Saugatuck River Fishing Guides
The coldwater release below Saugatuck Reservoir in Fairfield County, a managed trout tailwater running south toward Long Island Sound.
Guides on the Saugatuck River
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About the Saugatuck River
The Saugatuck River rises in the Fairfield County hills and is impounded at Saugatuck Reservoir, one of the water supply lakes serving southwestern Connecticut. Below the dam near Lyons Plain the river resumes and runs south through Weston and Westport to reach Long Island Sound at Saugatuck. The gauge sits below the reservoir, and the station name states the relationship, which is what classifies this reach as a tailwater rather than a freestone stream.
The reservoir release is the whole story of the fishery. Water drawn from the impoundment stays cooler through summer than an unregulated Connecticut stream of the same size, which is what allows trout to hold in a densely settled corner of the state. Drainage above the gauge is only about thirty-five square miles, so this is small, intimate water that fishes best when the release is steady.
Connecticut manages the Saugatuck actively, and the river carries trout management area regulations on parts of its course, with specific tackle and harvest rules that differ from the general state regulations. Brown trout are the mainstay, with rainbows stocked and brook trout in the colder tributaries. Smallmouth bass, fallfish and white sucker occupy the warmer water downstream, and American eel run the whole system to the Sound.
The valley is wooded and attractive, and much of the corridor is protected as open space or water company land, though access rules vary between holdings and should be checked rather than assumed. The river is wadeable at normal flow. Its position within easy reach of Fairfield County and New York City means it sees steady pressure on weekends through the season, and an angler willing to walk even a short distance from the road crossings will usually find water to themselves.
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Access
Lyons Plain - the gauge reach immediately below the reservoir.
Weston - town access to the middle river and the trout management water.
Saugatuck Reservoir - the impoundment upstream, under water company rules.
Westport - the lower river and the approach to Long Island Sound.
Devils Den Preserve - protected land access in the upper drainage.
Redding - access to the headwater tributaries above the reservoir.
Saugatuck - the tidal river mouth and access to the Sound.
Seasons
Spring: the best flow of the year and the strongest stocked and wild trout fishing.
Summer: cold releases keep the reach fishable when other Connecticut water fails.
Fall: brown trout colour up and move ahead of the spawn.
Winter: fishable on mild days under trout management area rules where open.
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Questions
What is the current flow on the Saugatuck River?
As of Sep 17, 4:45 am, the USGS gauge SAUGATUCK R BELOW SAUGATUCK RES NR LYONS PLAIN, CT reads 6 cfs. Conditions update every 15 minutes.
What species can you catch on the Saugatuck River?
Anglers target American Eel, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Fallfish, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, White Sucker on the Saugatuck River in Connecticut.
Where can you access the Saugatuck River?
Lyons Plain - the gauge reach immediately below the reservoir. Weston - town access to the middle river and the trout management water. Saugatuck Reservoir - the impoundment upstream, under water company rules. Westport - the lower river and the approach to Long Island Sound. Devils Den Preserve - protected land access in the upper drainage. Redding - access to the headwater tributaries above the reservoir. Saugatuck - the tidal river mouth and access to the Sound.
When is the best time to fish the Saugatuck River?
Spring: the best flow of the year and the strongest stocked and wild trout fishing. Summer: cold releases keep the reach fishable when other Connecticut water fails. Fall: brown trout colour up and move ahead of the spawn. Winter: fishable on mild days under trout management area rules where open.
Where are the fishing regulations for the Saugatuck River?
Regulations change by season and section. Read the current rules on the Connecticut agency site: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/fishing/regulations/fishing-regulations