Farmington River Hatches

Jeff Passante


While wild in character in its upper stretches, signs of civilization, such as the bridge in Pleasant Valley (above) or the Hancock Chair Factory, mark some of the more famous pools on the river.

Intro | River Tour | Hatches | Tackle & Tactics | River Map

The Farmington has rebounded strongly in recent decades from its former status as a power source and repository for the foundries, paper mills, and tanneries that were built on its banks during Connecticut’s industrial expansion. Many of the factories have closed, and thanks to the environmental awakening during the ’60s and ’70s the river has made a dramatic comeback.

The Farmington River flows from the Hogback Dam in Hartland, Connecticut, through northwestern Connecticut to its confluence with the Connecticut River in Windsor, some 60 miles downstream. Trout inhabit the entire length (wild brown trout have been found near the mouth of the Farmington River), although most are found in the picturesque upper half of the river. In 1994, the government designated the upper section of the river from Hogback Dam to the New Hartford/Canton town line as a Wild and Scenic River.

Coldwater releases from the bottom of Hogback Dam keep the river temperatures trout friendly. Hogback Dam also provides a buffer to keep the flows on the river fairly consistent. The river can get high, especially after spring freshets, but river levels will become fishable within a short time and there are none of the daily fluctuations that plague rivers with hydroelectric dams.

Jeff Passante is author of The Housatonic River Fly Fishing Guide. He lives in Haddam, CT.

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