The Farmington is stocked with browns, rainbows and brookies. Thanks to the health of the river, holdovers can reach impressive sizes. (Shutterstock)
October 28, 2024
By Matt Wettish
A magical flow of trout-filled water winds its way through a most unsuspecting place. It offers opportunities for the novice worm dunker and the technically advanced hackle drifter alike. For both, it brings the opportunity to catch the fish of a lifetime.
The Farmington River, located in northwestern Connecticut, is a dam-controlled tributary of the Connecticut River. It offers more than 30 miles of fishable waters—some of which is a regulated Trout Management Area (TMA) that can often yield browns that push the 20-inch mark.
The Farmington has both an east branch and a west branch. The west branch is the main target for those looking to wet a line. It’s formed by two reservoirs, the West Branch and the Colebrook, that feed the river with waters that stay cool in the summer and provide ideal conditions for trout. It also offers the opportunity to catch multiple species of trout on any given day. State-stocked browns, rainbows and brookies cohabitate, and can all be found along this waterway. Because of this rivers’ health, beautiful wild-born fish can also be found.
There’s perhaps no better time to fish the Farmington than the fall, when the quality of the fishing is rivaled only by the stunning autumn colors. (© Jeffrey Holcombe | Dreamstime.com) BACK TO THE FARM On my first visit to the the “Farm” after nearly 20 years, I went in pretty much blind. After a phone call to the local in-the-know fly shop, UpCountry Sportfishing, I was assured that if I could read water, I’d have no problem finding fish purely by driving the adjacent roads and scouting.
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Before I left the house, I picked a random stretch of road running along the TMA waters and dropped a pin. I was optimistic about the trip but had no idea what this place had in store for me. However, just as the shop owner said: If I could read water, I could find fish—and find the fish I did.
I was able to catch and release more than a dozen trout on that visit, and I landed one fish that hit the tape at around 18 inches. To say that I was immediately hooked is an understatement, and it wasn’t just because of the fish. The Farmington is as beautiful as it is productive, and the low-lying fog in the mornings can make the start to any day look like a painting.
After a few visits, reviewing satellite images and reading articles, I began to target some fishy-looking stretches with great success. Fish in the 16- to 18-inch range are there to be caught. Fish measuring 18 to 20 inches are not uncommon, and 20- to 22-inch fish can be found if you put in your time. And, if you cover enough water, pay attention to your presentation and have a little luck on your side, you may just hook a 22- to 24-inch fish. I’ve landed many fish busting into the 20s, with two of them that stretched out to 24 inches or more.
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Now, don’t think you have to be a master angler to put fish in your net. Trout can be caught by the novice fisherman up and down the river by just looking for parking pull-offs or the random trail heading toward the river. These often lead to a popular or productive spot, and there’s no shortage of these places to choose from. Right from the rivers’ edge, you can drift a rocky riffle that will often provide a take, and finding a deep, rocky hole will almost certainly tighten your line more than once.
Keep an eye out for the extremely obvious and don’t shy away from the deep, mid-summer swimming holes, where you can stack trout well into the double digits.
The Farm’s catch-and-release Trout Management Area stretches for several miles and yields many 20-inch-plus brown trout. (Shutterstock) GO WITH THE FLOW Paying attention to the dam release schedule and water levels can help you target certain areas when the water is high and others when it is low. Online dam flow charts can give you this information. My favorite level to fish is between 350 and 600 cubic feet per second, although I love the challenge of faster water upwards of 800-plus fps. Fast water seems to push some of those big, lazy fish to the slower edges. Get to know the river in this way, and you can start increasing your success each time you go.
There’s water for every kind of fishing along the Farm. Entomology-crazed fly guys, spin fishermen throwing flashy metal and bait dunkers alike will all test their skills at creating the perfect presentation. There are great fly hatches on the river year-round. Daily info on what’s active can be found on the UpCountry Sportfishing website, or just give them a call (860-379-1952; farmingtonriver.com ). They’re extremely knowledgeable and always happy to help, including with TMA restrictions and other regulations along the river.
CHANGE OF SCENERY If you find yourself bored of the Farmington, follow it downstream to the Connecticut River, where you’ll want a bass rod and a canoe or kayak. The southern portion of the river slows down and gets deeper and a little warmer and turns into perfect habitat for largemouth and smallmouth bass, pickerel and even the occasional pike.
Fishing from a boat of some kind is certainly best in this area. Unlike trout, which can be targeted from the bank, bass tend to sit among fallen trees, snags, rock piles and other forms of cover. Bass hit hard and love heading straight back into the tangle from which they emerged. Braided lines can certainly be a plus in this scenario, and since the water is often stained, mono and fluorocarbon lines aren’t as necessary as they are in the clearer northern waters.
Looking farther ahead, the American shad spends most of its time in the ocean but spawns each spring by swimming up major rivers like the Connecticut. Shad often travel close to shore and up tributaries like the Farmington, so they are easily targeted without wading or a boat, which can be great for kids.
Around the same time as the shad spawn is the spring migration of the striped bass. These fish can be anywhere from a couple pounds to 30-plus, and can be caught on swim baits, soft rubber baits and surface plugs. In all, the Farmington River and the nearby Connecticut River have a lot going on year-round. The Farm, especially, is an epic trout river that can provide fishing opportunities for all levels of anglers while still being a technically challenging river for experts.
The Farmington possesses plenty of natural beauty, but it also winds through a number of charming, scenic towns that offer excellent food and drink options. (© Renata Tyburczy | Dreamstime.com) APRÉS TROUT Two great spots to reflect and refuel after a day on the river After a day of fishing the Farmington, I often like to grab something to eat or drink, and two locations in the New Hartford area are always pretty solid.
Brewery Legitimus is just a stone’s throw from the river and has some awesome craft beers on tap that are brewed on the premises. Many of the IPAs, pilsners and stouts are named after spots on the river, and there’s often a food truck or two parked outside dishing up tasty grub.
Just a little south on the river is Crown & Hammer, which is an awesome place to stop for a brew or cocktail and something to eat. An old railroad station turned tavern, this place has old-pub style and atmosphere with friendly locals bellied up to the bar always willing to swap fish stories.
This article was featured in the October 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .