Share your catch

Naugatuck River Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Connecticut’s comeback river: the Naugatuck runs trout and salmon where industry once killed everything.

3/5
Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.
Flow
32 cfs
Air / High
76 / 78 F
Wind
WNW 10 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 01206900, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
4
September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

3/5Fair. Fish the windows.A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Naugatuck River feels the season turning: shorter days, grouping fish. The river is running 32 cfs, on the rise. Today brings a mixed sky, wind WNW around 10 mph, rising pressure near 1009 hPa and a high of 78. Water sits around 54 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Rainbow troutGood

Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown troutGood

Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

Tomorrow: Similar at 74 F with a rain chance. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from Naugatuck River at Thomaston.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 01206900.

37638932 cfs08/0508/1508/2509/04

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp76 F
High / Low78 / 64 F
WindWNW 10-18 mph
Pressure1009.2 hPa, rising
Sky / Rain53% cloud, 44%
Sunrise / Sunset06:21 / 19:20
MoonLast Quarter, 50%
Water temp (seasonal)~54 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Showers, 78/64 F, wind 11 mph, rain 44%

Fair or better. Cloud and a rain chance can stretch the morning bite well past breakfast: keep moving baits tied on.

Species guide

The species that matter on Naugatuck River: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Rainbow trout illustration

Rainbow trout

Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

The workhorse of western rivers: riffles, seams and dry-fly eats. Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

When to come: the Naugatuck River calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Rainbow trout
Brown trout
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 54 F (estimated, not a reading).

30405060JanMarMayJulSepNovSep, ~54 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Naugatuck River today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Sep 3

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 78 F, wind to 8 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Rainbow trout led the card at excellent. High of 70 F, wind to 6 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 72 F, wind to 9 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
Only used to send you this water's report each week. No spam, ever.

Before you go

License

Connecticut requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Connecticut license plus trout stamp where required. Trout Management Area and broodstock salmon rules are specific: check current DEEP regulations.

Access

Route 8 corridor and town parks through Torrington, Thomaston, Waterbury and Beacon Falls.

About this water

A 40-mile river through western Connecticut to the Housatonic at Derby, Litchfield and New Haven counties.

Fishing Naugatuck River: the full guide

A river restored

The Naugatuck River flows about 40 miles through western Connecticut to the Housatonic at Derby, and its story is one of the Northeast’s clearest recoveries: an industrial sewer for a century, it now supports trout, Atlantic salmon broodstock and even sea-run species after decades of cleanup and dam removals. The transformation is genuine and ongoing.

Trout and broodstock salmon

Connecticut stocks trout heavily through the river, with a Trout Management Area providing better fishing and special rules. The state also stocks surplus Atlantic salmon broodstock in fall and winter: large fish that provide an unusual fishery, taken on flies and lures under specific regulations. Both draw anglers through the cold months.

Smallmouth and the future

Smallmouth bass hold the warmer lower reaches, and dam removals have opened miles of river to migratory species, with sea-run trout and herring returning. The river runs through mill towns and green corridors alternately, an unglamorous setting with genuinely improving fishing that most Connecticut anglers still overlook.

Naugatuck Valley logistics

Access is via Route 8 and town parks through Torrington, Thomaston, Waterbury and Beacon Falls, with the Trout Management Area clearly posted. Flows respond quickly to rain. The urban setting means easy access and modest scenery: the fishing, not the views, is the reason to go.

Common questions

Are there really salmon?

Yes: Connecticut stocks surplus Atlantic salmon broodstock in fall and winter, large fish under specific regulations.

Was the river polluted?

Severely, for a century: decades of cleanup and dam removals have restored a genuine fishery, and recovery continues.

Where is the best trout water?

The Trout Management Area, clearly posted, with better fishing and special rules than the general water.

Is fishing good at Naugatuck River right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day.

Nearby waters

Bantam Lake8 miLake Waramaug16 miHighland Lake17 miFarmington River20 miHousatonic River22 miCandlewood Lake24 mi
Share your catch