The East Branch Housatonic River is a freestone river in Massachusetts, listed as Designated trout water by Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), via MassGIS.
1 USGS gauge on the water reports flow. 2 guides nearby are listed here; the nearest destination hub is Western Massachusetts: the Deerfield & the Swift.
East Branch Housatonic River is a freestone river in Massachusetts. Our destination hub Western Massachusetts: the Deerfield & the Swift is 30 mi away in a straight line.
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 East Branch Housatonic River: gauges, shops and guides
Map of East Branch Housatonic River with 1 USGS gauge.
Restrooms within 2 miles of East Branch Housatonic 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 2 restrooms near East Branch Housatonic River
Skip the map; every place is in the list belowMap of 2 restrooms near East Branch Housatonic 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
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.
Designated trout waterThe Deerfield River from the Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts. Photo: CobberCorsair, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Kinderhook CreekThe Swift River at the Bondsville dam, Massachusetts, downstream of Quabbin Reservoir. Photo: Richard B. Johnson (LymanSchool), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kinderhook Creek.
Massachusetts · about 8 mi
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Cold RiverThe Walloomsac River at the Silk Road Covered Bridge, Bennington, Vermont. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cold River.
Massachusetts · about 16 mi
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Hoosic RiverThe Battenkill in Arlington, Vermont. Photo: Gplefka, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hoosic River.
Massachusetts · about 16 mi
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Walker BrookThe Farmington River at Collinsville, Connecticut (downstream of the West Branch tailwater). Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Walker Brook.
Massachusetts · about 16 mi
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Westfield RiverThe Housatonic River at Kent, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Westfield River.
Massachusetts · about 21 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 Coldwater Fisheries Resources (CFR) streams list (Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), via MassGIS, read 2026-10-20). All waters with this designation
Areas the Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), public access (U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Project, read 2026-11-05) lists as owned or held in easement and open to the public, crossed by the mapped channel. Boundaries are mapped, not surveyed. 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.
Listings marked Unclaimed are built from open map records and the business's own website: confirm licensing, rates, dates and hours directly.
No shop nearby yet.
What 2 nearby guide websites mention: what guides advertise, not a survey or a promise of what you will catch.
Named on 2 nearby guide websites
Northampton sits by the Connecticut River in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts; the Deerfield River comes down below the Fife Brook dam through Charlemont and Shelburne Falls to the north-west, and the Swift River flows south from Quabbin Reservoir's Winsor Dam at Belchertown to the east.
Destination hub · 30 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 East Branch Housatonic 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 EAST BRANCH HOUSATONIC RIVER AT COLTSVILLE, MA. Water type is our own classification.
Limited data: Normal flow for the date: no water temperature here
No water temperature here.
At EAST BRANCH HOUSATONIC RIVER AT COLTSVILLE, MA (USGS 01197000) Provisional USGS data
USGS 01197000 · NWS CTVM3
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, 5:30 PM EST · provisional USGS data
Normal for Nov 5 Steady · 24 h Below NWS action stage
Discharge, last 7 days: 169 readings from Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT to Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST; ranging 36 to 60.6 ft³/s; latest 50.8 ft³/s.
USGS provisional data may be revised. Source: USGS instantaneous values.
| Time | Discharge (ft³/s) | Gauge height (ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST | 50.8 | 0.88 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 PM EST | 50.8 | 0.88 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 PM EST | 50.8 | 0.88 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 PM EST | 51.9 | 0.89 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 PM EST | 53.1 | 0.9 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 PM EST | 51.9 | 0.89 |
| Nov 5, 11:30 AM EST | 51.9 | 0.89 |
| Nov 5, 10:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 5, 9:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 8:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 7:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 6:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 5, 5:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 4:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 3:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 2:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 1:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 5, 12:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 PM EST | 49.7 | 0.87 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 PM EST | 49.7 | 0.87 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 PM EST | 49.7 | 0.87 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 PM EST | 49.7 | 0.87 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 11:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 10:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 4, 9:30 AM EST | 50.8 | 0.88 |
| Nov 4, 8:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 4, 7:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 4, 6:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 4, 5:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 4, 4:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 4, 3:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 4, 2:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 4, 1:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 4, 12:30 AM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 PM EST | 46.4 | 0.84 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 PM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 11:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 10:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 9:30 AM EST | 49.7 | 0.87 |
