Flies by Britton - Custom Tied Flies - Shawn Britton - Connecticut - Farmington River

Flies by Britton - Custom Tied Flies - Shawn Britton - Connecticut - Farmington River - Guide Service

A More Realistic Approach

Written by Shawn

Monday, August 17 2009 11:40

Written by Shawn Britton

It is my opinion that you can not become a trout fisherman and truly appreciate the sport of fly fishing until you have learned something about aquatic insect life. Over the years the detailed study of aquatic insects along with the age old art of tying flies has become an integral part of fly fishing. These go hand in hand and complete the sport for many trout fishers, including myself. Now, I am not saying
that you need to tie your own flies or hold a master’s degree in aquatic entomology. Learning to match the hatch and the ability to contact the local fly shop for the river report should suffice. Besides, I know plenty of great fly anglers who prefer to buy their flies and can catch trout without the constant use of Latin nomenclature.

The more fly fishing for trout that you do, you are going to experience the good times and the bad. Easy times like when the trout are feeding heavy and not quite as selective or when the river has just been stocked. Everyone including the local professor of trout is at attendance. Each of them with a different fly tied on and they are all doing well. Then you will have the frustrating times when the trout will completely ignore whatever you throw at them. Just remember there would be no sport if there wasn’t the thrill of the challenge, the challenge being the entire angling experience, good or bad.

Matching the hatch simply means we buy or tie a fly pattern that best imitates the hatching insect. Then we get to the water, stand across from where the fish are rising, and then reality hits us. Cast after meticulously executed cast something that started out so simple has now become near impossible. Frustration sets in and you find yourself blaming the guy at the fly shop for selling you the wrong flies. Meanwhile trout continue to rise as they feed on the naturals. Hey, what can I tell you - that’s why I like to fish nymphs.

Later on that evening you break up a few ice cubes and pour yourself a full glass of Famous Grouse in a vain attempt to forget the day’s failure of fin and feather. Looking at your collection of various written works on the art of fly angling, you quickly pick out the “Fly fisherman’s Bible”. Soon the pages reveal that you are not the only one to suffer the curse of the selective trout and typical refusal. This is normal and that’s why we have thousands of named and unnamed fly patterns out there, so do not get yourself all knotted up inside.
Proper presentation, leader length and size, fly pattern imitations, etc., are imperative. With that being said and those factors considered, the more realistic the fly pattern is when presented to the trout you will improve your catch rate. Being an avid fly fisherman and guide I have taken trout on just about every type of fly. Many of which I would have never expected to catch a fish. But if I want consistency in tough times I make it a point to tie most of my patterns with a realistic approach a manner in which Dave Whitlock describes as a fly pattern that takes on the major characteristics of the insect you are imitating where size, shape, color, and texture are noticed. You will never escape the fact that trout will almost always prefer a natural over an imitation. We can only do our best to fool them into taking our feathered offering.

Tightlines’ Shawn

Last Updated on Monday, August 17 2009 11:57

Guide Service

The Winter fishing has been Great ! Get up Early and Join me for a Half Day on the Farmington River while the Fishing is Good.

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6-7 am 'till 11am/Noon

Special Weekly Winter Rates 'Till February 31st - $150 Half Day Tightlines' Shawn

My Guide Trips take place on the Farmington Rivers for Trout and The Housatonic River for Smallmouth Bass. I also offer guide and instruction on The Naugatuck River and some of the Smaller streams in the Northwest Corner.

Due to many requests I am bringing back the "Fish the Fly You Tie" Day on the water.

I will hold a personal Fly Tying Demonstration for you and we will fish those Patterns on the water. Clients are encouraged to bring their Fly Tying equipment and tie along side me. It makes for a Very Enjoyable and Instructional Day.

I offer 4 hour and 6 hour trips Only. I have found this to be just right over the years and can give us more time after instruction to fish together and enjoy the afternoon or evening Hatch.

If you are looking for an 8 Hour Trip or a Drift Boat Trip I know a few Well Respected Friends and Guides in the area that can accommodate you.

Please note Both my 4 hour and 6 hour trips include lunch,snacks, beverages.

Thank You...

Please Note that my Available Days can fill up very quick as I have Regular Clients. So Please feel free to contact me and Book Early so we can get on the Water and have a Great time.

Please check our calendar for upcoming Show, Classes and Events.

~ River Guide Service & "Fish the Fly You Tie" Rates ~

Gratuities are Not Included

Half Day (4 hour trip)......1 Person $200, 2 Person $250, 3 People $300

3/4 Day (6 Hour Trip)......1 Person $250, 2 Person $300 3 People $350

Start here by giving us some information and we will get back to you.

