October 15th,2011 Mettawee mainstem, Pawlet VT

I am sitting in my truck making some notes for this report after driving and scouting  to see if I have fishable places after another high water event last evening. It seems that once we get good water levels for a few days (and I should say good fishing), mother nature throws us some more rain, Oh well.  I am  thinking and remembering some of the recent good fishing, yesterday  was a perfect example. I was fishing with a new guest from Pennsylvania on the mainstem of the Mettawee River. We had fishable water levels (slightly high) so I targeted pools that have been fishing well in these higher conditions. Everywhere we went we hit a fish or two. Rainbows mostly, some small 6-10 inchers and a couple that were hooked and lost, one fish ws clearly in the 14-16 inch range. Dead drift nymphing and wet fly swing were the ticket, just get it "low and slow". It was a beautiful  afternoon, air temps in the low 60's and water temps still 52-52 F. Our colors were nice in some places and with no wind, leaves were not a problem hanging up on the fly. I said to Joe, my guest that day, "lets hit this one last place before we call it quits." We fished upstream with a dead drift in the deepest part of the pool, nothing. I went through my ususal "tinkering", change flies, adjust weight, adjust the distance from fly to the  strike indicator, still nothing.  "Joe lets get up on the bank and slowly walk around toward the head of the pool  and fish down and across, be quiet and walk slowly getting out" He did as directed and we started down and across from the top once I took off the "bobber".  Third cast he had a pull from a small fish at the end of the swing,"there you go", I said, but he didn't connect."take your time and lets continue down staying right on the edge of the bank" After a few minutes, I noticed  he was moving the drift too fast and picking up too early."Joe, I said, don't rush it and let me show you how to slow it down" He handed me the rod, I made the cast and verbally instructed what I was doing. I handed  him the rod at mid drift and across it came to a straight down position next to our shore. He began to pick up and he got a slight pull in less than 12" of water. He didn't strike back hard, which was a good thing. "There you go I Said, you got a fish!" He tightened, the fish moved off into deeper water. It was a much bigger fish than we have connected earlier. A bull dog fight and I knew it was clearly in the 18 inch category. We landed it and it measured 20 inches on the mark, a beautifully colored up male and it took the small soft hackle wet fly behind  a dark Hares Ear Nymph. The only negative was that in preparing to take the picture it slipped out of Joes hand right when I was framing the shot, too bad, but we still had the memory of it, GREAT!

Overall, I must say, the fall fishing has been  pretty darn good, even after the damage of Tropical storm Irene. Even some of my small water targets that  looked like  they were"destroyed "or   had "catastrophic" damage, the fish were still there. I'm sure some were lost, pushed downstream or up over the banks. I was still finding 3 year classes of fish and in fishable numbers! I'm convinced they will bounce back quickly because, though the habitat has moved around, it still is there and as I have said before much of the habitat looks to me to be improved!

Only 2 weeks left in the season and only several trips left for me. On a personal note I will be having long needed  surgery on the 25th of October. I have had arthritis in my right hip that has been getting worse , especially in the last year.  It finally is time and I am having  hip rplacement surgery to make me fully mobile once I have rcovered. I will definately be guiding next spring and should be back  at my winter job in December, if all things go well.  Thanks again to all who have fished with me this season and look forward to next year! You probably will find it will be a little harder to keep up with me as I will be moving alot quicker!

Tight Lines,

Peter Basta

September 20th, upper Mettawee River

This is my second report since Tropical Storm Irene. As water conditions improved I found that many of my small water targets, both in  The Batten Kill and the Mettawee  drainages are fishing well! I have also had a chance to fish lower downstream in these watersheds and once agian we are finding fish and at times some very good fishing. In some places, river channels have changed but not catastrophic.  Some of the pools have actually improved, though they are sometimes in different places than  before the flood! Many of the habitat structures in the Kill are intact and fared well. The only watershed not in good shape is the Wallomsac, where significant stream alteration is being done on the Roaring Branch in Bennington.  Last time I went down there, waters are still very muddy and unfishable.

