Connecticut · river

Housatonic River

The Housatonic River ( HOOS-ə-TON-ik) is an approximately 149 mi (240 km) long river in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about 1,950 square miles (5,100 km2) of southwestern Connecticut into Long Island Sound. From Wikipedia

Length
149 mi
Basin
1,948 sq mi
Rises at
West Branch Housatonic River
Flows into
Long Island Sound

Flow now

Housatonic River At Falls Village, CT, 6 mi from the river.

399cfsat build, Nov 12, 11 AM MT

06351,270Oct 12Nov 11

The typical week here, from 10 years of record: 589 cfs to 1,270 cfs, around 812 cfs.

Also gauged at Salmon Creek At Lime Rock, CT: 13 cfs, Nov 12.

The season, November

Usually workable this week. Pick your window and fish it well.

  • Midgessizes 18 to 22
  • Small eggs and worms
  • Pheasant tail and zebra midge nymphsunder an indicator

Typical for the week over 10 years: 589 to 1,270 cfs. Running 399 cfs today, below that range. Flows are not forecast; check the gauge the day before.

Brown Trout are spawning (October to December). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.

Brook Trout are spawning (September to November). Stay off clean, light-coloured gravel in riffle tails and pool tailouts, and leave paired fish alone.

Mountain Whitefish are spawning (October to December). The egg bite behind spawning whitefish is the best winter nymphing of the year: an egg pattern below the riffles.

  • Flows swing a lot this week most years. Carry both a heavy nymph rig and a dry-dropper and let the gauge decide.
  • Egg patterns in the runs below the spawning gravel, never on it.

Written by the app's rules engine from the calendar, the gauge record and the snowpack, not by hand, so it says only what the data says. The weather for the week comes with the app.

Fly shops on this water

Nearby waters

Every Connecticut water

Open Housatonic River in FlyMaster for today's plan, the flies, and your own log here.

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Flows from the U.S. Geological Survey, snowpack from the NRCS SNOTEL network, text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Built Nov 12.