Despite not having very many 90 degree plus days, extended heat waves, and dry conditions, many of our river and streams are too warm in the middle of the day to feel comfortable fishing for trout. Thanks to the Farmington being a tail water fishery, we can all feel good about continuing to fish for trout while summer progresses. Over the past couple of years, even the Farmington has suffered some warm water spells for a variety of reasons. This year it has remained cold and flowing at very nice and controlled levels all spring and summer- like the way a tail water should be ! It has remained fishing good to excellent all year and my hopes are that it will continue for some time to come !

Currently, Needhami’s- a chocolate colored may fly ( very small ) are on the water in the morning hours throughout the mid-day. Winter/Summer caddis ( always a staple on the Farm ) are seen in the am as well. Tan caddis are seen both in the morning and again in the evening. Isonychia’s are hatching in the afternoon and into the evening. Olives and Sulfurs are seen in the late afternoon and evenings. And since it’s summer, terrestrials are always an option along the banks, under overhanging trees, and area where the currents are funneled into one specific area-  ants, beetles, oak worms fall or are blown into the water along the banks, get swept up into current seams and can be funneled into lip currents out away from the water’s edge. Beetles are particularly good searching patterns and I’ve been most successful spot targeting areas with short drifts and really searching and covering a lot of water.

A few days ago, I took my friend’s son out for a day on the Farmington. The morning was productive but fairly slow and we were hit with a good amount of tubers, kayaker’s, and canoeist, even though it was a weekday. But, the evening was a different story with multiple hatches occurring in the late afternoon and into the evening. Many trout were caught and released without harm to continue to provide top quality trout fishing in Connecticut. Several fish were of decent size, but a number were small proving that the Farmington is getting better and better at reproducing browns, brookies, and rainbows even.