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Right on the Fly

@rightonthefly

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Fly Fishing & Tenkara Guide (CT & NY). Freshwater guide in: Fairfield County, CT, Croton River System in NY, Housatonic River (Litchfield County, CT).

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Tuesday Tip - Try New Things
Today’s Tuesday tip is try new things.

Hey folks, how are you? Bob Strassel from Right on the Fly with today’s Tuesday tip. Today’s Tuesday tip is: try new things.

So today I’m up on the Housatonic, just checking out some spots, seeing what the hatches are. Blue-winged olives from about 1:00 till about 5:30. It was insane. They were just everywhere. The problem was, the winds were nuts. So the winds were 20 to 30 mph wind gusts, but the fish were rising in between the wind gusts.

I tried different techniques. The flies, the blue-winged olive sizes, were 20, 22, and 24. But it was really tough. And, you know, I tried parachutes, I tried RS2s, tried some soft hackles, tried some wet flies—I tried everything. Regular blue-winged olive (dries) patterns, nothing worked. The wind was just insane. Tried nymphing with some really small nymphs, that didn’t work. Tried adjusting my position—nothing worked. I got one take, I missed it. I’ll be honest with you, I was a little disappointed.

But I moved on. Went to the next location, having a tough time. All of a sudden the winds died, they were coming up again right on the top. And, you know what, I said I’m going to go back to soft hackles. And I fished some size 20 olive soft hackles that have a bead head. And within throwing it twice, I got a hit, and then the second time, I got a fish—got a rainbow.

I’ll post a picture in the notes, but, you know, you’ve got to be able to try something new, and I did try something new and it worked. And so make sure if you’re fishing, you know, try something new, try something different. Something’s really small, maybe every once in a while throw on something big.

So that’s today’s Tuesday tip: try something new.

Tight lines, be safe, have fun.

- Bob

@rightonthefly
#flyfishing by @rightonthefly

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a day ago

Tenkara with Kristen & Lizzy!
Fun Beginner Tenkara Trip.

Both ladies did fantastic, and both caught 🐟!
Congratulations ladies! 🎓

Tenkara is a form of fly fishing from Japan. It uses a fixed line to present flies to fish. It’s portable and can be done almost anywhere. It’s a fun way to get started in fly fishing, or add an additional skill to your outdoor fun when you are hiking, camping, or backpacking.

#tenkara #flyfishing #fairfieldcountyct by @rightonthefly

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2 days ago

Great Fundamentals class at Compleat Angler yesterday with Nico, Ellis, and Brandon!

Some terrific casting, and some fish were caught!

Congratulations 🎓 graduates! We’ll see you on the water!

Don’t forget we do in-home & private fly fishing instruction.

@rightonthefly
@compleat_angler_ct
#flyfishing taken in The Compleat Angler by @rightonthefly

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3 days ago

Fun day with Bryce. Great job catching two species today! A brown trout and a largemouth bass.

Bryce took the 1/2 day beginner fly fishing course and did terrific! Water was high and off-color from the storm but he still managed two fish!

🍁Fall is here! Water is cold and trout are here!

#flyfishing by @rightonthefly

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6 days ago

Tuesday Tips - Be Flexible!
Today’s Tuesday tip is be flexible, or have flexibility when you fly fish.

So, what does being flexible or having flexibility mean? Well, flexible means the ability to adjust or bend to short-term change. In fly fishing this is a necessity!

Imagine you go somewhere, it’s blown out from a Nor’Easter (Like the last few days). You still want to fish, but because the water is super-high and off-color and there are no insects, what are you going to do? You’re not going to complain about it, you’re just going to do something else. ie. Nymph or fish streamers.

That’s one thing my dad stressed with me—never really listened to him—patience and being flexible. So as a fly fisher, it’s really important to be flexible. You have to adapt, or you have to adjust to change on a regular basis. Change always happens, especially on a stream or river!

Remember, the only thing you can count on is change. Change is constant! Weather changes, stream changes, there are man-made changes-Something’s always going on, and you’re consistently being flexible, you’re consistently changing things.

Two examples:
1. Today-Was planning on dries today, but due to the stream conditions I knew the water was high and off color. No dries, so I changed to streamers and caught three browns tight to the banks!
2. Recently I was talking to a friend, they fish up on the Delaware, and they only do dry fly fishing. There were very little hatches the day he was up there. Of course he was dissapointed 🥺 and didn’t want to fish. He hates nymphing and isn’t a streamer fan. Eventually he recanted and caught fish on streamers. But he had to be flexible. You know, you go somewhere, something’s not working, switch to something else.

So, today’s Tuesday tip is: Be flexible so you can have fun and catch fish!

Tight lines, be safe, have fun.

We’ll see you soon.

- Bob

@rightonthefly
#flyfishing by @rightonthefly

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8 days ago

Caught a few of browns deep or tight to the bank on streamers (Clousers and Woolly Buggers).

Many local streams are high and/or blown out. Watch for blowdowns from the storm and high water. If you fish, stay tight on the banks.

@rightonthefly
#flyfishing by @rightonthefly

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8 days ago

Checked out local streams before the Nor’easter. Some good, some bad, some ugly!🤠

Fall is definitely coming.

