year nymphing tactics are most productive caddis abundance on the river bottom. Patterns such as olive caddis larva, pheasant tails and various darker nymphs will work well. Try a bright egg fly tied with a bead in front and small split shot to get the fly down. During un-seasonable weather you may also find surface activity on peak sun days, try small gray midge or tiny black stones tapered to 6 or 7X tippet. Surface activity is always welcomed as it showcases the health of our fishery. Generous float stockings throughout the season have resulted in a higher rate of sustainable fishing. This allows fish to be spread throughout the fishery allowing anglers the opportunity to spread out and enjoy the resource. Don't be afraid to hike a bit to find a pool or run away from the typical spots as fish will move to take up feeding & holding lies throughout the river. The winter months are not time to put your gear away as angling opportunities remain productive along the Wood River.

Wood River Brown Trout

 

Joe Grenon Just before landing a Wood River Rainbow

 

 

The Wood River below Rte 165

 

 

False Albacore invade the Rhode Island shoreline. Over the past several weeks we have great False Albacore fishing with Albies from the East Passage of Narragansett to the South side of Fishers Island New York. A variation of baits with predominant Bay Anchovy have been present. We target the speedsters with small flies on number 2 or 4 hooks. A mix of white, pink and tan SF Blend, EP Fibers or Bucktail will do the trick. Fast casting action with quick retrieves are key when these fish are blazing through bait. The action started first of September and water temps have remained in the mid 60's. I would expect False Albacore to be around through mid October. Get out hang on and enjoy.

Summer is here and the Wood River is fishing better than ever. Its Early June and we are seeing excellent Hexagenia Limbata Hatches. Mixed in are Light Cahills, Mahoganies and a good hatch of Yellow Sallys. Most of these hatches are present during late the late afternoon and early evenings. Mid day terrestrials such as ants, beetles and inch worms are working well. Water levels for this time are excellent. To find solitude try fishing the upper reaches of the Wood above rte 165

Take A Kid Fishing

I cannot stress how important our resources are without our children. Kids must get an early understanding of our natural resources. What better way than to take a kid fishing. Look beyond the crowds and embrace our youth. If you're out on the river and you see youngster fishing. Lend a tip or two and help them be better stewards. The gesture will go miles.

Wood River Fishing Report

Although trout have been hit hard during this past weekend’s opener caddis seem to dominant insects hatching. False Gray Drakes are fluttering around with Black Quills in the mix. Mid-day and afternoons are best for surface feeding trout. Don't be afraid to meander away from heavily stocked areas as the Wood has plenty of holdover settled fish. Mahogany Compara Duns, Dark Caddis, and various nymphs are working best. Size 12 across the board.

Farmington River

Winter on the Farmington River can be phenomenal. This tail-water fishery expands it's catch & release area to roughly 21 miles during the normally closed season. Expect winter caddis, little black stones, midge & blue winged olives. I personally like this river best with flows below 500cfs. Longer rods in the 9ft range and nymphing rods up to 10ft. If your seeking rising trout areas such as Church Pool offer hot spots of heavily oxygenated water which lead to slow very deep pond like shelter were fish move up to the edge of the fast water to feed on massive amounts of aquatic insects. There are many other areas which offer these attributes where rising fish can be found. The Farmington River is truly a great place with a diverse range of water anatomy. With 21 miles of catch & release water the winter months can make this river and epic fishery to visit.

Central Riffle 

Inspect ~ Clean ~ Dry

Peoples State Forest

Hogback Dam

The Tail-water

Wild & Scenic



TMA No TMA

Sorry I have not posted here in a bit. Its been a crazy winter. Two weeks ago a few of us hit Merrick Brook in CT. With just a few fish caught the area was prestine and appeared to be loaded with with insect life. Over turning stones we found various mayflies and caddis meandering about. This area was catch & release dedicated to both wild brook & brown trout. Maybe Rhode Island should consider adopting similar policies set by CT in  effort to preserve some precious waters which may hold both wild brook and brown trout.

What do you think?

Salmon River Steelhead

It has been a week since we've returned from upstate New York. The first two days were spent on the Salmon River. Crowds were heavy on Sunday and things got better as we hit the new week. The river has been running quite low all fall and is in dire need of water. 335 cfs just doesn't trigger fresh runs a fish. None the less there are plenty of fish in the river and I found black stones to be some of the best bets. I concentrated on seams, quarter up stream with just a few size B shot, mend then swing and Steelies would hit it on the swing. Keep you drag lose as this will give the fish some running slack. Adjust the drag and put the meats to him. On Tuesday we headed over to Sandy Creek in Rochester to find mostly big Browns and few nice Steelhead. Here big Male Browns were behind the females. Large attractor flies worked, for those of us fortunate to find some steehead here trout beads worked very well as they were on the female brown trout reds. These Steelhead were very aggressive. We hope you enjoy the photos below. If you have any questions about Steelhead fishing just give us a call at the shop. 401-392-1919

Shark Fishing Turns Mahi

Hit the Fairway Buoy today with super flat calm seas. Our quest was the might Mako. One huge Blue Shark on Mackerel and then some big Mahi is the slick. As we raced to gather fly rods a big Mahi hit the bait and I was on. The fillets were wonderful. Water temps were 75 degrees and and there was a lot of bait. The majority we had seen was bullet Mackerel. Taking a break to do some charters, back at shortly.

