Daytrip: Explore the Isles of Shoals
November 24, 2025
3 Fish Poachers Busted In Rhode Island
December 3, 2025
Discover World-Class Fly Fishing In Connecticut
If you’re an angler, you don’t need to venture out to Montana or even remote regions of northern New England to experience world-class fly fishing.
Fly fishermen on the Farmington River. Photo/NEF
Believe it or not, one of the best fly fishing experiences in the entire country can be found in Connecticut just outside of Hartford.
Connecticut’s Farmington River winds through the scenic hills of northwestern Connecticut and features some of the best trout fishing in the United States, attracting anglers not just from New England, but from around the country and even around the world.
The West Branch of the Farmington between Riverton and New Hartford is particularly legendary among fly anglers. It has the largest trout population density in the state, rivaling numbers you’d find out west. These waters are nurtured by a consistent year-round flow of cold water from the 200-foot-high Goodwin Dam, creating an ideal habitat for trout to thrive.
The Farmington features a hardy population of wild, stream-born trout, but it’s also one of Connecticut’s most heavily-stocked trout streams. Average fish run 12 to 14 inches, and much larger trout, including many over 20 inches, are hooked every year.
A world-class fly fishing river deserves world-class fly fishing guides, and the Farmington has the best.
There is always time to talk about the day. Photo/NEF
The very best, in fact: Antoine Bissieux.
Known as The French Fly Fisherman, this native of France was named the Orvis 2025 Guide of the Year.
Spend a day with Antoine, and you’ll know that honor was well-deserved.
He’s taught at the Orvis fly fishing flagship school in Vermont, educated thousands of beginner anglers, and works with the French National Fly Fishing Team. Now, guiding along the Farmington, he teaches anglers his cutting-edge fly fishing styles, techniques, and philosophies.
With Antoine, fly fishing is an art form. He has a reputation for having an exceptional ability to read a river, adapt to conditions, and go where the fish are. Almost like he can read their minds.
A trought caught on the Farmington River. Photo/NEF
And he can read his clients as well as he reads fish. That’s why he’s the best. His past clients rave about his ability to teach — about his patience, his communication, and his positive attitude, shaping each highly-personalized experience to each client, whether they’re a novice or an expert.
Antoine Bisseaux is one of several expert fly fishing guides anglers can find at Legends on the Farmington River.
Legends is in the town of Barkhamsted, Connecticut. A gorgeous sportsman’s lodge on the banks of the Farmington, Legends is located right at the legendary Greenwoods Pool, allowing visitors to enjoy flyfishing right in the lodge’s backyard if they choose.
The lodge has beautiful private decks overlooking the river, and luxurious community areas that are ideal for relaxing with family and friends.
Legends offers unparalleled access to the best areas on the Farmington for both fishing and scenery.
And if you don’t fish, there’s plenty of other activities to enjoy, such as kayaking and tubing on the scenic Farmington River, hiking and mountain biking nearby wooded trails, hunting, cross-country skiing in the winter, and much more.
Thanks to Harte Nissan in Hartford for hosting this adventure.
Written by Dan Mathers
Dan is the editor of New England Boating & Fishing and the former associate editor for Offshore Magazine. His freelance work has appeared in Backpacker, Adirondack Life, Cape Cod Life, South Shore Living, and many other publications. Dan loves exploring the New England outdoors. He enjoys paddling, camping, hiking, and running ultramarathons.
We offer the latest boat releases, electronics, gear, and dock-and-dine experiences. Engage yourself with captivating TV shows and short videos, immersing you in New England’s maritime adventures.
REGIONAL NEWS
[mpc_carousel_posts loop=”true” auto_slide=”true” delay=”3500″ rows=”1″ cols=”3″ gap=”4″ start_at=”1″ taxonomies=”124, 1946″ order=”DESC” items_number=”20″ thumb_height=”300″ title_font_color=”#033256″ title_font_size=”18″ title_font_line_height=”1.5″ title_margin_divider=”true” meta_layout=”” meta_margin_divider=”true” date_border_divider=”true” date_padding_divider=”true” date_margin_divider=”true” description_padding_divider=”true” description_margin_divider=”true” border_divider=”true” padding_divider=”true” overlay_title_margin_divider=”true” overlay_meta_margin_divider=”true” overlay_date_padding_divider=”true” overlay_date_margin_divider=”true” overlay_description_padding_divider=”true” overlay_description_margin_divider=”true” overlay_icons_padding_divider=”true” overlay_icons_margin_divider=”true” mpc_button__border_divider=”true” mpc_button__padding_divider=”true” mpc_button__margin_divider=”true” mpc_button__hover_border_divider=”true” mpc_navigation__preset=”default” mpc_navigation__prev_margin_divider=”true” mpc_navigation__next_margin_divider=”true” mpc_navigation__border_divider=”true” mpc_navigation__padding_divider=”true” mpc_button__mpc_tooltip__border_divider=”true” mpc_button__mpc_tooltip__padding_divider=”true”]
NEW ENGLAND NEWS
[mpc_carousel_posts loop=”true” auto_slide=”true” delay=”3500″ rows=”1″ cols=”3″ gap=”4″ start_at=”1″ taxonomies=”83″ order=”DESC” items_number=”20″ thumb_height=”300″ title_font_color=”#033256″ title_font_size=”18″ title_font_line_height=”1.5″ meta_layout=”” mpc_navigation__preset=”default” mpc_button__mpc_tooltip__border_divider=”true” mpc_button__mpc_tooltip__padding_divider=”true”]
