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Fly Fishing the Farmington River: Trout, Hatches & Tactics
Steve Culton
Fly Fisher, Guide, Fly Tier, Author, Instructor
Connecticut’s Farmington River offers outstanding year-round trout fishing—but consistently catching its trout requires understanding the river, its hatches, and how fish respond to changing conditions. Steve Culton joins us to share his hard-earned knowledge of this celebrated fishery. We’ll explore where and when to fish, seasonal strategies, important hatches, productive flies, and techniques ranging from dry flies and nymphs to wet flies and streamers. Whether it’s your first trip or your fiftieth, Steve will help you fish the Farmington more effectively.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- How did the Farmington evolve from what it was 75 years ago into the blue-ribbon trout fishery we know today?
- How did the construction of the Hogback and Colebrook dams change the Farmington, and why was the creation of this tailwater so important to its trout fishery?
- How did the Wild and Scenic designation come about, and what does that protection mean for the river and for anglers today?
- What makes the Farmington different from other major trout rivers in New England?
- Can you give us a tour of the river from the dam downstream and explain how the character of the river changes along the way?
- Is the Farmington wade friendly?
- What are different management areas and sections, and what does a visiting angler need to understand about each one?
- If I only had two or three days to fish the Farmington, which portions of the river would you suggest I concentrate on to experience what makes this fishery special?
- The Farmington contains pools, riffles, runs, pocket water, braids and side channels. Which types of water tend to be overlooked, and where might anglers be walking past good trout?
- How does the Still River influence the Farmington's temperature, flows, hatches and fishing as you move downstream?
- The Farmington receives considerable fishing pressure. How should an angler adjust where, when and how they fish when the popular areas are crowded?
- If you had to identify the most important hatches that a first-time Farmington angler should know, which ones would make your list?
- If you were putting together a basic Farmington fly box for someone visiting the river, what flies and sizes would you consider essential?
- When you're fishing dry flies to selective fish, what presentation mistakes do you see anglers make most often?
- When are wet flies particularly effective on the Farmington, and how do you fish a team of wets during a hatch?
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From Angler to Outfitter: Building a Life as a Fly Fishing Guide
Coleman Savage
Fly Fisher, Fly Tier, Guide
What does it really take to turn a passion for fly fishing into a profession? Montana guide and outfitter Coleman Savage shares his journey from fly-shop jobs to guiding—and how Guiding for the Future helped accelerate his growth. Discover why becoming a great guide requires far more than catching fish, and how knowledge of river ecology, conservation, water rights, stewardship, client relationships, and professionalism can transform a guide’s career and their connection to the waters they depend on. Join us to learn about his journey.Ask Coleman Savage your most important questions on becoming a guide and outfitter...
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- Strip-Set: Fly-Fishing Techniques, Tactics and Patterns for Streamers
George Daniel a professional guide and competitive fly fisher will take you on an exciting journey with streamers. He'll explain how to read the water, trout behavior, equipment, casting and night fishing as well as discuss some of the best streamer patterns being used today.
- Federation of Fly Fishers 2006 Conclave
The 2006 Conclave of the Federation of Fly Fishers was held July 27-29 in Bozeman, Montana. Over 100 educational opportunities were presented including classroom presentations, on-stream sessions, and dryland casting instruction. Special live on-the-spot interviews were recorded at the main Conclave venue. Hear what is being accomplished by Project Healing Waters and Family Tyes. Find out how an active club like the Boise Valley Fly Fishers supports FFF. Hear Federation President Peter Van Gytenbeek's summary of the Conclave events.
- Tarpon On The Worm
Bruce Chard, a professional guide the Florida Keys, takes us for a ride through the palolo worm hatch. This once a year event will get anyone's adrenaline pounding. Join us to find out where, when and how to fish this incredible event.
- The State of the Char
Tom Boyd not only fly fishes he researches, takes DNA samples, tags and learns everything he can about the fish he targets. Join us to learn what he's learned about the char including arctic char, dolly varden, brook trout and bull trout both anadromous and landlocked fish.
- Conejos River Magic
Jon Harp has guided fly fishers for over 17 years on the Conejos River in southern Colorado. Discover one of the last pristine, undeveloped river systems in the West and learn about the big wild brown and rainbow trout you can hook into.
- Magdalena Bay: Baja's Hidden Secret
Mike Rieser, a well know guide in Mexico, takes us on a tour of Magdelena Bay in Baja and its hundreds of miles of mangrove channels, pristine beaches and fabled Thetis Banks. Snook, corvina, spotted bass, cabrilla, golden trevally, grouper, pargo, bonefish, roosterfish, yellow tail, skip jack, dorado, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, billfish and more all await your cast. Join use to find out about the best way to take part in this exciting and remote fishery.
- A Fishable Feast: Fly Fishing and Eating Your Way Around the World
What happens when world-class fly fishing meets unforgettable cuisine? Listen in while globetrotting fly fishing guide and chef Matthew Supinski explores the intersection of rivers, culture, and the table. We’ll journey from legendary trout streams to coastal waters around the globe—discovering how food, place, and angling traditions intertwine. If you’ve ever dreamed of chasing fish by day and savoring local flavors by night, this conversation will awaken your appetite for adventure.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What inspired you to combine fly fishing, travel, and culinary experiences into A Fishable Feast?