#flyfishing by @rightonthefly

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11 days ago

Managed to get out for a bit and catch a few trout! This one was the first of Fall (my favorite time of year) and had a 🍁leaf on it!

We still could use a little water in the streams and rivers, just not all at once. Best guess CT local trout stocking should start happening end next week (as long as areas are safe if we get the Nor’easter).

Some caddis and BWO’s around locally as well as ISO’s, Terrestrials, Lt. Cahill’s, and some random sulphurs (probably Hebes?!) depending on where you are.

If we do get the storm, not the weekend to be out there fly fishing. If we don’t-watch for strong winds and blowdowns (also probably not time to be out there).

Tight lines! Fall is here!

-Bob

@rightonthefly
#flyfishing #fairfieldcountyct #browntrout by @rightonthefly

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14 days ago

Tuesday Tips - Wear a Wading Belt!
Don’t risk drowning or hypothermia, when using waders, wear a wading belt.

Lately I see more and more people not wearing a wading belt when they use waders. I’ve seen this online, on various rivers and streams, by guides and outfitters, as well as their clients not wearing a wading belt when wearing waders. I’ve also seen kids wearing waders with no wading belt.

Wearing a wading belt with your waders decreases the chance of your waders filling up with water if you fall in. It gives you an extra amount of time to get safe, and get up out of the water.

Do yourself a favor and make sure you wear a wading belt with your waders.

Tight lines, be safe, & have fun!

@rightonthefly
#flyfishing #waders by @rightonthefly

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15 days ago

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16 days ago

Smallmouth season is winding down on the Housatonic and Fall is two days away! Water temps are going down, stocking should be very soon, and hopefully holdover trout will start appearing in more numbers.

Smallies are still around and feeding to get ready for winter.

Looking back at the summer smallie season here are a few observations:
1. Fishing less pressured areas yielded better results. Rotating locations also yields better results.
2. Best times to fish were early AM or later PM. Not a surprise here.
3. Topwater = Neglible overall. Caddis hatches were not a factor. Hatches are minimal, but depending where you are, areas of deeper water & structure with less pressure yielded more fish, better fish, and more hatches.
4. September is seeing sulphurs, BWO’s (large numbers), ISO’s, Light Cahills as afternoon progresses into evening. Minimal caddis hatches (alarming). Some terrestrial activity. Best day out saw flying ants, fished small wets and landed 50+ smallies.
5. Subsurface fishing (nymphs & streamers) has produced best results for bigger fish this year. Especially nymphing with 2 nymphs (dropper rigs.).

Best Nymphs:
Pat’s Rubber Legs
Beadhead Prince Nymphs
Beadhead Golden/Yellow Stones
A few fish are taken on Sexy Walt’s and bigger caddis pupae.

Best Streamers:
Woolly Buggers (Olive/Black)
Jig Buggers (Olive)
Clouser Minnows (Olive/Black)

6. Hopper dropper rigs & dry (large elk hair caddis or stimulators) dropper rigs often produced in low water. Some topwater on smaller poppers. Popper droppers also produced using Prince Nymphs.
7. Low water & heat over the last few years has definitely effected the amounts of bugs and fish.
8. Poaching, trash, fires, fish weirs, feces (human), and spin fishing in the fly fishing only area of the Housatonic and other areas has exploded in the last few years. Probably the worst I’ve seen. DEEP Enforcement is practically non-existent.
9. The Housatonic will always be one of those high and low rivers. Probably more lows than highs, but being surprised with an incredible fish is worth it. Quality over quantity.

Looking forward to Fall on Tuesday!🍂🍁

@rightonthefly @bobstrasseljr
#flyfishing #housatonicriver by @rightonthefly

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17 days ago

Tuesday Tips - Fish New Water
If you are looking to grow as an angler fish new water!

The best way (beside practice) to grow as an angler is to move outside your comfort zone and fish new water, new locations, or for new species.

Fishing the same locations doesn’t challenge you, and also you’ll often receive the same results. And in an era of immense fishing pressure, low water, warm water, heat, and crazy weather-branch out to find other places to fish and more options to increase your skills!

How do you find places?
1. Friends - Ask friends and fellow anglers for recommendations.
2. The Internet - Use the Internet, it’s a great resource! Google Maps, Google Earth, and fishing and hunting apps can help you find potential new water to fish.
3. Books & Maps - Check out your local library or book store. Topographic maps are amazing!
4. State Resources - NY DEC Locator & CT Trout &Salmon Stocking App. Both also offer downloadable maps that you can print up.

Be sure that if you are going to take a trip to new water you are prepared.
Bring:
1. Water
2. Bug Spray
3. Sunscreen or sun protection
4. Sunglasses
5. First Aid Kit
6. Map
7. Wading staff
8. Rain gear
9. Location of closest fly shop

A few additional thoughts:
1. Tell someone where you are going (Spouse, partner, family member, friend, etc.)
2. Check the weather the night before and the day of your trip
3. Be sure and check your gear the night before at a minimum and make sure you have appropriate flies

Tight lines, be safe, & have fun!

#flyfishing #fairfieldcountyct #flyfishingtips #westchestercountyny by @rightonthefly

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22 days ago