Hello from the Farmington River!
This trip has had an amazing start, filled with smiles, laughs, and fish. It’s safe to say the group is having a fantastic time. Everyone is well-fed and has many fish under their belts. Spirits are high, and we can’t wait for the upcoming fishing adventures.
On our first day, the group opted for a quick breakfast of cereal so they could hit the water as fast as possible. With the river directly behind our campsite, the kids were eager to try their hand at catching smallmouth bass and trout. Unexpected rain made the fishing a little slow by bumping the river's water levels and reducing clarity. Our guides worked hard to ensure nearly everyone managed to catch some hungry smallmouth bass—and even a couple of trout! Streamer fishing was the name of the game, which happens to be one of the most exciting ways to catch fish on a fly rod. We spent the morning fishing, then stopped for a quick lunch break back at camp. The crew learned how to make a fire in the rain with wet wood and warmed up before hitting the water again. The guides made an audible to ditch the Housatonic and fish a small tributary off the “Housy.” We visited a large 60-foot cascading waterfall filled with pools of trout. The kids who didn’t catch fish in the morning had first dibs at each pool. We pulled out over 15 trout, and one camper hooked into a massive 20”+ trout before losing it at the net. We capped off the day with a much-needed fire and a delicious chicken Alfredo meal.
On day two, we loaded up the canoes for the first time and planned for a pike fishing day. Pike are large, voracious predators found in the upper sections of the Housy. They are apex ambush predators, capable of eating fish two-thirds their size—some reach 40, even 50 inches! Once again, we had cereal for breakfast in hopes of hitting the water quickly. Our campers learned how to load canoes, use NRS straps, and practiced canoe safety. This stretch of water was picturesque, with slow-moving current meandering through jungle-like forests and wide-open fields. We used larger 9-weight fly rods and huge streamers over 6 inches long. It’s a big adjustment for campers to switch from throwing tiny flies on light gear to big flies on heavy setups, but they did amazingly well! Their casting has been improving every day. The fishing was slow, but one camper sight-fished a huge 40-inch pike that crushed his fly. He fought it for a solid 30 seconds before it wrapped around a tree and snapped off. That moment got everyone’s heart racing. An unexpected log jam forced the group to adjust and maneuver the canoes around and over it, adding a sense of adventure for everyone. We finished the float with a few pike “follows” and a couple of bites. After the float, the group made a fire and cooked an incredible Nashville hot and garlic buffalo chicken mac and cheese. Everyone was stuffed, unable to take another bite, and promptly entered a well-earned food coma.
On day three, the group floated a 10-mile stretch of the Housatonic filled with fast riffles, smallmouth bass, and trout. We made bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast sandwiches on English muffins. After a hearty breakfast, we loaded up and put in at the famous Cornwall Covered Bridge—a striking, red piece of history. The group crushed it, landing multiple bass in each boat along with some trout. We stopped for lunch on the riverbank during an afternoon thunderstorm and took shelter under thick, tall trees. We continued the float down one of the most scenic rivers in the Northeast, with green rolling hills surrounding us and wildlife scattered throughout the trip (including a big and elusive bobcat!). This river is about as close as you can get to a western landscape in the Northeast. Everyone had a blast and worked up a serious appetite after the long float. We made stir fry for dinner with chicken, rice, and vegetables, filling everyone up and getting them ready for the next part of our adventure.
Today, we head to the famous Farmington River in search of giant, elusive, wild brown trout. We plan to fish through the afternoon and into the evening, finishing off the day with giant burritos. The Farmington—or “the Farmy”—is a world-class fishery, boasting over 2,500 fish per mile, with some sections reaching over 3,500 fish per mile! We can’t wait to see what we reel in next, and neither can the campers. Stay tuned for some incredible fish photos!
Best,
The Dream Team: Sean, Gavin, and Leo
