Small mountain streams
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open checklist
Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic
New Hartford sits on the Farmington River in Litchfield County.
- Connecticut · East
- 5 waters
- 41 guides nearby
- 7 shops nearby
- BDL airport · 15 mi
Photo credit
The Housatonic River in Cornwall, Connecticut (April 2020). Photo: Spacemace1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More about Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic
New Hartford sits on the Farmington River in Litchfield County; the river's West Branch comes down from the Colebrook and Goodwin dams past Riverton and the People's and American Legion state forests, and the Housatonic runs south through Falls Village, Cornwall and Kent to the west.
Waters around New Hartford
About this
Tap a water for its live flow, access map, regulations and hatches.
Catch and releasePhoto credit
The Farmington River at Collinsville, Connecticut (downstream of the West Branch tailwater). Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Farmington River
Connecticut · 2 mi from New Hartford
Steelhead / salmon waterPhoto credit
The Housatonic River at Kent, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Steelhead / salmon waterPhoto credit
The Naugatuck River at Derby, Connecticut. Photo: Staib, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Naugatuck River
Connecticut · 9 mi from New Hartford
Trout parkRepresentative photo · not Macedonia BrookPhoto credit
The Salmon River above the Comstock Bridge, Connecticut. Photo: H. Morrow Long, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Macedonia Brook.
Macedonia Brook
Connecticut · 25 mi from New Hartford
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hall Meadow BrookPhoto credit
The Eightmile River at Lyme, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hall Meadow Brook.
Hall Meadow Brook
Connecticut · 10 mi from New Hartford
Distances and official pages
The rivers, lakes or flats this hub is organised around, each with its straight-line distance from New Hartford. Within 40 miles a water's own page names this hub as near; a farther one shows its distance instead. Where a nearby guide names a water on its own website, we say how many do. Access, seasons and special regulations differ by reach: check the agency pages under license and rules.
- Farmington River2 mi from New Hartford in a straight line · named on 1 guide website nearby
- Housatonic River21 mi from New Hartford in a straight line · named on 1 guide website nearby
- Naugatuck River9 mi from New Hartford in a straight line
- Macedonia Brook25 mi from New Hartford in a straight line
- Hall Meadow Brook10 mi from New Hartford in a straight line
All gauge readings
The first USGS gauge on each water: the latest reading, how it compares with that gauge's record for today's date, the 24-hour trend and the NWS flood stage. Open a water for what the level means.
Reading the gauges around New Hartford…
Meet local guides
About this
41 guide listings within 60 miles (8 fly-focused), fly-focused first. Unclaimed listings say so on their page: confirm licensing, rates and dates with the outfitter.
Ron Merlys Fishing Guide Service
Bridgeport, CT · 50 mi
Beginners & lessons · Housatonic & Farmington
- Unclaimed
Fly shops nearby
About this
7 shop listings in the towns around New Hartford, fly shops first. Confirm hours with the shop before you go.
Fish around New Hartford
About this
Species the state agency lists on the waters here. A species listed for one water is not a promise for every water.
Atlantic salmon
Listed on 1 water here
Photo credit
Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), illustration by Timothy Knepp for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Timothy Knepp, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Smallmouth bass
Listed on 1 water here
Photo credit
Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), illustration by Duane Raver for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Photo: Duane Raver, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Agency species and seasons (49 waters)
Taken from the state agency pages of 49 waters around New Hartford, each on its own water page with the agency link. Seasons are quoted word for word and apply to the water named.
- Trout2 waters
- Atlantic salmon1 water
- Smallmouth bass1 water
“Thermal refuges: Areas within one hundred feet of signs indicating such closure posted by DEEP at or near the mouths of Kent Falls Brook and Macedonia Brook are closed to all fishing from June 15 to September 15.”
Housatonic River · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), read 2026-10-14
“Areas within 100 feet of signs indicating such closure posted by DEEP at or near the mouths of tributaries that are closed to all fishing from June 15 to September 15. Trout: Catch and Release Only.”
Housatonic River · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), read 2026-10-14
“Large and Smallmouth bass: Catch and Release only.”
Housatonic River · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), read 2026-10-14
“Section 2 : From the old footbridge abutments (Barkhamsted) downstream to the Route 219 bridge (New Hartford). This area includes all of the former West Branch Farmington River Trout Management Area. Trout and salmon stamp required to fish. Barbless hooks only Catch and Release Only.”
Farmington River · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), read 2026-10-14
“Section 3 : From the Route 219 bridge (New Hartford) downstream to the route 177 Bridge (Unionville). Trout and salmon stamp required to fish 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April to August 31.”
Farmington River · Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), read 2026-10-14
Species guides mention (35)
Counted from the species each guide lists on its own site. This is what guides advertise, not an agency species list or a promise of what you will catch.
- Striped bass26
- Tuna15
- Brown trout4
- Rockfish & lingcod4
- Brook trout3
- Northern pike3
- Bonefish2
- Largemouth bass2
Things to know
Fishing license: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
Fees on the agency page.
Getting there
BDL Bradley International Airport · 15 mi
Regulations and access
Seasons, limits and access: agency pages.
Official license and rules pages
Buy the license from the agency and read its current regulations before you go. These links are the authoritative pages; nothing on this page grants or implies access to any water, and fees are only shown when read from the agency page on a stated date.
Nothing here grants or implies access to any water.
Veteran-owned and veteran programs
About this
Near Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic. Each fact comes from the business's own website, an official register or an approved claim; the listing page links the source.