Its has been some time since we've posted on our Blog. We'll do our best to continue to share whats going on in the fly fishing world at River & Riptide Anglers. Over the past several months we have been planning our new web site. We did it. All products are not loaded however we'll get there. The new site offers some many great options, its exciting. We also celebrated 4 years this Sunday. We did so by heading to the Easy Grounds to shark fish. What a blast. Got to repsect the Blue Sharks. Non the less stay tuned as we come into one of our favorite times of the fishing season, more sharks, Albies, Fall Stripers & Steelhead. Bets to all.

Wood River May Fly Hatches

After some recent trips on the Wood I was amazed at the prolific May Fly Hatches. March Brown, Mahoganies & Lt Cahills. Brook, Browns & Rainbow Trout were sipping both Duns & Spinners. Many anglers were concerned after last years floods the Wood River would never be the same. They were wrong. Weather has a way of fixing things and the Wood River is in the best shape its been in over 10 years. This week were heading the West Branch of the Delaware River for some big wild Trout. We'll be back on the Wood River next week.

Striped Bass Ninigret Pond

Its been a little time since posting here, we'll try to keep this updated. Striper fishing has been hot on Ninigret Pond. There were some off nights due to big tides and cooler water temps, however there are tons of stripers in the pond feeding on massive amounts of Cinder Worms. Expect Quonny and Point Judith Ponds to pick up as well.

Fly Fish The Farmington River

This past Thursday I instructed anglers on some of my favorite patterns I use on the Farmington River during spring hatches. The Hendrickson Hatch is very prolific on the Farmington River. I have seen this hatch as early as the 2nd week in April. Best bets are 1st week in May. If you're like me I like to fish the Trout Management Area above Rte 219, I can always find water without crowds. Once the Hatch Starts in some of the lower stretches below Pineville, it time to start planning. You can actually follow this hatch up river.
Some of my favorite flies are Dun Variant, Quill Bodied Compara-Duns and this Biot Bodied Catskill Styled Dry we tied on Thursday. We'll be out Fishing the Farmington River reel soon.

David Porreca

Salmon River NY Steelhead



Three years ago I met two big dudes, Joe & Chris Grenon. I said these guys love fishing almost as much as I did. I was dead wrong. They may love it more. Here are some shots of two brothers who just started Steelhead fishing last year. I love fishing with Joe and Chris. Last November 16 of us went Steelhead fishing including Joe and Chris. These guys fit in where ever we go. Congrats on another successful trip. Pink San Juan Worms, Black Orange/Pink Fleas & Chartreuse Caddis Pupa seemed to be the ticket. "Is one more trip in the cards" I am living vicariously through these two guys right now...

Salmon River Steelhead

Ed Sullivan, Mike Muzzy, Joe & Chris Grenon and myself David Porreca headed to Pulaski on Super Bowl Sunday to fly fish for steelhead. Driving through the evening we barreled through snow squalls, sleet & wind. We arrived in Pulaski, New York at 4:20 AM. After hanging at the local variety station and loaded up on coffee and headed for the Altmar Bridge to fished the lower fly zone. We were tight to steelhead within the hour. A mix of flies from Pink Worm, Green Caddis Pupa & Black Stones did the trick. The water level was 285 cfs and steelhead were aggressive. Swinging flies at the top and bottom of riffles did the trick for me. Several fish were landed throughout the morning and several more were hooked and lost. This was my first trip with my new Sage TCX 7wt Switch rod, and it was wonderful. What a great two handed rod with excellent recovery. The fish in the photo was landed with 5lb flourocarbon tippet with a Green Caddis Pupa w/ gold ribbing. Great trip with excellent winter fishing.

Farmington River

We have a June trip planned for the West Branch of the Delaware. Having fished the Roscoe area rivers I am sure the West Branch of the Delaware will far exceed my expectations. For close to 20 years I have been fishing the Farmington River in Connecticut and it has never let me down. I am sure that come June the West Branch will keep drawing us in. Here's to the Farmington River and some of its beautiful brown trout.

Bone Yard Brown on Sulphur

Isonychia Mayfly

My Favorite Side Channel

From the other side of my Favorite Side Channel... Lets not wish our lives away. Spring will be here soon enough. DPorreca

Breakheart Brook

Jim Less and I headed to the back-country in Arcadia to fish for some wild brook trout. We headed to Breakheart Pond to fish the inlet and outflow of the pond. There were a few ice fishers on the pond enjoying a wonderful sunny day. Jim and I spent a short amount of time at the head of the pond with not much access to deeper pools, from there we headed back to the parking area and fish the outflow; Breakheart Brook. What a wonderful stretch with steeper than normal grades for a small Rhode Island Stream. We felt as if we were fishing a White Mountain stream in NH. We just spent a couple of hours on the stream however it was a splendid winter day. I did manage to land a gorgeous little brook trout around 8 inches. I am sure there were many more in the deep pools. A Hares Ear Tungsten Bead did the trick. Jim and I did witness many enthusiast out enjoying the management area. Was truly nice to see.

Wild Rhode Island Brook Trout on a Sage 7'10" TXL O wt Fly Rod with size #16 Tungsten Hares Ear

The old Dam at Breakheart Brook. Can't but to wonder what this river and 30+ acre pond would be like if this dam was restored to better manage the flow of water. Something to think about.