Connecticut Freshwater Fly Fishing Guides

Fly fishing is a popular sport in Connecticut. With cold lakes and rivers, there are numerous venues for trout fishing. The state’s fly fishermen also enjoy casting flies in saltwater for a variety of fish species. Many fly fishing guides in Connecticut will not only take you fishing – they’ll also teach you the rudiments of fly fishing. If you’re interested in saltwater fishing, you can find Connecticut fly fishing charters for that, too.

Freshwater Fly Fishing in Connecticut

The Housatonic River is a prime location for rainbow and brown trout and smallmouth bass, all of which will readily take flies. This river is tricky to fish because much of the shoreline is in the hands of private owners. The rewards, however, are worth the trouble. Connecticut flyfishing guides who are familiar with the Housatonic know where to legally fish. Wade fishing and float trips are available.

Mansfield Hollow Lake, in north-central Connecticut, provides excellent fly fishing for rainbow trout. In fact, this 440-acre lake produced the state record rainbow, weighing in at 14 pounds, 10 ounces. Fed by three rivers, the lake is in Mansfield Hollow State Park, and a free boat ramp is provided.

The Shetucket River is a favorite spot for anglers who like to fly fish for salmon. This river is formed by the merging of the Natchaug and Willimantic rivers. Located in the eastern part of the state, the river is about 25 miles long and offers excellent catches of Atlantic salmon.

Another great venue to catch an Atlantic salmon is the Naugutuck River, especially the upper section. This part of the river is beautiful and has a swift current and deep pools where the salmon and trout often frequent. This river is home to some large salmon. Ten-pound fish are not uncommon, and a thirty-pounder is occasionally taken. One of the best places to fish on the Naugutuck is where the river runs through the Mattatuck State Forest.

If you’re after a big lake trout, try 350-acre Wononscopomuc Lake in the state’s northwest corner. This lake yielded the state record lake trout, weighing 29 pounds, 13 ounces.

Connecticut Saltwater Fly Fishing Charters

Connecticut has no coastline directly on the Atlantic Ocean, but it does have shoreline on Long Island Sound. It’s also easy to get to the Atlantic between Block Island Sound and Long Island Sound. Fishers Island is just two miles off the coast of Connecticut, too. All these places provide some great saltwater angling. The coast of Connecticut along Long Island Sound has numerous tidal rivers and creeks, and stripers can often be found at the mouths. These fish will often hit wet flies that resemble shrimp or baitfish. Connecticut fly fishing charters will know which flies the stripers are hitting.

In addition to stripers, other saltwater species caught regularly while fly fishing Long Island Sound and Block Island include bonito, bluefish, and false albacore. Saltwater flyfishing charters in Connecticut will take anglers out for inshore fishing, or if you want to do some deep sea fishing, you can book an overnight trip.