West Branch Farmington River

The West Branch of the Farmington River is Connecticut''s finest trout stream and one of the most important tailwaters in the northeastern United States. Flowing from Hogback Reservoir through the village of Riverton and down through the Farmington River valley, the West Branch maintains cold, fishable temperatures year-round thanks to hypolimnetic releases from the dam. This single feature transforms what would otherwise be a modest freestone stream into a legitimate four-season trout fishery that rivals better-known waters in Vermont and New York. The Farmington holds a healthy mixed population of wild and stocked brown and rainbow trout, with the catch-and-release trophy section near Riverton producing fish well over 20 inches that have seen every fly pattern available in New England. Hatches are excellent for an eastern tailwater, with Blue-winged Olives reliable in spring and fall, Sulfurs and caddis through the summer, and consistent midge activity on warmer winter days. The river is designated a Connecticut State Water Trail, and public access is extensive, with multiple state fishing areas providing easy entry along its most productive reaches. The Farmington is one of the few New England rivers where a serious angler can have a legitimate 20-fish day on dry flies in July, a rarity in the region. Trout Unlimited chapters have invested heavily in habitat restoration here, and the results show in the quality and density of wild fish throughout the system.