- New England's Guide ServiceGuide · Athol · 59 miMilitary discount · from their website
- Bad Habit Fishing ChartersGuide · Clinton · 48 miMilitary discount · from their website
- Reelin Sportfishing ChartersGuide · New London · 59 miMilitary discount · from their website
The Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic area
About this
The circle is the 60-mile area this page covers, around New Hartford. Tap a water for its page. Shops and guides appear where they publish a street address on their own website; all of them are listed above.
Map of the Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic area: its waters, shops and guides
Map of Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic: the 60-mile area this page covers, its waters, and shops and guides with an exact address.
Guide season: May to November
About this
Read from the websites of 4 guides within 60 miles that state a season. It is when they run trips, not a hatch chart or a conditions report; closures and seasons are set by the agency pages.
- Jan0
- Feb0
- Mar0
- Apr0
- May3
- Jun4
- Jul4
- Aug4
- Sep4
- Oct3
- Nov2
- Dec0
Restrooms near Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic
Restrooms near Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic
Restrooms within 5 miles of the centre of Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic in a straight line, nearest first, with what anglers found when they went. The map says a restroom is there, not whether it is clean or open today.
Map of 8 restrooms near Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 8 restrooms near Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic, numbered as in the list, with the town centre marked.
Restroom
2.4 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.0 mi away in a straight line- Portable toilet (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.1 mi away in a straight line- Portable toilet (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.1 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.2 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.5 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.8 mi away in a straight line- Flush toilet (mapped)
- Customers only (mapped)
- Wheelchair accessible (mapped)
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom
3.9 mi away in a straight lineNot rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
We don't know yet: is it clean? · flush or vault? · free? · open to everyone? · step-free? — tell other anglers: show the questions
- Is it clean?
- Flush or vault?
- Free?
- Open to everyone?
- Step-free?
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Restroom locations and map details: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License, read Oct 24, 2026. Ratings, answers and photos are members' own; who shared them is never shown, and every photo is reviewed before it appears. Visits older than 18 months no longer count. Distances are straight-line miles, not driving. Nothing here grants access to private land. Community guidelines.
Base yourself nearby
About this
New Hartford, Pleasant Valley and Riverton sit on the Farmington; Cornwall and Kent are the villages on the Housatonic. We do not list or price properties. The search opens an outside site.
Nearest airports
About this
Distances are straight-line from the town centre, computed from OurAirports open data; distances by road are longer. Fares are never estimated here.
- BDL Bradley International AirportHartford, CT · 15 mi · major hubSearch flights
- HVN Tweed New Haven AirportNew Haven, CT · 43 mi · regionalSearch flights
- ORH Worcester Regional AirportWorcester, MA · 62 mi · regionalSearch flights
Rough out the trip
About this
Set nights, anglers and guided days. Each line says where its figure comes from, and anything we cannot source honestly (guide rates, fares, license fees not read from the agency page) stays a link rather than a number.
Estimates, not quotes
- Fishing licenseSee sourceAgency page
Source
One per angler (2 anglers). Fees are set by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP); see the agency page.
Source: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) - Guided days23 rates pagesFalse Cast Fly FishingEastern CT Fly FishingHandmade AnglerAngler Adventures
Source
1 guided day for 2 anglers. We do not copy guide rates: 23 guides near here publish a rates page on their own website.
Source: Guide websites (rates pages linked, never copied) - Find lodgingSee sourceSearch lodging
Source
Search places to stay near the destination. We do not list or price properties.
Source: Lodging search link - FlightsSee sourceSearch flights
Source
Fares are not estimated here. Search flights to BDL (Bradley International Airport).
Source: Flight search link (no fares quoted)
No priced itemsUse the links for real figures.
How we estimate
Estimates, not quotes. Nothing here is a price from a guide, a property or an airline; confirm every cost with the provider before you book. No placeholder lodging range is configured for this region, and licenses, guided days and flights are never priced here.
Parks, forests and visitor offices
About this
For the non-fishing days, or the people traveling with you. Official sources only; what to do there is for their pages to say.
Gear checklist
About this
A practical checklist for fly fishing small mountain trout streams: a short 3–4 weight rod, light line, a few buoyant dries and simple wet-wading gear, with estimated prices and where to buy.
Watch: fishing small mountain streams
About this
Short rods, short casts and brushy water.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Fly Fishing Small StreamsEmbedded from YouTube · Orvis Guide to Fly Fishing · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube How To Fly Fish In An Overgrown River - S5 E10Embedded from YouTube · RIO Products · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube Small Creek Fly Fishing | HOW TOEmbedded from YouTube · The New Fly Fisher · not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear. Watch on YouTube
Not sponsored All videos on small streams
Stories from Connecticut
About this
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly, tagged with a water in Connecticut.
No Connecticut stories yet.
Sources for this page
All 9 sources
Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories (open map records checked against each business’s own website). Everything else links to the publisher below; this page copies none of their text. A destination hub organises discovery; it does not assert public access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
- Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP): fishing licensesConnecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)
- Connecticut freshwater fishing regulationsConnecticut DEEP
- Connecticut trout stocking mapsConnecticut DEEP
- Peoples State ForestConnecticut State Parks and Forests (DEEP)
- American Legion State ForestConnecticut State Parks and Forests (DEEP)
- Housatonic Meadows State ParkConnecticut State Parks and Forests (DEEP)
- CTvisitConnecticut Office of Tourism
- OurAirports open data (airport locations)OurAirports, public domain
- Overture Maps places (guide and shop map records)Overture Maps Foundation, CDLA-Permissive 2.0
Links checked 22 Oct 2026. Not a claim of access or conditions.