CT Freshwater Report as of 5/22/2026

CT Freshwater Report as of 5/22/2026

The Farmington

Happy Memorial Day weekend! Pictured here is Thomas Graeber with a real nice brown. The West Branch Farmington in Riverton is at 129 cfs with the Still at 44 cfs for a combined flow of 173 cfs, a pretty low but fishy flow. I do suspect that flows will bump up after the rain this weekend. The river is in good shape and it’s pretty clear. Fishing has been good. Temps this week are going to be cooler than last week with lots of cloudy rainy weather.

Viteous are fairly widespread on the river through the TMA. They hatch in the evening and are better on cooler cloudy/rainy days (like we have all this week). Expect them around #14. Lots of caddis alla round the river, large tan caddis #16-18, and black caddis #18-22, we are seeing these at there best toward the evening with the egg layers. March browns are also sporadic (#8-12) and can be fished blind in the faster water. For nymphs think sulphur imitations, and caddis pupa.

Fish are currently in the faster water and are eating pretty aggressive. Lots of takes on either a swung fly or as it is lifting out of the water. Try either one of those or both at the end of your drifts. Fish have moved into pretty summery water so start fishing the faster lies and runs. Prospecting with March brown spinners in a good thing to try in the evenings. Dry dropper is another really solid technique.

Around CT

Bugs off the Farmington are about the same. I’ve seen lots of vitreous and sulphurs on my local rivers. On smaller freestone rivers there aren’t as many bugs as there are on the Farmington so fish feed more opportunistically. Don’t be afraid to go a little bigger in fly choice on the smaller rivers. With the upcoming rain the flows on the smaller stuff will come up but then drop back down pretty quick.

CT Stocking

The state has started its annual stocking! Some rivers stocked recently are the Willimantic River (Below TMA), Salmon River TMA, and the Farmington River (Lower Collinsville to Rt. 177). Stocked trout are a great way to get into some fish and get some reps early in the season.

Warm Water

Bass have been really waking up. Small mouth have been very active. Some are in spawn but on the rivers I fish most are post spawn. They are becoming active on poppers but still seem to prefer small streamers. A good thing to try is a popper dropper with a damsel fly nymph on the dropper. They will eat those pretty well. If you are fishing tributaries to the CT river be prepared to run into a few stripers as there have been some big ones caught.

If you go out and have any questions, feel free to stop by the shop, we are more than happy to help you with whatever you need. As always, tight lines!

 

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