Fly and Gear ordering and delivery: We can get flies to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Please see the bottom of this column for ordering options.
We also have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes. They make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Tailwater
Species
Brown Trout (stocked)
Rainbow Trout (stocked)
Brook Trout (stocked)
Size
Medium
Location
Eastern Connecticut
Nearest Towns
Stafford Springs
West Willington
Season
3rd Saturday in April to last day of
February
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Connecticut
Special Regulations Areas:
Trout Management Area
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
The fishing season is closed in March and the first part of April.
Spring:
Springtime is the best time for fly fishing the Willimantic River.
Summer:
The Summer slows down the fishing in the lower area of the stream but its usually okay in the Trout Management
Area.
Fall:
Fall is a good time to catch a large brown trout
Winter:
Trout can be caught on warm winter days but the fishing is usually very tough.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Fly and Gear ordering and delivery:
Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
Copyright 2016 James Marsh
Fly Fishing The Willimantic River Connecticut
The Willimantic River is formed by the confluence of the Middle River and Furnace Brook in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. The Willimantic River and the Natchaug River flow together to form the Shetucket River. Access is easy. State highway #32 follows along the river its entire length.
This river has several dams but only the Engleville Dam and Engleville Lake located near its beginning in Willimantic affects its flow. The entire river is a series of riffles, runs and pools that hold trout year-round. There are plenty of holdover trout.
There’s a three mile long Cole W. Wilde Trout Management Area located near the middle of the river that’s probably the best thing going for the Willimantic River. One side of the river in this area is protected by the Nye-Holman State Forest and Kollar Wildlife Management Area. The large trees in these areas help keep the water cool during the Summer.
The Willimantic River has several tributary streams that have trout. The Hop River is stocked and provides good fishing access along U. S. Highway #6. The Skungamaug River is a tributary to the Hop River that’s also a beautiful trout stream. The Roaring Brook enters the Willimantic near the Trout Management Area and also provides good trout fishing opportunities.
The Willimantic River provides several miles of very good trout fishing where few anglers visit. They tend to center on the TMA which is a good section, but there are many others that receive little pressure.
This river has plenty of aquatic insect hatches and plenty of food that keep its trout in good condition. There’s even a good Green Drake hatch along with Sulphurs, Hendricksons, Mahogany Duns, Blue-winged Olives, Quill Gordons, Light Cahills, Blue Quills and many other species of mayflies. Little Black Caddis, Spotted and Cinnamon Caddis are very plentiful. The holdover trout can become very selective on these
insect hatches.