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Between the Housatonic and Farmington Rivers, and their many tributaries, there is almost always productive fishing. When conditions are poor on one river, opportunities open up on another. |
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River Flow
HOUSATONIC RIVER AT FALLS VILLAGE, CT. WEST BRANCH FARMINGTON RIVER AND THE STILL RIVER
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River Report
Winter Report: Please check out "News & Events" for a recap of the 2011 fishing season and where and when I will be tying and presenting this winter. I will be spending a month
fishing in both Chile and Argentina from mid Feb to mid March, hosting 3 different groups. It is via these trips which I have been doing since 1995 that I have come to know Patagonia so well!
Please book soon if you want to fish during prime time this April & May. Currently I have the following days already booked. April 22,23,25 May 2,5,7,8,10,12,15,16,19,22,23,24,26 and 27.June 14 and
July 19. All other days are available but they won't last long!
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HOW TO INTEPRET RIVER FLOWS
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Housatonic Flow
Reading flows and trying to determine whether the Housatonic is fishing well is a tricky business. An angler who states that the "The fishing on the Housatonic is best between 400 and 800 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second)" is making too many assumptions. This statement is by and large true for wade anglers, but how is the fishing when it is at1500 CFS? The answer to this question varies greatly. Look at the graph. If the river has been at 1500 CFS for a period of several days then the fishing is likely to be good, especially for the streamer and nymph fisherman. On the other hand, if the river has been at a consistent 500 CFS and then jumps up to 1000CFS in one day, chances are the fishing will be poor. What is most important is water clarity and flow consistency. If the river has been flowing at a consistent CFS or is falling, then the clarity is likely to be good and the fishing good .... regardless of the CFS. I have enjoyed excellent fishing at 2000CFS from my drift boat. Water temperature is the most critical factor in terms of trying to determine whether trout will be active or not. As a general rule, the trout on the Housatonic will be most active when the temps are between 55 & 70 degrees. Once the river hits 70 degrees or more look for the bass fishing to improve. |
Farmington Flow
My stance on the Farmington is very different from most anglers. In my opinion, there is no bad time to fish the Farmington, unless the river is in excess 1500 CFS. Even after several inches of rain, I have enjoyed superb fishing when the river was up to 1200CFS. The Farm stays reasonably clear even after heavy rains, and in many cases when the water comes up and discolors the big boys turn on and can be caught with streamers. To generalize, the Farmington is best to wade at 600CFS or less and it is at these flows you are likely to have the best dry fly fishing. Water temperature is rarely an issue on the Farmington, the more you move upstream towards Riverton and towards the dam the colder she gets. In order to understand what the flow is you must add the flow of both the Still River and the West Branch. |
For reservations or information please call or write to:
(860) 672-4457 - Cell: 860-387-3300
Housatonic Anglers
26 Bolton Hill Road
Cornwall, CT 06753
E-mail: housangler@yahoo.com
Winter Trout Fising in Chile