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Fishing Naugatuck River: what the data says
Thomaston Dam to Beacon Falls The river tops out around 6 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. What follows comes from the same scoring engine that paints the spots above.
Rainbow Trout fishing at Naugatuck River
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 2 to 6 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 0.6), a current seam in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 1 to 6 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Smallmouth Bass fishing at Naugatuck River
In spring, smallmouth bass run shallow here, mostly 2 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. Riffle & run (mile 4.4) is the standout, a rock pile at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for spring smallmouth bass. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Ned rig, Tube jig |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | Jerkbait, Blade bait |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Blade bait, Hair jig |
Landlocked Salmon fishing at Naugatuck River
In spring, landlocked salmon run shallow here, mostly 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. Current seam (mile 0.6) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for summer landlocked salmon. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Tie on a dodger + streamer down deep or a thin spoon on lead core and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style) |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core |
| Fall | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt |
Brown Trout fishing at Naugatuck River
Spring brown trout on Naugatuck River hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 6 ft. The spot to know is Current seam (mile 0.6), a current seam in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for brown trout in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. Summer baits: a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 1 to 6 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 1 to 6 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Rock Bass fishing at Naugatuck River
Spring rock bass on Naugatuck River hold shallow, usually 1 to 6 ft. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 2 to 6 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Riffle & run (mile 4.4): a rock pile around 3 ft that scores prime in spring. In summer the feeding windows fall in the evening. A ned rig (small) or a marabou jig covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 1 to 6 ft | midday & dawn | 1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner |
| Summer | 2 to 6 ft | dusk | Ned rig (small), Marabou jig |
| Fall | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Small tube jig, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 2 to 6 ft | midday | Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike |
Notable structure
- Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 6.2): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 8.1): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 10.0): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 11.8): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 13.7): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Outside-bend hole (mile 15.9): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 14.7): eddy pocket, around 5 ft
- Channel swing (mile 9.0): creek channel, around 5 ft
- Inside bend (mile 12.6): point, around 5 ft
- Inside bend (mile 17.0): point, around 4 ft
- Eddy pocket (mile 1.6): eddy pocket, around 4 ft
- Current seam (mile 0.6): current seam, around 3 ft
- Riffle & run (mile 4.4): rock pile, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Naugatuck River?
Naugatuck River is about 6 ft at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
What fish are in Naugatuck River?
Anglers target smallmouth bass, rainbow trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon, rock bass on Naugatuck River.
Where is the best fishing spot on Naugatuck River?
Current seam (mile 0.6) is the top-rated area: a current seam in about 3 ft of water that rates prime for rainbow trout in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Naugatuck River?
For rainbow trout, the summer bite is best in early morning and the evening. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Nearby waters
Chamberlain Lake · Butterworth Dam · Bantam Lake · Lake Zoar · Lake Housatonic · Lake Wintergreen
See how Naugatuck River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Connecticut · best rainbow trout lakes in Connecticut · best brown trout lakes in Connecticut
Browse all Connecticut fishing maps or every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.