Naugatuck River Fishing Map & Spots (CT)

Hatch outlook

Blue-Winged OlivesActive window

Typical here: Apr 1 – Nov 15 · multiple broods, strongest spring and fall; tailwaters like the Farmington carry olives essentially year-round

dunmidday into afternoon — the gray, drizzly days produce the real hatches

The bad-weather insurance hatch: the days that look wrong are the BWO days.

Overcast olive days keep trout feeding all day instead of one window: micro-spoons, small dark inline spinners and 1/32 oz jigs through the seams right through the gloom. The tiny fall olives are past what hardware matches — go bubble-and-olive-wet or fish the jig.

The event happens over riffles, seams and flats throughout the river

Terrestrials (ants, beetles, hoppers)Active window

Typical here: Jun 1 – Oct 31 · ants and beetles from June; hoppers and crickets strongest mid-July through September

adultmidday and afternoon — the hotter and windier, the better the bank bite

No hatch clock — wind is the conveyor; the fish move to the grassy banks and stay there all summer.

Summer's bank bite is spin-friendly: small poppers, micro spinnerbaits and inline spinners upstream tight to grassy undercut banks on breezy afternoons. The bubble-and-foam-beetle rig is deadly and nobody fishes it.

The event happens over grassy, brushy banks and the seams just off them, on warm windy afternoons

October Caddis (Great Autumn Brown Sedge)Active window

Typical here: Aug 15 – Nov 15 · peak late September into October — the biggest caddis of the New England fall

pupalate afternoon into dark — many pupae drift long distances before slowing in shallow water; emergence proper is by crawling out on shore at dusk or night — fish the drift and the shoreline margins, not mid-river rises
ovipositingdusk and after dark — females twitch and flop on the surface laying eggs — skate the dry; some crawl UNDERWATER from shoreline objects to lay, so a wet swung along the bank works too

Never a blanket hatch — a big, sparse bug the fish know; its value is prospecting weight in a thin-hatch season.

Fall fish on big sparse bugs are ambush-minded: small orange and brown crankbaits and inline spinners along wood and slow bank water in the last light. It's also landlocked-salmon-run season on many of these rivers — the same dusk water holds them.

The event happens over slow water with wood — banks, deadfalls and eddies, in the evening

Next on this water

Quill Gordon · mayflyApr 1 – May 30 · in ~7 months

Hendrickson · mayflyApr 1 – Jun 30 · in ~7 months

March Brown · mayflyMay 1 – Jul 31 · in ~8 months

Sulphurs · mayflyMay 15 – Jul 31 · in ~9 months

Recommendations come from depth structure and seasonal species behavior. Treat them as a starting point, not a guarantee. Contours on this water are approximations. Never use for navigation. Always check local regulations.

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Recent catches at Naugatuck River

Shared by DepthScout anglers. Exact spots stay private, always.

No shared catches here yet — be the first.Log a catch from the map above and share it to put Naugatuck River on the board.

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. Here's the year, species by species, as the scoring engine sees it.

The outline encloses 619 acres, worked by 41.1 miles of shoreline, broken up by 2 islands. A development index of 11.8 means a maze of bays and points: far more casting targets than a round bowl of the same size. Nothing on this chart breaks 15 ft, which makes the whole surface littoral: weeds, bait and ambush cover everywhere. Call it 17.4 mi long by 2.1 mi wide at the broadest reach. It sits in Naugatuck Valley County. Its nearest charted neighbour, Butterworth Dam, is 12 mi to the southeast.

Rainbow Trout fishing at Naugatuck River

Early season rainbow trout use the shallows, holding in 2 to 6 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 6 ft; winter keeps them in 1 to 6 ft. Put Current seam (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a current seam near 3 ft that grades prime for 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	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon
Summer	2 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon
Fall	2 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals
Winter	1 to 6 ft	dawn	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white)