River of the Red Hills

Written by Shawn
Wednesday, February 25 2009 15:38
The Mighty Housatonic River Captain Adrian Block, a Dutch explorer was the first white man to see the river. In 1613, he sailed down Long Island Sound from New Amsterdam - he called it the River of the Red Hills. The Algonquin Indians named the river "Ousatonic" which meant "the river beyond the mountain". European settlers later named the river Housatonic, the name we know it by today. The river flows 150 miles from it's source in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts to it's entry into Long Island Sound. Structure and character of the upland stretches of this mighty river could easily be compared to western waters. A designated ten mile stretch of Trout Management Area (TMA), boasts large trout with an average of 16"to "18 and bigger. It is considered by many fly anglers to be one of the best trout fisheries on the east coast. The more popular section of this TMA spans from the covered bridge in West Cornwall downstream along Rte.7 to the Cornwall Bridge at Rte.4. The entire TMA is catch-and-release. The upper section of the TMA is open to all forms of angling. Downstream, just below the covered bridge, the remainder of the TMA becomes fly-fishing-only. Regulation signs are posted accordingly. Well known pools such as Cellar Hole, Spring Hole, Carse Brook and my favorites Corner Hole, The Wall and Church Pool, are just to name a few. Almost all of the spots that the TMA has to offer are easy access from car pull-offs on Rte.7 or from unpaved roads that offer access along the eastern side of the river. Since the beginning of European settlement along the river, industry, development and eventually the introduction of hydroelectric dams and facilities has left us with a river that has been subject to regulated water releases. Without getting into an entirely separate issue, conservation minded groups along with the state DEP have gone to great lengths to better this fishery. More so recently dam releases are better regulated to give the river a somewhat natural flow. I mention this because higher water releases can shut down the fishing until the fish acclimate. Also wading might be more difficult for those who are not familiar with the river. The river has a newer TMA that stretches from the Bull's Bridge bypass in Kent Ct. downstream to the bridge at Gaylordsville. This area receives a regular stocking of trout and has a fair amount of holdovers. The flows are not affected by the upper river releases unless there is extremely high water or winter into spring run-off. Pools have already been named and the area is being well received. Information on river flow, hatches and where to fish can be obtained from the local fly shops for both TMA's.
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Winter Caddis

Written by Shawn

Friday, January 06 2012 00:00

(Doliphilodes Distinctus)

Hello Dolly!

Winter Caddis Revisited...

Well the New Year is here and no major snowfall yet. With a friend's report I managed to get my self out for a few hours this morning. Church pool had some great morning action on winter caddis and a few micro stones. The fish were active and I hooked up with three before I left to head up stream and do some nymphing. I brought up two nice fish out of lower Hafford's. ( I learned the name is actually "Hafford's" not "Halford's ), but I will apologize ahead of time in case the old name is wrong. That being said I had a great morning. I have mentioned before that there are only a few fishing spots if any where you can cast to rising trout when Old Man Winter is settling in, and the Farmington River is no exception. Still, if there is open water some of my favorite times to fish is in the winter months. With the great Winter caddis hatches in the morning, the caddis emerger and occasional little winter stonefly dry fishing over the years has left me with some of my more memorable fishing experiences.

The winter caddis hatch throughout the year and are at their heaviest form November until early spring. The way in which these species of caddis hatch is unique to the way you should make your presentation. To catch more fish you must vary the way you work your caddis fly imitation on the water when presented to the trout. The winter caddis is most predominant and found hatching in slower pools just off of faster runs and riffles. Church pool is a good example. The winter caddis make their way to the surface and attempt to emerge but mainly have to poorly swim or make their way to the river’s banks and bushes to finish molting. Many of the females of this caddis species are born wingless leaving them even more vulnerable in the film.

One fact is that this is a vulnerable hatch and it is available as easy pickings to the trout.

For me the best hatches occur on brighter and sunny mornings but this hatch is around all the time early in the day. For the best results your method of presentation should encompass some type of movement within the retrieve of your fly. Most of the time in slower water with a good dead drift over a feeding trout you will hook up. But on occasion, like this morning, the fish were a little more active. This time of year can be a blast to get into some nice sized trout on the Farmington river. Working your fly by slight, slight twitching, swimming or last minute swinging over and across fish that are feeding can be a welcome surprise, especially at the head and tail outs. Today the slight movement of my fly was the key. Most of my hook- ups have been when I was slightly working my fly as opposed to a dead drift. But we all know that can change day to day and it all depends on how active the fish are. The type of winter caddis patterns that work best are emerging styles, wingless females and I always have some tiny winged caddis dries as well. The size of your flies should range from sizes #20 to #28 and use your 6x, 7x, and smaller if you prefer.

So don't let the frigid Old Man get you in his grip. I got out today from a good report and plan to get out again soon. So check the weather channel, dust off your fly rod & reel and make your way to the river. Maybe I’ll see you there.

Tightlines’ Shawn

The Mighty Housatonic River

(Doliphilodes Distinctus)