With the extreme popularity in a wide variety of fishing types and styles this year due to the pandemic, popular fishing locations such as the Farmington River in Connecticut have drawn even more interest. Couple in the fact that this is a world-class trout fishery located right in the middle of New England, and crowds of eager anglers are to be expected when visiting the river. One of the big hurdles for new anglers to the Farmington River to overcome aside from the finicky trout bite is the differing regulations on angling methods and allowable gear types, season and bag limits throughout the range of the river.
To hopefully clarify your questions, below are the regulations as printed in the annual Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Fishing Guide.
FARMINGTON RIVER
(West Branch and Mainstem), Hartland-Barkhamsted-New Hartford-Canton-Burlington-Farmington-Avon-Simsbury-Bloomfield-East Granby-Windsor (T)
Intermittent sections from Goodwin Dam to RT 4 (Farmington Center). Then from Tariffville Memorial Park (Simsbury) through the Tariffville Gorge (Bloomfield). Then from mouth of tailrace canal below Rainbow Dam to confluence with Connecticut River.
Farmington River Trout Management Area
From Goodwin dam (Hartland) downstream to the intersection of Hogback Road and Route 20 in Hartland, as indicated by signs posted by DEEP.
- Season: Open year-round.
- Trout & salmon stamp required to fish.
- Trout:
- Catch and Release Only from September 1 to 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April.
- Daily creel limit—2, 12″ minimum length from 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April to August 31.
From the intersection of Hogback Road and Route 20 in Hartland, as indicated by signs posted by DEEP downstream to the gas pipeline crossing approximately four-tenths miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River in Barkhamsted, as indicated by signs posted by DEEP. THIS AREA IS CLOSED TO ALL FISHING FROM THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL TO 6:00 AM 2ND SATURDAY IN APRIL:
- Season: Open 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday April–last day March.
- Trout:
- Catch and Release Only from September 1 to 6:00 a.m. last day March.
- Daily creel limit—2, 12″ minimum length from 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April to August 31.
From the gas pipeline crossing approximately four-tenths miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River in Barkhamsted, as indicated by signs posted by DEEP, to the old footbridge abutments approximately 1.4 miles downstream of the confluence with the Still River (Barkhamsted):
- Season: Open year-round.
- Trout & salmon stamp required to fish.
- Trout:
- Catch and Release Only from September 1 to 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April.
- Daily creel limit—2, 12″ minimum length from 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April to August 31.
From the old footbridge abutments (Barkhamsted) downstream to the Route 219 bridge (New Hartford). This area includes all of the former West Branch Farmington River Trout Management Area:
- Season: Open year-round.
- Methods: Barbless hooks only.
- Trout: Catch and Release Only.
From the Route 219 bridge (New Hartford) downstream to the route 177 Bridge (Unionville):
- Season: Open year-round.
- Trout & salmon stamp required to fish.
- Trout:
- Catch and Release Only from September 1 to 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April.
- Daily creel limit—2, 12″ minimum length from 6:00 a.m. 2nd Saturday in April to August 31.
Lower Farmington River
Farmington to Windsor; From Route 177 bridge in Unionville Center downstream to Rainbow Reservoir.
- Trout: Daily creel limit—5, 9″ Minimum length.
Lower River/Tidal Waters—No Closed Season
Windsor; From mouth of tailrace canal below Rainbow Dam to confluence with Connecticut River.
- Trout: Daily creel limit—2, 15″ minimum length.
- Note: All fishing prohibited in tailrace canal and from mouth of tailrace upstream to Rainbow Dam.
