Farmington River

Many anglers consider the Farmington River Connecticut's best trout water. Cold water released from the reservoirs above Riverton lets trout survive the summer in the upper river, and DEEP runs a Trout Management Area from the dams in Hartland down through Barkhamsted and New Hartford to Unionville. The upper West Branch is also home to DEEP's "Survivor" brown trout, a strain bred from fish that lived more than a year in the river to rebuild wild browns, which were scarce before the program.

When to fish

• Year-round: the West Branch is one of the TMAs where trout can survive all year. DEEP manages releases from Colebrook River Lake to protect it in hot, dry spells.
• Fall: DEEP restocks the TMA; in 2026 the stretch from Route 219 down to Route 4 was stocked on September 4.
• Winter: still a trout river. On The Water filmed a guide catching trout in the dead of winter on float-fished egg sacs, and its editor found steady December action at the Church Pool.

Where to fish

• Section 1 (Goodwin/Hogback Dam in Hartland to below the Still River): the top of the trout water, right below the dams.
• Section 2 (Barkhamsted to the Route 219 bridge in New Hartford): the old West Branch catch-and-release water, barbless hooks only, year-round catch and release.
• Section 3 (Route 219 to the Route 177 bridge in Unionville): stocked by DEEP, with limited harvest allowed in spring and summer.
• The Church Pool: a popular pool where On The Water's editor fished in December 2013 and found room to move.

How to fish it

Nymphing under an indicator and swinging streamers both catch trout here, and bait anglers do well with mealworms. In winter, float-fishing egg sacs on light line with a small float, split shot and small hooks with crushed barbs is a proven method. DEEP's advice for the TMAs is light line and small hooks, with barbs pinched down if you plan to release your catch.

Getting there

A trout and salmon stamp is required in the Trout Management Area, on top of a fishing license. Section 2 is barbless and catch and release all year; Sections 1 and 3 allow limited harvest from the second Saturday in April through August 31 and are catch and release the rest of the year. DEEP posts current releases and USGS gauge links on its Farmington River Flow Plan page, which is worth checking before you go. See the Connecticut Freshwater Fishing Guide for the full rules.