Fishing Season: January 1 - December 31 (Prime: April 1 - November 1)

Farmington River - CT

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

50

Orvis Avon's Tip of the Week

Watch out for Redds!!! Trout are at the tail end of the spawn on the river but reeds will still hold hundreds of eggs buried within them so avoid wading in shallow tailouts of pools with a gravel substrate. These are areas where you are highly likely to find spawning trout and if you walk through them you will crush the freshly laid eggs. Avoid fishing these areas all together and let the trout spawn for a healthy future trout population. Flows are still quite low so be adaptable with your approach by lengthening out your leaders, downsizing flies, and fishing small perdigon-style nymphs. Look for some winter caddis hatches during the morning hours with small Olives starting to hatch in the afternoons. Midges are also a bug you will see hatching in slow water during the afternoon hours.

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Map of Farmington River

Water Flow Data

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

Antoine Bissieux

5-Day Outlook as of 12/3/24

As of today (12/3) the flow coming out of the West-Branch Reservoir is 178cfs and the Still River is flowing at 25cfs making for a low easily wadeable flow of 203cfs in the TMA. Flows should remain consistent as the week goes on.

Techniques & Tips as of 12/3/24

Nymphing is consistent as well with mornings being most productive, just be sure to lighten up your rigs and use some 6x for most applications. Trout are looking for a good meal before the dead of winter hits so jigging small streamers on a tight-line setup is another effective method to target fish. Rising trout will mainly be concentrated in slow moving pools eating small midges/olives so break out the long leaders and 6-7x.

Local Species Available January 1 - December 31 (Prime: April 1 - November 1)

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

Orvis Avon's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
CDC Caddis Tan/Olive 18-20
RS2 Olive 22-26
Blue Winged Olive Olive 22-26
Micro Egg PINK/YELLOW 18-20
Jig Sculpin Olive 10
Croston's Micro Sculpin Tan/Olive 12
Quasimodo Pheasant Tail BROWN 16-20
Tungsten Twisted Tactical May Brown/Olive 16-20
Traditional nymphs(pheasant tails, princes) brown, olvie, white 16-22
BWO Nymphs Olive 16-20

CDC Caddis

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Item #17X1

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Orvis Avon's Recommended Gear

Description: About Farmington River

The Farmington River is the premier trout fishery in the state. It is a bottom draw tailwater fishery that creates consistent water temperatures, water flows, and hatch activity. The river from Farmington to Riverton is the most consistent stretch. Down stream the river slows and becomes primarily a warm water fishery. The river is of moderate size. The bottom is consistently softball-sized cobble making wading fairly easy. Access is very good, many roads run along its banks through the best trout water. Encounters with large trout are most consistent within the trout management area. These fish are, however, difficult to catch due to consistent angling pressure. Accurate imitations and light tippets are typically required.

Nearest Airport:

Bradley International Airport

Hatches:

BWOs Caddis Midges

Best Time to Fish:

Afternoons

Best Stretch:

Riverton - Canton

Best Access:

Beaver Pool, Hitchcock Chair, Campground pool, Church pool, Ovation,