CT Freshwater Report as of 5/29/2026

CT Freshwater Report as of 5/29/2026

The Farmington

Pictured here is John Antolini with a stunning fish. The West Branch Farmington in Riverton is at 96 cfs with the Still at 72 cfs for a combined flow of 168 cfs, a pretty low but fishy flow. I do suspect that flows will bump up after the rain this weekend. Fishing has been good. We have a cooler rainy week coming up but it shouldn’t hurt the fishing.

Viteous are 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 all around 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 (#14-16), and caddis pupa (#14-20). Sulphur’s are on deck for hatching so fishing the nymph is pretty effective.

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 this time of year. Either a March Brown or caddis dry are great options.

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 (typically) 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. Fishing when the water is up a bit and off color and help keep the fish from seeing you.

Warm Water

Bass have been really waking up. Smallmouth have been very active. 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. They have not been in too fast of water, mostly slower pools or eddies. 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.

Carp are also a hot fish right now to target. We have a good selection of some carpy flies as well as the materials you need to tie some up for yourself!

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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