Good Temps and Sunshine, but Rain is Needed

My father always says, one weather extreme follows another.  After 2 very wet years, including the wettest summer on record in 2024, the well has run nearly dry.  We are in a mostly dry and sunny pattern for the past 2-3 months.  It is actually amazing to see how fast things went from wet to dry/ drought conditions.  The summer was tough on many local trout streams, but I do not think that this summer was worse than gong back 4-5 years.  In my area of Eastern Chittenden County, VT I would not actually consider us to be in a  drought.  We have certainly had more rain than areas further east, and when I was in Maine 3 weeks ago it was much drier over there.  In fact, the small stream behind my house did not dry up this summer, as it has in the past, and there is still ground water just below the surface.  

We got over 2" of rain last week, and the ground did soak it right up, not even upping the river levels.  I did learn a lot about trout behavior and how they make it through the hot summer months this year.  I spent several days with the kids snorkeling around local rivers, all marginal trout streams, during the hottest days of August.  What we found that the trout seek out wood, specifically dense root balls and undercut banks and get as deep into them as possible.  We literally would peel back layers of roots and find a fish, (sometimes of shockingly large proportions) staring at us, unwilling to leave the cover.  Depth and spring influences didn't seem to matter.  They basically just holed up in the darkest, densest spots and waited, I assume, until night to feed. I am planning on mousing for the first time tonight now that things have cooled off. The good news is that many wild fish, and some stocked fish made the summer.

Fish are still going to be somewhat stressed, especially in the smaller rivers and streams until we get some consistent rain.

I actually have not fished much since I returned from Alaska. I have been working on a house addition all summer and trying to wrap it up before I start the fall guiding season again in the next week. When I have been out it has been ok fishing. Nothing spectacular.  Fish have looked at dry flies, both Iso's and golden stones. Do not overlook skinny fast water.  The most oxygen is in these areas and the fish love to set up in the riffles in the fall.

I am uploading the first part of my Alaska adventure article that is appearing in the North Woods Sporting Journal in the Articles page here on the site.  It was an amazing adventure with great fishing and some adrenaline filled events.  Here are some pictures from the trip in the gallery.