New Hampshire
Connecticut River below First Connecticut Lake
Current River Rating
Excellent · 100
Conditions look favorable based on the available readings.
Scores are model-specific and are not directly comparable across water types.
High confidence
Should I Go?
Go
Recommended Window
Sunday, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM
Why
- Flow is within this fishery’s preferred range.
- Water temperature is within the preferred trout range.
Favorable Factors
- Recent precipitation has been light.
Timing Evidence
Window confidence: Medium
Current Readings
- Flow
- 324 CFS
- Gage Height
- 2.74 ft
- Water Temperature
- 62.1 °F
- Observation Time
- Sep 5, 2026, 7:15 AM
Updated recently · USGS station 01129200 · Direct monitoring location
Readings from past 7 Days
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Historical readings are provided for context. Readings outside the current freshness window are not used to rate current conditions.
Better Nearby Options
Checking nearby StrikeTracks waters…
Preliminary guidance only. Always assess current weather, access, water depth, current speed, and your own ability before entering the river.
Changing Conditions Advisory
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Weather Near Gauge
Current Weather
Partly cloudy
Temperature
58°F
Feels like
59°F
Wind
3 mph NW
Wind gust
12 mph
Current precipitation
0.00 in
Updated
Sep 5, 2026, 3:45 AM
Recent Rainfall
Estimated precipitation near this gauge
Last 6 hours
0.00 in
Last 24 hours
0.00 in
Last 48 hours
0.11 in
Little recent rainfall near this river.
Next 24 Hours
Sat 4 AM
Partly cloudy
Temp 58°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 3 mph
Sat 8 AM
Clear
Temp 59°F
Chance 1%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 12 PM
Overcast
Temp 62°F
Chance 7%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 6 mph
Sat 4 PM
Partly cloudy
Temp 63°F
Chance 2%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sat 8 PM
Overcast
Temp 57°F
Chance 3%
Precip 0.00 in
Wind 4 mph
Sun 12 AM
Drizzle
Temp 55°F
Chance 14%
Precip 0.02 in
Wind 2 mph
Four-Day Forecast
Sat, Sep 5
Drizzle
High 65°F / Low 55°F
Chance 12%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 16 mph
Sun, Sep 6
Drizzle
High 63°F / Low 48°F
Chance 16%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 18 mph
Mon, Sep 7
Drizzle
High 71°F / Low 45°F
Chance 9%
Precip 0.02 in
Max gust 24 mph
Tue, Sep 8
Overcast
High 64°F / Low 46°F
Chance 17%
Precip 0.00 in
Max gust 14 mph
Weather and rainfall are estimated for this river's coordinates. Local conditions can vary, especially in mountainous terrain and during isolated storms.
Recent rainfall can influence river flow, but the timing and magnitude depend on watershed size, soil conditions, upstream reservoirs, and dam releases.
Weather data: Open-Meteo
Historical Flow
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Fishing Overview
This stretch offers a mix of riffles, runs, and quieter pools that can hold trout through much of the season. Check the live flow and temperature readings above before planning a trip, and adjust your approach as conditions change.
Fishery Profile
Documented species you may encounter at Connecticut River.
Species images are AI-generated illustrations for visual reference and may simplify natural variation. Fishery records are based on the cited agency sources. About fish illustrations
Fishery overview
Connecticut River below First Connecticut Lake is a northern New Hampshire headwaters trout corridor with wild brook trout and stocked rainbow/brown trout. USGS gage 01129200 provides live streamflow and stage. This record represents the First Connecticut Lake outlet gauge reach, not the full Connecticut River mainstem.
Target species
Brook Trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
- Expectation
- Primary
- Population
- Wild
- Native status
- native
- Confidence
- High confidence
NHFG fly-fishing-only waters list includes Connecticut River reaches below First Connecticut Lake with trout special regulations; brook trout define the Cold Region trophy trout fishery.
Rainbow Trout
Oncorhynchus mykiss
- Expectation
- Common
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- High confidence
NHFG Connecticut Lakes trout special regulations manage rainbow trout among stocked trout in the First Connecticut Lake dam tailwater corridor.
Brown Trout
Salmo trutta
- Expectation
- Present
- Population
- Stocked
- Native status
- introduced
- Confidence
- Medium confidence
Brown trout may occur among Connecticut Lakes Region stocked trout assemblages; brook trout remain the primary documented focus for the FFO reaches.
Fishery characteristics
- Composition
- Mixed wild and stocked
- Great Lakes tributary
- No
- Flow regime
- Regulated flow
Headwaters Connecticut River freestone/lake-outlet corridor with coldwater trout habitat below First Connecticut Lake.
Best seasons
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
Common techniques
- Fly fishing
- Nymphing
- Spinning
Access and Public Fishing Rights
Access patterns exist on the First Connecticut Lake outlet corridor; confirm current public access and lake-outlet rules on official NHFG pages. Catalog coordinates are the USGS gage point.
Stocking information
NHFG materials document trout management on northern Connecticut River reaches. Confirm current stockings on the official NHFG stocking report.
- Stocked
Rainbow Trout
Stocked · New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
- Stocked
Brown Trout
Stocked · New Hampshire Fish and Game Department
Official sources
Lake-outlet and trout rules can change. Always verify current New Hampshire freshwater fishing regulations for this Connecticut headwaters reach before fishing.
Hatch Match
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Location and Access
USGS monitoring location
New Hampshire
The map marker represents the cataloged waterbody or monitoring location and may not indicate legal parking or public access. Confirm access through the official information before visiting.
Access, Parking, and Regulations
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