The Farmington River is a tailwater in Connecticut, listed as Catch and release by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Fisheries Division.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow; Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) lists 1 species. 4 guides and 2 shops nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic.
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 is a tailwater in Connecticut. Our destination hub Northwest Connecticut: the Farmington & the Housatonic is 2 mi away in a straight line and lists it among its waters.
Pick one of its USGS gauges and hear from us when the flow moves into or out of its usual range for the date, or crosses a flow you set. We check the public USGS reading every 2 hours and email only when it crosses, at most once every 6 hours. Flow alone is not a fishing forecast or a safety call.
Signed in: one step. Otherwise we email a confirmation link first. Every alert has one-click links to stop it.
Start from the agency's public access map. Nothing on this page grants or implies access: check the agency map, posted signs and landowner permission before you fish.
Nothing on this page grants or implies access.
Gauges, shops and guides within 40 miles
Map of Farmington River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of Farmington River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of Farmington River 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 6 restrooms near Farmington River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 6 restrooms near Farmington River, numbered as in the list, with the water’s point marked.
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
Mapped on OpenStreetMap · see or fix it on the map
Not rated yet — be the first to tell other anglers if it's clean.
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.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Thorne BrookThe Housatonic River at Kent, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Thorne Brook.
Connecticut · about 2 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Morgan BrookThe Naugatuck River at Derby, Connecticut. Photo: Staib, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Morgan Brook.
Connecticut · about 3 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Highland LakeMooselookmeguntic Lake from Oquossoc, Maine. Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Highland Lake.
Connecticut · about 5 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not West Hill PondRangeley Lake, Maine. Photo: Manuel Velazquez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Hill Pond.
Connecticut · about 6 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hurricane BrookThe Salmon River above the Comstock Bridge, Connecticut. Photo: H. Morrow Long, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hurricane Brook.
Connecticut · about 7 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hall Meadow BrookThe Eightmile River at Lyme, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hall Meadow Brook.
Connecticut · about 9 mi
Seasons, limits, special regulations and closures for each reach are on the agency pages below. Read them before you go.
Each comes from the agency's own published list; where the list names a reach it is quoted. A designation applies to the listed reach, not necessarily the whole water. Listed in the finder under trout.
On the Trout Management Areas — seasonal catch and release (Sept 1 to second Saturday in April) list (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Fisheries Division, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
On the Trout Management Areas — seasonal catch and release (Sept 1 to second Saturday in April) list (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Fisheries Division, read 2026-10-16). All waters with this designation
Quoted word for word from the agency page on the date shown. Many quotes name the reach they cover and apply only to that part of the water. Rules change; the linked page is the authority.
“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.”
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.”
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) · read 2026-10-14
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
1 guide name it on their website
Bridgeport, CT · 55 mi
Beginners & lessons · Housatonic & Farmington
Names this water
The species the agency lists here; presence varies by reach and season.
Listed by the state agency
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.
Destination hub · 2 mi away in a straight line
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.
7′6″–8′6″ rod, 3–4 weight, floating line · Brook, cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout
Open the checklistSeams, shelves and soft water, shown on real rivers.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on reading water
Indicator rigs, depth and detecting the take.
Public YouTube videos from established channels, chosen by us to support this page. Not sponsored; the creators are not affiliated with Legendary Fly Gear.
Not sponsored All videos on nymphing
Trip stories anglers chose to share publicly and tagged with Farmington River.
No stories from here yet.
Not a statement of access, fish presence or conditions.
A water page organises discovery. It does not assert public access, legal access, current fish presence, guide availability or fishing conditions.
Flows, gauge statistics and flood stages come from USGS and the National Weather Service when the page is shown. Regulations, stocking, species and season statements link to the agency that publishes them; this page copies only the species names and the quoted sentences. Guide and shop listings come from the Legendary directories. Position: the USGS gauge WEST BRANCH FARMINGTON RIVER AT RIVERTON, CT. Water type is our own classification.
Good: Good trout conditions: fish normally
At WEST BRANCH FARMINGTON RIVER AT RIVERTON, CT (USGS 01186000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 01186000
What the agencies suggest
Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperatureNational Park Service
General guidance from the readings and the published lines named above, not a fishing forecast. Local rules and closures come first.
