It’s a fishing day

Housatonic River fishing conditions · Connecticut

Now until 7 amRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 72.

Log a trip here
Right now: 72 for rainbow trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 723 am
  2. 72
  3. 72
  4. 726 am
  5. 58
  6. 58
  7. 589 am
  8. 58
  9. 68
  10. 6812 pm
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 683 pm
  14. 68
  15. 60
  16. 686 pm
  17. 60
  18. 68
  19. 589 pm
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 68Tue
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 683 am
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 606 am
  29. 60
  30. 60
  31. 609 am
  32. 68
  33. 68
  34. 6812 pm
  35. 68
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
0 mph

From the

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:18 am

Sky
Mostly Clear

No rain expected

Air
35°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Connecticut regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

72Worth the tripNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Catch and release only today. Connecticut statewide: 5 trout a day, no minimum length; catch and release only from Mar 1 to the second Saturday in April. The Farmington and Housatonic Trout Management Areas have their own rules, and a trout and salmon stamp is needed to keep trout.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Connecticut

Season here: Apr–May, Oct–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

64MarginalNow until 7 am

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Brown trout feeds less actively under bright moon. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Catch and release only today. Connecticut statewide: 5 trout a day, no minimum length; catch and release only from Mar 1 to the second Saturday in April. The Farmington and Housatonic Trout Management Areas have their own rules, and a trout and salmon stamp is needed to keep trout.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Connecticut

Season here: Apr–Jun, Aug–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.34 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:18 am
  • Sunset today5:56 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 7:30 am–8:30 am
  • Major solunarToday 11:50 am–1:50 pm
  • Minor solunarToday 5:20 pm–6:20 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Connecticut DEEP has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

A big, freestone northwest-Connecticut river with a famous catch-and-release Trout Management Area holding wild and holdover browns and rainbows, plus a strong smallmouth bass fishery in the warmer lower reaches. Waded and drifted through scenic valley.

CT: the Trout Management Area from Falls Village to Cornwall Bridge is catch and release for trout all year, fly fishing only in the 3 miles above the Route 4 bridge. Summer water can warm — fish early.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Farmington River20 mi · ConnecticutBest now until 7 am
96Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Housatonic River?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Housatonic River you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Housatonic River?

Housatonic River is listed on this site for 2 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Housatonic River?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Housatonic River against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Housatonic River have?

Housatonic River has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. CT: the Trout Management Area from Falls Village to Cornwall Bridge is catch and release for trout all year, fly fishing only in the 3 miles above the Route 4 bridge. Summer water can warm — fish early.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Housatonic River?

state agency regulations apply at Housatonic River. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Housatonic River tidal water?

No. Housatonic River is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.