| Nov 3, 8:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 7:30 AM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 3, 6:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 5:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 4:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 3:30 AM EST | 48.5 | 0.86 |
| Nov 3, 2:30 AM EST | 49.7 | 0.87 |
| Nov 3, 1:30 AM EST | 51.9 | 0.89 |
| Nov 3, 12:30 AM EST | 54.3 | 0.91 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 PM EST | 58 | 0.94 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 PM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 PM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 PM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 PM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 PM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 11:30 AM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 10:30 AM EST | 60.6 | 0.96 |
| Nov 2, 9:30 AM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 8:30 AM EST | 58 | 0.94 |
| Nov 2, 7:30 AM EST | 58 | 0.94 |
| Nov 2, 6:30 AM EST | 58 | 0.94 |
| Nov 2, 5:30 AM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 4:30 AM EST | 59.3 | 0.95 |
| Nov 2, 3:30 AM EST | 58 | 0.94 |
| Nov 2, 2:30 AM EST | 58 | 0.94 |
| Nov 2, 1:30 AM EST | 56.8 | 0.93 |
| Nov 2, 12:30 AM EST | 54.3 | 0.91 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 PM EST | 47.4 | 0.85 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 PM EST | 38 | 0.76 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 PM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 11:30 AM EST | 36 | 0.74 |
| Nov 1, 10:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 9:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 8:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 7:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 6:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 5:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 4:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 3:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 2:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EST | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 1:30 AM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Nov 1, 12:30 AM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 PM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 11:30 AM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 10:30 AM EDT | 37 | 0.75 |
| Oct 31, 9:30 AM EDT | 38 | 0.76 |
| Oct 31, 8:30 AM EDT | 38 | 0.76 |
| Oct 31, 7:30 AM EDT | 38 | 0.76 |
| Oct 31, 6:30 AM EDT | 38 | 0.76 |
| Oct 31, 5:30 AM EDT | 39 | 0.77 |
| Oct 31, 4:30 AM EDT | 39 | 0.77 |
| Oct 31, 3:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 31, 2:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 31, 1:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 31, 12:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 PM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 PM EDT | 43.2 | 0.81 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 PM EDT | 42.2 | 0.8 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 PM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 PM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 PM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 11:30 AM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 10:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 9:30 AM EDT | 41.1 | 0.79 |
| Oct 30, 8:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 7:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 6:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 5:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 4:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 3:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 2:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 1:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 30, 12:30 AM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 29, 11:30 PM EDT | 39 | 0.77 |
| Oct 29, 10:30 PM EDT | 39 | 0.77 |
| Oct 29, 9:30 PM EDT | 39 | 0.77 |
| Oct 29, 8:30 PM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 29, 7:30 PM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
| Oct 29, 6:30 PM EDT | 40.1 | 0.78 |
Normal for Nov 5: 41–109 ft³/s (middle half of 90 years of record). Now: 50.8 ft³/s, normal.
Normal for this date. 50.8 ft³/s is between the 25th and 75th percentiles of daily mean flow for Nov 5 at this gauge over 90 years of record (1937–2026): 10th 27, 25th 41, median 69, 75th 109, 90th 158 ft³/s.
Daily means on record for Nov 5: lowest 12 ft³/s, highest 690 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 (+4.7% 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.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
NWS observed 0.88 ft stage, 51 ft³/s at Nov 5, 5:30 PM EST (NWS gauge CTVM3; its stage datum can differ from the USGS gauge height).
Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Open the NWS gauge page · What the categories mean (National Weather Service)
No current water-temperature reading at this gauge, so no temperature guidance is given. Take a stream thermometer. MassWildlife publishes no water-temperature line for trout anglers that we found. The lines below are the National Park Service's, federal guidance, not a Massachusetts rule: 68°F.
This gauge is on our page for East Branch Housatonic River, but no agency page we read lists its species.
Below NWS action stage. The National Weather Service reports this gauge below its action stage. That is not a statement that wading is safe.
Flood categories: action stage, minor, moderate and major flooding (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, 6:22 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.
Designated trout waterThe Deerfield River from the Monroe Bridge, Massachusetts. Photo: CobberCorsair, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Massachusetts · about 21 mi
Rainbow & brown trout
195cfsFlow now · much below normal for the date
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Kinderhook CreekThe Swift River at the Bondsville dam, Massachusetts, downstream of Quabbin Reservoir. Photo: Richard B. Johnson (LymanSchool), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Kinderhook Creek.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Cold RiverThe Walloomsac River at the Silk Road Covered Bridge, Bennington, Vermont. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Cold River.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Hoosic RiverThe Battenkill in Arlington, Vermont. Photo: Gplefka, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Not Hoosic River.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Walker BrookThe Farmington River at Collinsville, Connecticut (downstream of the West Branch tailwater). Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Walker Brook.
Designated trout waterRepresentative photo · not Westfield RiverThe Housatonic River at Kent, Connecticut. Photo: John Phelan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons Not Westfield River.