Reading Nov 5, 3:30 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Below normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 4:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 3:30 PM EST; ranging 132 to 190 ft³/s; latest 134 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) | Water temp (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM EST | 137 | 3.74 | – |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM EST | 132 | 3.72 | – |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM EST | 132 | 3.72 | – |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM EST | 134 | 3.73 | – |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM EST | 159 | 3.82 | – |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM EST | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EST | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM EDT | 187 | 3.91 | – |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM EDT | 190 | 3.92 | – |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM EDT | 168 | 3.85 | – |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM EDT | 145 | 3.77 | – |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM EDT | 145 | 3.77 | – |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM EDT | 145 | 3.77 | – |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM EDT | 145 | 3.77 | – |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM EDT | 145 | 3.77 | – |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 5:30 PM EDT | 148 | 3.78 | – |
| Oct 29, 4:30 PM EDT | 145 | 3.77 | 57.7 |
Normal for Nov 5: 144–301 ft³/s (middle half of 71 years of record). Now: 134 ft³/s, below normal.
Below normal for this date. 134 ft³/s is between the 10th and 25th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 71 years of record (1956–2026): 10th 106, 25th 144, median 213, 75th 301, 90th 437 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 44 ft³/s, highest 3,350 ft³/s.
Classes as USGS labels them (hyswap: flow categories (WDFN_stats schema) (U.S. Geological Survey) ); percentiles from the USGS daily statistics (U.S. Geological Survey) (approved daily means; the reading is provisional and instantaneous).
Steady over 24 hours (−2.2% discharge). Rising or falling means a change of more than 10% in discharge (or 0.2 ft of gauge height) over 24 hours; our rule of thumb, not a USGS class.
The National Weather Service has no flood-stage gauge here, so no official flood category is shown.
Federal guidance. Connecticut DEEP publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Connecticut rule, with Connecticut DEEP's own figure added:
Under the federal 68°F line. Water 55.9°F now; the highest in the last 24 hours was 56.8°F. That is under the 68°F at which the National Park Service, at Grand Teton National Park, recommends anglers stop fishing in the afternoon (“cease fishing at 2 p.m. when water temperatures are likely to exceed 68°F”). Water warms through the afternoon, so check again later in the day: “Carry a pocket thermometer to monitor water temperature.”
High water temperatures prompt fishing advisory in Grand Teton National Park (29 July 2022) (National Park Service)Species the agency lists for Farmington River: trout.
Source: River and Stream Regulations (Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP)).
Cold water. Water 55.9°F. NWS: “Cold shock can be just as severe and dangerous from water temperatures of 50-60°F (10-15°C) as it is from water at 35°F (2°C).” “Always wear a life jacket in and around the water.”
Cold Water Hazards and Safety (National Weather Service)Turn Around Don't Drown. “A mere 6 inches of fast-moving flood water can knock over an adult.” No flow number makes a crossing safe; if in doubt, stay out.
Turn Around Don't Drown (National Weather Service)Guidance from the readings above and the published thresholds named with each line; not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access. Local rules and closures come first.
Checked Nov 5, 4:16 PM EST; readings refresh at most every 15 minutes and statistics daily. Provisional USGS data can be revised. Conditions change: re-check before you go. This is general guidance, not a fishing forecast, a safety guarantee or a statement about access.
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Thorne BrookThe Housatonic River at Kent, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Thorne Brook.
Connecticut · about 2 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Morgan BrookThe Naugatuck River at Derby, Connecticut. Photo: Staib, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Morgan Brook.
Connecticut · about 3 mi
Agency-named bass waterRepresentative photo · not Highland LakeMooselookmeguntic Lake from Oquossoc, Maine. Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Highland Lake.
Connecticut · about 5 mi
Special-regulation trout waterRepresentative photo · not West Hill PondRangeley Lake, Maine. Photo: Manuel Velazquez, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not West Hill Pond.
Connecticut · about 6 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hurricane BrookThe Salmon River above the Comstock Bridge, Connecticut. Photo: H. Morrow Long, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hurricane Brook.
Connecticut · about 7 mi
Catch and releaseRepresentative photo · not Hall Meadow BrookThe Eightmile River at Lyme, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hall Meadow Brook.
Connecticut · about 9 mi
