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 15, 8:30am
Hallelujah, we received the rain.
Rockwell’s Retreat here in West Arlington recorded 2.1 inches, and the Battenkill is currently on the climb. I expect flows to continue rising throughout the day. If I had to guess, I think we will easily see the river move above 1,000 CFS from this system, possibly more. We shall see.
Check the real-time flow chart here throughout the day for the latest river height and flow rates.
Water temps have also come down a good bit and are currently around 63°F. All things considered, this is setting up to be a great and much-needed refresh for the Battenkill.
Today could be challenging with the water rising quickly, so anglers should be mindful of changing conditions. My recommendation is to let the river crest before making a move. Fishing can often improve once flows begin to ease, as trout tend to hunker down during a sharp rise and then come back out to feed more aggressively as the river starts to fall.
Once conditions begin to settle, I would swing larger streamers and cover plenty of water. Focus on banks, softer edges, inside seams, and areas where trout can stay out of the strongest current. This can be an effective way to find some of the larger trout on the Battenkill.
Tomorrow looks beautiful and could offer an excellent opportunity if the river crests and begins to come down. There is more rain showing in the extended forecast, so we will see how that comes together and continue to watch the river closely.
Pick your spots wisely, keep an eye on changing flows, and be safe out there.
Have fun..
The Hatch
Sulphurs have been showing up during the warmer parts of the day and into the evening. They can create some excellent dry fly opportunities when fish start looking up, especially as the light softens and the river settles down.
Caddis are very much in the mix as well and should be considered a major part of the menu. You may see adults fluttering around the water, but do not overlook caddis pupa and emergers below the surface, especially when fish are feeding without showing obvious rises.
Isonychia activity has slowed down a bit, but they are still worth keeping an eye out for. I have been seeing shucks along the rocks, and Zug Bugs or other Iso-style nymphs can still be a good choice through riffles and broken water.
Blue-Winged Olives and other smaller mayflies may also show up, especially on cooler, cloudy days. Stoneflies, including yellow sallies, remain part of the mix too.
Spinner falls have typically been happening in the evening, often during the last hour of daylight. They can also happen in the morning when air temps quickly climb from the cool 50s into the 60s, so it is worth keeping an eye on the water during both windows.
What to Watch For
Sulphurs
Caddis
Isonychia
Blue-Winged Olives
Stoneflies, including yellow sallies
The Fly Box
With sulphurs and caddis leading the hatch activity right now, I would build the box around sulphur dries, caddis patterns, wet flies, emergers, and dependable subsurface options. Isonychia have slowed down a bit, but they are still worth being prepared for, especially in riffles and broken water.
A lot of the feeding is still happening below the surface, particularly 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
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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