We who live in Litchfield County are blessed by two major premium trout fisheries and several lesser trout streams within an hour driving, plus a host of great rivers in the Hudson Valley. Most of us have fished in the Farmington River - I think that "Fly Fishermn Magazine" must think it's the only river in Connecticut worth fishing, but not so!
For all it's flaws (no dam to constrict water flow on northern most TMA, two additional Tailwater TMA's Downstream, big rocks that form great runs, lots of little rocks on the bottom where fish and invertabates can lay their eggs, and of course, PCB's in the water, and three TMA's, the upper Housatonic River in Connecticut is yet another prime trout fishery.
Personally, I believe that the best time of the year to fish the "Housy" is from mid-September to mid-December. The nights get down to the mid 30's & 40's and the days anywhere between summer and winter temperatures. Our rainy season starts in late August, so we've got enough flow to fish most of the time (restrictiions on Thermal Refuges end September 15th) and there are multiple hatches each day. When there isn't a hatch its only because it's windy and so you throw hoppers, poppers, and terristrials (ants, beetles, black flies, bees, horseflies, grasshoppers, etc) In the fall, large SMB dominate the river in September and as the wter temperatures cool, the Brown and Rainbows begin feeding agan, agressively, before the long winter.
This time of year (Mid September to when numerous icebergs appear) I fish the Housy almost every day. Last year I fished until our first real snowfall, in January. This time of year, Terrestrials are best, the bigger the better, so get out all those #8 grasshoppers because the SMB and trout need to feed for the long winter.
(Winter is Coming)
This morning I fished for two hours, near the top of the patrolled area of the Cornwall TMA. I caught about 10 SMB, and two RBT.(both on a giant black fly pattern) All the bass were in the 9-14" range, and the two RBT were both holdovers, over 15".

Our next outing is on Saturday, October 14th, at Housatonic Meadows (Rear Parking Lot) same place as before.

For the next outing (October 14th) a 4wt of 5wt rod is good, a wading staff and net are good ideas. Bring Slate Drakes and Winter Caddis, size #12-14, Terristrials (#10-24) and BWO's (#20-28).
If you have time, tie up a couple of tippets, from your leader size of 4x or 5x down to 7x for the BWO's, up to 3X for the terristrials, and have some 4x or 5x on hand for the drakes. Wet flies and streamers (stoneflies) do really well this time of year.

*** At the Fishing/Hunting Day on September 23rd, Cabella's gave all the vendors their employee discount rate - so our chapter held an impromptu board meeting and our chapter purchased a dry-chemical toilet with a tent that will be erected at outings where the area does not already have a facility. So, no more accidents!

(Continued from Column three)
Douglaston Trip
CLOTHING: The weather in upstate NY, especially off the Great Lakes can go to extremes all in a day - you might have 30 degrees in the morning and my mid afternoon, 70's or even 80's. DSR recommends you dress in layers. Quick wicking clothing works best, have rain gear or a wind breaker in earth tone colors, an insulated hat and gloves.

Necessary!!
Full breathable stocking waders with wading boots and studs on the soles of your wading boots. Polarized sun-glasses are also a must, wading belts, staffs and PFD's all work well.
In November on the Salmon River, its very possible to catch very large Brown Trout and Atlantic Salmon(Think eggs and minnow patterns. Did I mention to bring a net?

I've had some questions on the Salmon Outing this year. Here are some of the answers, without the questions(that's the fun part)
The actual lodging cost for this time of year for the River Lodge is $85 per night per person. That lodge sleeps seven. If less people go, then we'll be able to take a smaller lodge, like Deer Run, Estuary (which both go for $55 per night this time of year or Mid-Creek (which goes for $50 this time of year. These smaller lodges normally are rented but we might get lucky. There is a 10% hotel tax in NY State and an extra 2% in the county we'll be fishing.

Finally, many have asked why we're going so late in the season:
The Douglaston Run is the only privatly held water opened up to the public for a fee, and is stocked by the state of NY and Douglaston themselves, plus, remember, they are mostly a C&R fishery, mostly Fly Fishermen, and this is a natural fish breeding river. As such, when we started looking at this year's trip, all of September and most of October was already reserved. The first week of September came around and most of November had already been sold out. We'f have to ask for money in June to be able to reserve in September or October.

GEAR: We'll be targeting Steelhead (Inbound Lake and RBT) so bring a 6 to 8wt rod, from 8 to 11 ft long, or a 11-15" spey or switch rod. Your reel should have between 125 and 150 feet of backing, and 6-8wt floating lines. Flies #6 to #14 work best during this time of year. Eggs, nymphs, stoneflies, wigglers, wooly buggers, soft hackle wet flies and traditional steelhead patterns will all work well. Pink and flourescent orange work exceeptionaly well. Bring 8-10'b leaders with 6-8lb florocarbon tippet (2x - 4X). If you decide to target the few salmon that may still be running, go up a couple sizes of rods and line (8-10wt). Flies used are the same size during this part of the year.
(Continued in column two under Our Next Outing)