Fly Fishing the Deerfield River

The Deerfield's tailwater section below Fife Brook Dam in the Deerfield River Gorge runs cold through one of the most scenic river valleys in western Massachusetts, producing prolific hatches and wild brown trout in a stretch that anglers can fish virtually year-round.

5 shops nearby

See fly shops ↓

When to fish

May–October

Best months: May–October

Best
Off-peak

Hendrickson & March Brown: May. Green Drake: June.

Today's conditions

Where to fish

Along the Deerfield River

Northfield1 shopPalmer1 shop

Deerfield2 shopsPepperell1 shop

Zoar Road off Route 2 in Charlemont provides access to both catch-and-release sections (Fife Brook Dam to Hoosac Tunnel Bridge; Pelham Brook to Route 2). Additional pull-offs line the river through Shelburne; Bardwells Ferry Bridge and Stillwater Bridge both have parking.

The water

Tailwater

Key hatches

Midge
Grannom
Blue Quill
Light Cahill
March Brown

Hatch calendar

Conditions

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6-day forecast

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Forecast from the National Weather Service ↗

Hatch calendar

Months each hatch is active on the Deerfield River, with hook sizes and local timing notes.
Hatch · hook	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Midge(midges)hook #18–24	January	February	March	April	May	June	July	August	September	October	November	December
Grannom(caddis)hook #18–22				April	May
Blue Quill(mayflies)hook #16					May	June
Light Cahill(mayflies)hook #14					May	June	July	August
March Brown(mayflies)hook #10–12					May	June
Sulphur(mayflies)hook #16June–July					May	June	July
Tan Caddis(caddis)hook #12–14					May	June	July
Yellow Drake(mayflies)hook #12						June	July

Mayflies
Caddis
Midges
This month

Also on this water

Hendrickson & March BrownMay
Green DrakeJune
CaddisMay–September
IsonychiaSeptember
Blue-winged Olivespring and fall

Timing from Big Y Fly Co's Deerfield River hatch chart ↗. Notes are local timing; dates shift a couple of weeks with weather and water.

Fly shops near the Deerfield River

Shops and guides that fish the Deerfield River. See all 21 Massachusetts shops →

5 fly shops shownDeerfield River

Species on this water

Trout Pike

Nearby towns

Deerfield Northfield Palmer

Rivers nearby

Swift River Battenkill Farmington River Willowemoc Creek

From The Fly Bench

Tie the flies that work on the Deerfield River

Step-by-step tying recipes & videos for these patterns.

Browse patterns at The Fly Bench

Gear up

Gear up on the Deerfield River

Everything you need before the next trip — rods, lines, leaders, and fly-tying materials.

Shop the gear Flies that work

The flies that work on the Deerfield River

Find the most effective patterns for where you're fishing — and learn to tie them yourself, step by step.

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