Events/Classes - UpCountry Sportfishing on the Farmington River

UpCountry Sportfishing
352 Main St/PO Box 70
Pine Meadow Ct. 06061

Phone:
(860) 379-1952

Pat Torrey is our resident Zen Master of nymph fishing. Here is a quick tip from his wisdom.

Blue Winged Olives and the Wet Fly

If you are the type of angler who is looking for a different kind of fall fishing experience, we at UpCountry just might have the answer for you: fish the fall Baetis with little Blue Winged Olive wets.

Almost every afternoon from mid October until the first week of December the Farmington River has a very consistent hatch of small Baetis mayflies, size 26-28. The extended time frame of the hatch allows the fish to get pretty familiar with this food source. Most anglers fish this hatch with standard dry fly and emerger patterns, which become less and less effective as time goes on.

As an alternative: try fishing the Baetis hatch below the surface with soft hackled wet fly imitations that are seldom used. To paraphrase the late Gary LaFontaine: if you want to catch more fish, fish when other fishermen don’t; fish where other fishermen don’t, and fish how other fishermen don’t.

Blue Wing Olive Wet
Hook:
Tiemco 100 or 2487

Body:
Olive brown fur or olive thread

Tail:
Blue dun wet hackle or brown zelon

Rib:
Gold wire (optional)

Hackle:
Blue dun wet hackle

A selection of Pat’s wet fly patterns are available at UpCountry.

You'll find Don Butler working behind the counter much of the time, but he also guides, ties flies, teaches classes and holds a record
83 months in a row
catching a trout on a dry fly on the Farmington River.

Fly Fishing Lessons

Call the store at (860) 379 - 1952 to register

Upcoming Classes

Wet Flies 101 - Join outdoor writer and guide Steve Culton Saturday, June 25, from 1pm to 6pm as we explore the wonders of wet fly fishing on the Farmington River. Whether searching, imitating drowned terrestrials, or fishing under the hatch, wet flies can be a highly productive summer tactic. Wet Flies 101 will cover basics like rigging, fly selection, and presentation. Flies will be included. Cost of this 5 hour class is $100, and space is limited to 3 people. Call the store to enroll at 860-379-1952

Fly Fishing Lessons

Our guides are available for private instruction in a one on one environment that allows you to set the curriculum and learn the skills that you would like to master. From improving your casting to presentation of the fly, we can make you a successful angler.

Don Butler is a dry fly aficionado and teacher of basic fly fishing skills. Don uses a lifetime of accumulated stories to relate his experience. He has been featured as a fly tier and lecturer at many fishing expositions around the Northeast.

Pat Torrey specializes in nymph fishing techniques and gives classes in the art. He has fished with Joe Humphries and is the best resource to be found on fishing nymphs in New England and Montana rivers.

Fred Jeans is a FFF certified fly casting instructor. His many years as a fishing guide, outdoor writer and lecturer qualify him as one of the region's finest. He has been published in several national sporting journals including Fly Fisherman magazine. Fred's skills as a casting instructor make him invaluable to anyone looking to improve their form.

Send mail to upcountrysports@gmail.com with questions or comments about this web site.