Smallmouth Bass fishing at Naugatuck River

Come spring, look for smallmouth bass tight to the bank in 2 to 6 ft. Through summer count on 2 to 6 ft; the winter hold is 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. Best bite is early morning and the evening. A drop shot (goby/minnow) or a ned rig is the honest summer answer here.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	2 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (3 ft)	Ned rig, Tube jig
Summer	2 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (3 ft)	Drop shot (goby/minnow), Ned rig
Fall	2 to 6 ft	midday & dawn	Inside bend (mile 17.0) (4 ft)	Jerkbait, Blade bait
Winter	2 to 6 ft	midday	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Blade bait, Hair jig

Landlocked Salmon fishing at Naugatuck River

Early season landlocked salmon use the shallows, holding in 1 to 6 ft. Even in summer they hold at 2 to 6 ft; winter keeps them in 2 to 6 ft. Put Current seam (mile 0.6) first on the milk run — a current seam near 3 ft that grades prime for summer. 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	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Inside bend (mile 17.0) (4 ft)	Streamer flies (Grey Ghost) off boards, Thin spoon (Mooselook style)
Summer	2 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Dodger + streamer down deep, Thin spoon on lead core
Fall	1 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Inside bend (mile 17.0) (4 ft)	Casting spoon at the mouths, Streamers
Winter	2 to 6 ft	dawn	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Small jigging spoon, Swedish pimple + smelt

Brown Trout fishing at Naugatuck River

Spring puts brown trout in skinny water — 1 to 6 ft is the zone. Summer fish stay in 2 to 6 ft, and winter fish hold in 1 to 6 ft. Current seam (mile 0.6) is the standout, a current seam at roughly 3 ft, rated prime for summer brown trout. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	dawn & dusk	Eddy pocket (mile 14.7) (5 ft)	Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines
Summer	2 to 6 ft	night & dawn	Current seam (mile 0.6) (3 ft)	Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night)
Fall	1 to 6 ft	dusk & dawn	Eddy pocket (mile 14.7) (5 ft)	Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon
Winter	1 to 6 ft	dawn	Eddy pocket (mile 14.7) (5 ft)	Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow)

Rock Bass fishing at Naugatuck River

The spring pattern is a shallow one: rock bass in 1 to 6 ft. The depth story barely changes: 2 to 6 ft through summer, 2 to 6 ft in winter. Top water on the chart: Riffle & run (mile 4.4), a rock pile in the 3 ft range, prime in spring. Time it for the evening. Summer baits: a ned rig (small) or a marabou jig gets it done.

Season	Depth	Best window	Start at	Go-to baits
Spring	1 to 6 ft	midday & dawn	Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (3 ft)	1/16 oz jig + grub, Small inline spinner
Summer	2 to 6 ft	dusk	Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (3 ft)	Ned rig (small), Marabou jig
Fall	2 to 6 ft	midday	Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (3 ft)	Small tube jig, Inline spinner
Winter	2 to 6 ft	midday	Riffle & run (mile 4.4) (3 ft)	Tungsten jig + plastic, Small spoon + spike

Notable structure

Count 16 structure marks on this chart. The deepest, Outside-bend hole (mile 2.5), sits near 5 ft.

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

Naugatuck River fishing regulations

Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Connecticut waters are set by the Connecticut DEEP — and special regulations can apply to Naugatuck River specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.

Check the official Connecticut fishing regulations →

Common questions

How deep is Naugatuck River?

Naugatuck River is about 6 ft (2 m) deep 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 rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, landlocked salmon, brown trout, 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. The map above holds the full rated-spot list for every 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.

What are the fishing regulations for Naugatuck River?

Fishing on Naugatuck River is regulated by the Connecticut DEEP. Check the official Connecticut regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.

Nearby waters

Butterworth Dam 12 mi · Chamberlain Lake 12 mi · Bantam Lake 12 mi · Crescent Pond 13 mi · Lake Zoar 14 mi · Mount Tom Pond 15 mi · Silver Lake 15 mi · Lake Housatonic 15 mi · Lake Wintergreen 15 mi · North Farms Reservoir 15 mi · Lake Lillinonah 16 mi · Black Pond 16 mi

See how Naugatuck River stacks up: best smallmouth bass lakes in Connecticut · best rainbow trout lakes in Connecticut · best brown trout lakes in Connecticut · best landlocked salmon lakes in Connecticut

Browse all Connecticut fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.