- Of all the destinations in the book, which country surprised you the most both as an angler and as a food lover?
- How do you decide whether a destination is truly “fishable feast” worthy?
- Do you have any advice (or hard-learned tips) for traveling with a proper set of knives, spices, or other cooking tools? Especially when on a destination trip?
- What's good advice for those fishing overseas or traveling to new locations, and having a plan for the cuisine?
- YWhich destination in the book offers the most underrated fly fishing experience?
- Which location offered the most technically challenging fly fishing?
- What are the biggest mistakes anglers make when planning international fly fishing trips?
- How has global fly fishing travel changed over the last couple of decades?
- Where did the recipes in your book come from?
- Were there any destinations where the cuisine taught you something important about the local fishery or ecosystem?
- Which destination in the book offers the best balance of accessibility, great fishing, and incredible food?
- If you could revisit one destination from the book tomorrow for both the fishing and the food, where would you go and why?
- Kamchatka - Trout Fishing's Next Frontier
Rene Limeres a professional guide takes you to Kamchatka where there are still more fish than people. It may be the next and last frontier for fly fishers seeking huge trout and salmon. Join Rene and discover what it takes to land the big ones in Russia.
- Alaska's Other Fish
There's more to Alaskan fly fishing than just salmon - Pudge shares her professional experience as a guide with other exciting species including trout, grayling, char and sheefish.
- St. Brandon's Atoll
Jeff Currier’s pursuit of the yellow permit, 10 pound plus bonefish and the Picasso triggerfish puts him on the other side of the world on St. Brandon’s Atoll in the Indian Ocean. Who else would endure a 26-hour boat ride after 40 hours of flight travel to add a few more fish to his bucket list. Join us to learn about another “Monsoon” Currier adventure.
- Tactical Nymphing - Euro Style
Devin Olsen, a medal winning member of Fly Fishing Team USA, shares the modern day nymphing techniques he and Lance Eagan use to catch fish in the European style. When competing on an international basis you have to be good and have to know how to adapt. Join us to find out how it's done.
- Fish Food
Ralph Cutter literally wrote the book on fish food. To write Fish Food he donned his snorkeling gear and studied species underwater. Listen in to learn what Ralph has discovered about the food trout eat and why - it's sure to make you a better fly fisher.
- Matching Warmwater Baitfish: Patterns and Techniques for Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Muskie, and Other Predators
Master guide Kevin Feenstra reveals his proven techniques for targeting bass, musky, pike, and carp using baitfish patterns the fish love. Drawing from over two decades of guiding experience on Michigan's mighty Muskegon River, Kevin shares his expert strategies for reading water and presenting flies to these hard-hitting fish.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- You recently published Matching Warmwater Baitfish. What inspired you to write it and how did it come about?
- What makes baitfish patterns so effective for targeting predatory fish like smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, and others?
- How important is fly size when imitating baitfish for different predators?
- What are the key differences in how smallmouth and largemouth bass hunt baitfish?
- What are your go-to baitfish patterns for smallmouth bass, and how do they differ from those for largemouth?
- What are some effective retrieves when fishing baitfish patterns for bass?
- What makes muskie such a challenging species to catch on the fly?
- Can you explain the "figure eight" technique and when to use it when targeting muskie?
- What is your goto pattern for musky?
- What is your favorite throwback fly to convert muskie that follow but won't eat?
- What are some effective techniques for fishing baitfish flies in heavy cover or structure?
- How do water clarity and light conditions affect baitfish fly selection?
- Is there a searching baitfish pattern that you prefer to use when fishing new water?
- What are some key materials for tying realistic and effective baitfish imitations?
- What advice do you have for anglers looking to improve their success with baitfish imitations?
- Cicada Madness
Dave Zielinski has been tracking down annual and periodical cicada emergences in an effort to figure out their mystery and the fish that hunt and devour them for the past 20 years. If you'd like to zero in on one of these epic emergences, tune in and learn from Dave about the timing, fishing techniques, and patterns that you'll need to crack the code.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- What makes cicada emergences so significant for fly fishers?
- What does a cicada look like?
- How many different species are there?
- What is the life cycle of cicadas?
- What is the difference between periodical and annual cicadas?
- How often do the periodical emergences occur?
- How long does an emergence last?
- When is the best time of day to fish during a cicada emergence?
- What signs are there that an cicada emergence is happening?
- What are the differences between the 13 and 17 year cicadas?
- What color combinations are best for cicada fly imitations?
- Do you have a favorite fly size and pattern?
- What presentation methods work best when fishing with cicadas?
- Is there an online source that tracks cicada emergences?
- Fly Fishing for Trophy Trout in Georgia's Noontootla Creek
Kent Klewein is well known in Georgia for being the top guide for putting clients on trophy rainbow and brown trout on Noontootla Creek and its tributaries. Learn how to hook up with these trophies southern style on this show.
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