As for insect hatches, in that area I am seeing all the typical hatches, but bug numbers are few to infrequent.Fall Caddis, Isonychia, and Blue Wing Olives are those I have seen.  I am doing very little dry fly fishing save for small water at times.  Upstream nymph fishing and wet fly swing  have given us the best results. The fish appear hungry and agressive in taking the fly. 

While I was very concerned about our fisheries immediately post "Irene", the more I fish, scout myself, and visit my haunts I am amazed at how these wild fish have survived and seem to be fine and healthy. It is really neet to see and bodes well for our future. The insect hatches will bounce back.  Already the rocks are getting their algaes and plant life which were scoured form the floods. I feel much relieved and look forward to "learning all the new water" which many of it now is.

All the best and if you get a chance go fishing this fall, its a great time to be out before it gets too cold snd wet.

Tight Lines,

Peter Basta

September 5th, post "Irene" River Report

I would like to start by thanking many of my fishing friends who called or e-mailed regarding my family and myself following the devastating floods in much of the State. We are all fine, our home is o.k., just the inconvience of no power and a washed out town and private road that left us some what isolated for several days. Thanks again to all of you for the check-in!

Tropical storm Irene dropped 4-7 " of rain when it slowly moved through our state on sunday. You all have seen the photos and videos of the destruction and utter power of alot of water moving downhill!  In the southern half of the state, the worst hit rivers and steams were those in the heart of the Greens and tributaries to the Connecticut river drainage.  The further north and west you go, from say Middlebury, little or no damage. The worst damaged streams were these in the same areas where some of the 12 towns that were isolated last week, so my thoughts and a prayer go out to them for their losses and hardship.

I have waited till a week after the storm to post this for several reasons. First, no power and limited travel allowed  near affected streams for several days after Sunday. Second, I wanted to see what the watersheds looked like, once levels dropped and cleared. That took till Thursday. Third, I wanted to fish and possibly guide to see if we had fish, how many and where.

I would like to start by answering the third point. Yes we have fish, fishable rivers and conditions! Smaller water located in our upper tributaries fared the best after the storm. Yes, some stream damage, but the fish are still there. I guided on small water, Friday and Saturday, caught wild trout, even three year classes!  In the southwestern part of Vermont and adjacent NY, the three main watersheds I guide on at this time of year took a variety of damage from almost non-existent to almost total destruction in 1 tributary of the Walloomsac River.  I have not been  able to fish the lower Kill and the Mettawee due to muddy and still somewhat high water.  Damage to stream channels is little to moderate in a few places. I am finding bugs in the air and on the rocks in those areas least impacted.  On the Kill in the areas where they did improvement, many of the structures held that were placed  for high water flood protection, thats great news. The structures placed for protection in lower water, its still to hard to tell due water levels.

For those who will be visiting  and/or fishing in our  area in September and October, do not worry. We have fishable water and conditions. It will only improve as waters continue to drop.  Traveling, lodging and restraurants are all good in our area. Little  or no delays for travel.  The major road problems are in the mtn. areas to our east. There is very extensive work being done and more and more roads are opening daily.

Tight Lines,

Peter Basta

July 15th, Batten Kill, Red Mill Access

Just finished an afternoon instructional on the Batten Kill, finishing with some nice working fish toward dark. Its nice to go through the basics of casting, approach, techniques, and actually having a fish take your fly! Its very rewarding for me, thanks Brookies of the Kill! I have been  busy on our waters since I reported at the end of June. Fishing conditions have remained good to excellent save for 1 hot period around the 12th and 13th. I have been fishing a variety of water types including small water and all three major area streams (Walloomsac, Batten Kill, Mettawee). Water levels are good, rain events on the 28th June and 10th of July, have helped.  Examples are Mettawee,VT (60-80 CFS), Kill-VT (300 -CFS),and Walloomsac,VT (90-110-CFS)I have been focusing on morning fishing and here is what I have noticed for bugs. Still have small tan and brown caddis (16-18), some nice blue Wing Olives (18) and some morning sulfurs(20) too. Saw my first Tricos the other day! so that is soon to come. Fishing has been best through to 10-11:00 a.m.

