Freestone · Mixed Metamorphic · Connecticut

Farmington River — Lower (Tariffville)

Below the cold, famous West Branch TMA up at Riverton, the Farmington keeps going — gathering the East Branch and the Pequabuck and a good deal of summer warmth on its way down through Collinsville and Tariffville.

Species

About as good as it gets

Low and clear — careful approach country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.

75% confidence in this read
Water temperature for brown trout
Ideal
14°C est.ideal 10–16°C
0°14°28°
Why this score · for brown trout
  • Temperature10028% weight
  • Flow8022% weight
  • Clarity9518% weight
  • Feeding Time5013% weight
  • Pressure807% weight
  • Insect activity6812% weight
Conditions
Level
Dry recently
No gauge reading
Water temp
14.4°C
Estimated
Clarity
Clear
Air temp
23°C
Wind
SW 10 km/h
Light breeze
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Rain · ahead
0.0 mm
No meaningful rain · next 48h

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How to fish it · for brown trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Why this works
Excellent — water temperature is right today, though time of day could be better.
Local fly shopsUpCountry Sportfishing
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
GrannomHatch
2
2
Evening SedgeHatch
2
3
3
3
2
Western Green DrakeHatch
2
2
Flav (Small Western Green Drake)Hatch
2
3
2

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Connecticut licence required
  • The lower main stem carries different rules from the upstream West Branch TMA — verify current CT DEEP regulations for this reach before you fish.
Directions
Apple MapsGoogle Maps
About this water

Below the cold, famous West Branch TMA up at Riverton, the Farmington keeps going — gathering the East Branch and the Pequabuck and a good deal of summer warmth on its way down through Collinsville and Tariffville. This lower river is a different animal from the tailwater: bigger, broader, warmer, with wild and holdover browns and rainbows that ride out the season where they can find cool water, and a sturdy population of smallmouth in the bargain. The hatches are still there in the cooler months, and the streamer fishing through the deeper Tariffville water can be very good. Think of it as the Farmington's freestone half — cracking in spring and fall, best left to the bass when the lower river runs warm.

  • Mixed metamorphic
Seasons & zones
  • Trout1 January → 31 December
Other water nearby · 3