Battenkill River Fishing Report
River conditions, guide insight, and what to fish now.
River Safety Note: Conditions can change quickly. Wading can be dangerous, especially during high or rising water. Always check current flows, weather, and access conditions before fishing, and make decisions based on your own ability. When in doubt, stay out.
Weekly Fishing Outlook by Andrew Walker
Updated Monday June 8, 7:30am
Happy Monday.
Today is forecasted to be a beauty on the Battenkill, with mostly sunny skies and highs in the upper 70s.
River conditions are great right now. Water clarity is clear, and water temps are sitting in that upper 50s to lower 60s range. We did not get the rain we had hoped for, but looking at the extended forecast, it looks like we may get another shot later this week.
With the levels where they are, there are plenty of opportunities to get in and wet a fly. Just be stealthy with your approach. The water is clear, and the fish can be spooky, so move slowly, watch your shadows, and be mindful when wading.
Rising fish have been showing up a little later in the day, with dun activity starting around midday and continuing through the afternoon and into the evening. Keep an eye out for March Browns, sulphurs, caddis, and Isonychia, along with other mayfly variants.
When you are not seeing rising fish, swing wet flies and fish small nymphs through riffles, seams, and broken water. Dry droppers are also a great way to cover both the surface and subsurface until fish start looking up.
Enjoy the day out there.
The Hatch
The Hatch
March Browns, sulphurs, and caddis are the main story right now.
March Browns have been showing up in the afternoons and are a fun hatch to watch and fish. They are a larger mayfly, which makes them easier to spot on the water, and when conditions line up, they can get the attention of trout in a big way.
Sulphurs are also starting to enter the picture, adding another great mayfly hatch to watch as we move deeper into spring. Keep an eye out for them during the warmer parts of the day and into the evening, especially when the light starts to soften and the river settles down.
Caddis are very much in the mix as well and should be considered a major part of the menu right now. You may see adults fluttering around the water, but do not overlook caddis pupa and emergers below the surface, especially when fish are feeding but not showing obvious rises.
Blue-Winged Olives and other smaller mayflies may still show up, especially on cooler, cloudy days. I’ve also been seeing good stonefly activity, including yellow sallies.
All of that to say, it is turning into bug soup out there. Study up on your hatch guide, or check out our Hatch Guide page for more information on what to watch for.
What to Watch For
March Browns
Sulphurs
Caddis
Isonychia
Blue-Winged Olives
Stoneflies, including yellow sallies
The Fly Box
With March Browns, sulphurs, caddis, and now Isonychia starting to enter the picture, I would build the box around larger mayfly dries, sulphur patterns, caddis, wet flies, and dependable subsurface options.
A lot of the feeding is still happening below the surface, especially when fish are not showing obvious rises. Nymphs, wet flies, soft hackles, emergers, caddis pupa, and Isonychia-style nymphs are all good choices right now. I would also keep a few streamers handy, especially if flows bump up or the water picks up a little color after rain.
I’ve been fishing and recommending a number of Fulling Mill patterns lately, and these are a few of my current go-to flies for what we are seeing on the Battenkill.
Dry Flies
March Brown dries, size 12
March Browns are still part of the story, and I would have a few larger mayfly dries ready for the afternoon hatch window.
Fulling Mill options I like:
Gray Fox, size 12
March Brown, size 12
Sulphur dries, size 16
Sulphurs are in the mix, and they are one of my favorite hatches of the season. When fish start looking up in the evening, a good sulphur dry is a must.
Fulling Mill option I like:
Sparkle Dun Sulphur, size 16
Isonychia dries, size 10 to 12
I have been seeing Isonychia shucks along the rocks, so it is time to start keeping a few Iso dries in the box. These are one of my favorite bugs, and when fish start keying in on them, it can make for some really fun fishing.
Caddis dries, size 14 to 16
Caddis are very much on the menu right now. Elk Hair Caddis and other caddis dry fly patterns are good choices when you see adults fluttering around or fish feeding near the surface.
Wet Flies and Emergers
Sulphur wet flies, size 14 to 16
A great choice when sulphurs are around but fish are feeding in or just below the film.
Fulling Mill option I like:
DW Sulphur Dun, size 14 to 16
General mayfly wet flies, size 14
When there are mixed mayflies on the water, a simple wet fly can be a great way to cover fish feeding below the surface.
Fulling Mill option I like:
GRHE Wet, size 14
Soft hackles and emergers, size 12 to 16
Soft hackles, mayfly emergers, and caddis emergers are all good choices right now, especially when fish are flashing, splashing, or feeding just under the surface.
Nymphs
Isonychia nymphs and Zug Bugs, size 10 to 14
With Iso shucks showing up along the rocks, I would start carrying Isonychia nymph patterns and Zug Bugs. Fish them fast across riffles, seams, and broken water where these bugs are active. This can be a great way to cover water during the day and imitate those swimming Iso nymphs.
Fulling Mill option I like:
Zug Bug BH, size 14
Pheasant Tails, size 14 to 16
This has been one of my favorite flies lately, especially with March Browns and other mayflies around. It is a great option under a dry dropper, drifted through riffles, or fished through deeper runs.
Fulling Mill option I like:
American Pheasant Tail BH, size 14 to 16
Small nymphs, size 16 to 18
One of my all-time favorite approaches is dropping a smaller nymph under a heavier stonefly in deeper pools. It is a great way to get down while still offering something subtle and natural.
Fulling Mill option I like:
Small nymph, size 16 to 18
Stonefly nymphs, size 8 to 12
Stoneflies, including yellow sallies, have been active, and stonefly nymphs are always worth having in the box. They are also a good anchor fly when fishing deeper water.
Caddis nymphs and larva, size 14 to 16
Caddis are active right now, so do not overlook caddis larva and pupa patterns below the surface.
Hare’s Ears, size 14 to 18
A great all-around nymph that can imitate a variety of mayfly and buggy subsurface life.
Streamers
Woolly Buggers, size 4 to 8, in olive, black, and white
Always good to have in the box, especially when flows bump up, the water has a little color, or you want to cover banks and deeper seams.
Small sculpin or baitfish patterns, size 4 to 8
A good option when trout are holding tight to structure, banks, or deeper water.
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