It’s a fishing day

Farmington River fishing conditions · Connecticut

Now until 8 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 100. Water is 56°, close to the 55° rainbow trout like best, and a solunar period lands on the window.

Log a trip here
Right now: 99 for rainbow trout, go · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 994 pm
  2. 99
  3. 99
  4. 1007 pm
  5. 92
  6. 92
  7. 8910 pm
  8. 89
  9. 89Sun
  10. 891 am
  11. 89
  12. 92
  13. 924 am
  14. 92
  15. 92
  16. 927 am
  17. 92
  18. 92
  19. 9210 am
  20. 92
  21. 92
  22. 921 pm
  23. 92
  24. 92
  25. 924 pm
  26. 92
  27. 84
  28. 827 pm
  29. 82
  30. 84
  31. 8210 pm
  32. 82
  33. 82Mon
  34. 821 am
  35. 82
  36. 82
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
56°F

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
9 mph

From the northwest

Flow
137 cfs

steady · +0% in 24 h

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:39 pm

Sky
Chance Rain Showers

34% chance of rain

Air
56°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Connecticut regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

100GoNow until 8 pm

Water

56°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in rainbow trout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 2 a day

Catch and release only today. Goodwin Dam to the Route 177 bridge. Sections 1 and 3: 2 trout a day, 12" minimum, from the second Saturday in April to Aug 31, catch and release the rest of the year. Section 2 (footbridge abutments to Route 219): catch and release all year, barbless hooks. Trout and salmon stamp required to fish.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Farmington River Trout Management Area

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Jul, Oct–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

100GoNow until 8 pm

Water

56°
35°45–68° · ideal 55°78°

Why

Right in brown trout's ideal range. Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

12" minimum · 2 a day

Catch and release only today. Goodwin Dam to the Route 177 bridge. Sections 1 and 3: 2 trout a day, 12" minimum, from the second Saturday in April to Aug 31, catch and release the rest of the year. Section 2 (footbridge abutments to Route 219): catch and release all year, barbless hooks. Trout and salmon stamp required to fish.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Farmington River Trout Management Area

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Apr–Nov, from this spot’s water-temperature record, 2023–2025. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperature56°F
  • River137 cfs · steady · +0% in 24 h
  • Barometer29.70 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:39 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:33 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:10 pm–4:10 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 9:40 pm–11:40 pm
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:40 am–6:40 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Connecticut DEEP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

New England's premier wild-trout tailwater — the West Branch below Hogback Dam holds dense populations of wild and holdover brown and rainbow trout in cold, year-round flows, with a renowned Trout Management Area. A technical hatch-matching river an hour from Hartford.

CT: the Trout Management Area below Goodwin Dam is 2 trout a day, 12" minimum, from the second Saturday in April to Aug 31 and catch and release the rest of the year; the Section 2 reach is catch and release all year. A blue-ribbon wild-brown fishery.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Housatonic River20 mi · ConnecticutBest tonight 6 pm to tomorrow 7 pm
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Farmington River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Farmington River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Farmington River?

Farmington River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Farmington River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Farmington River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Farmington River have?

Farmington River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. CT: the Trout Management Area below Goodwin Dam is 2 trout a day, 12" minimum, from the second Saturday in April to Aug 31 and catch and release the rest of the year; the Section 2 reach is catch and release all year. A blue-ribbon wild-brown fishery.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Farmington River?

state agency regulations apply at Farmington River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Farmington River tidal water?

No. Farmington River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.