See you  on the stream this summer,

Peter Basta

June 28th, Mettawee River, Dorset Hollow

Right after my last report our weather patern changed from warm and dry to periods of unsettled weather with needed rain and cool weather.We saw rain events on June 10th,22nd, and the 28th. Water levels were up, but not unfishable.  Flows recorded for the 27th were 225 CFS for the Walloomsac, 150 CFS for the Mettawee in NY, which is excellent for VT.  The Kill has been too high for the last  week and is just beginning to come into  fishable high water conditions. (750 CFS  (NY).  River temps. continue to be excellent,  in the 59-64 F. range. Both the wild and stocked fisheries are fishing well, but in the case of stocked streams, there are fewer fish  aound where harvest  is allowed under general State Wide  Regs..

As for hatches, they continue to be sporadic, but enough bugs to get some good to excellent dry fly fishing when water levels permit. Small brown and tan caddis ((size 16-18) some Sulfurs (size 18) and yellow Sallies have bee the ticket. Smaller nymphs and soft hackles have worked when dead drift nymphing or wet fly swing. 

   For those anglers that I fished small water, most streams continued to produce well. Encouraging is the fish are spread out, and we are catching 2-3 year classes, the fish look beautiful.  I am fishing myself today and taking advantage of  a small water target after a rain just  "freshened " it up.  It was great. Litle Rainbows and Browns snapping at my dry fly in some beautiful pocket water.

Talk to you again and hope to see you a-stream in the coming summer.  So far its been a very good year overall.

Tight Lines,

Peter Basta

June 9th,  The Phlox is in full bloom!

The peak fishing for the spring always occurs around the time these pretty pink and white flowers  can be seen along  area streams  and roadsides.  Yes we do have some good fishing!  While early and mid-May were cool and wet, the later part of the month and the first week in June saw little rain and very nice weather.  Water levels have dropped to near summer levels. Examples include: The Walloomsac (100 CFS), the Batten Kill (400 CFS), and the Black (150CFS)  Stream temps have been perfect  (56-62 F) and with the warmer weather,  quite a few bug species are hatching. Where I have been fishing most hatches I have expierenced have been sporadic in nature, but bugs around  on most days. Tan Caddis ( size-14-16) Sulfers (size 18), March  Browns (size 12-14), and now the start of a Blue Wing Olive (Size 18).  All the area streams I have guiding on are fishing very well. The Black, The Mettawee and Batten Kill in NY, and the Walloomsac have been  stocked, recieving significant pressure, but there are still good numbers of fish if  you move away from stock points.   As for wild trout fisheries, I am doing a fair bit of small water fishing with some very good anglers who love this style of fishing.  Earlier in the  season I was concerned that last years drought could negatively impact  our small water.  I am happy to say, that the fishing is very good and we are catching 3 year classes of wild fish, all points toward the positive. 

Thanks for taking the time to check up on my report.  Hope to see you a-stream this summer, I think its going to be a good one!

Peter Basta

May 23rd.,Upper Metawee,Dorset Hollow,VT

Boy it always feels good to come home to VT after my spring Steelhead season. When I got home around the 6th of May, water conditions were high, but warmer dryer weather were resulting in improved early spring conditions. Both NY and VT were later in their stocking of our area streams but as I write  this report, they are catching up on that schedule.  Have fished several days over on the Black River in Cavendish with excellent results.  Dead drift nymphing in the deeper pockets has been good. Early on, egg patterns, small black nymphs, and soft hackles have been the ticket. Pressure in this popular fishing stream has been very heavy on weekends, but during the week not too bad.

As the month progressed, we had some bouts of rain, though luckily, the big amounts were to our north.  Flood conditions up there, not in the southwestern part of the state.  As for our hatches, starting to see our tan and olive bodied Caddis (size14),the last of the Hendricksons, Light Cahills (size14), and yellow sallie stoneflies. Very little dry fly fishing, but the nymph and wet fly swing fishing has  been great.  When water conditions were too high on our bigger streams, I targeted small water targets with mixed results. Overall  small water fishing has been off a bit,but too early to really tell as to how it will be overall.  I will be focusing on small water  in June, the prime month.  Will let you know then. As for water conditions as of this report all are excellent, examples being the Black (300cfs), Walloomsac (275 cfs) and the Kill (900 cfs).The stocking has progressed and is catching up to the season norm for timing.