Mianus River

The Mianus River flows from Westchester County in New York through the Greenwich and Stamford areas of Fairfield County into Long Island Sound in Connecticut. The Mianus is a tailwater, with the water coming out of Mianus Reservoir at around 50 degrees F, but because of the nature of the dams on the river, it warms up! So fishing in the summertime is not recommended.

There are a few areas of access on the Mianus, but one of the most accessible points of the river is on Merriebrook Lane in Stamford Connecticut, in Mianus River Park. The park is really a few parks including Mianus River State Park, Mianus River Park, and Mianus River and Natural Park.

The section of the Mianus River on Merriebrook Lane is a seasonal catch and release trout management area (TMA) from September 1 until 6 am on the second Saturday of April, then a two trout limit is allowed. Tackle is restricted to single hook flies and single hook artificial lures until August 31st. All trout must be larger than nine inches and a State of Connecticut fishing license and a trout and Salomon stamp is required.

The TMA location on Merriebrook is stocked with trout (rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, and occasionally tiger trout) by the state of Connecticut a few times a year (Spring & Fall). Along with stocked fish, there can be holdovers from the previous season in the deeper pools.

Parking is below the red barn in the parking area and near the bridge are a few spots. It can be challenging, so get there early!

The water access on both sides of the river is excellent, but head up over the bridge and up the hill to the trailhead of ‘West River Trail’ for more access. Access on the red barn or ‘East River Trail’ doesn’t go all the way up and stops at the end of ‘Meander trail’. Water type is riffle, run, and pool and there are plenty of access points that don’t require waders-especially for the deeper pools.

A 4wt or 5wt rod is recommended for the Mianus, though you can get away with a 3wt. A floating line is generally all you will need, but I have used a sink tip in the deeper sections for streamers when the water is high.The biggest hatch in the past was the little black stonefly hatch in end February and March, though this is not as prevalent as it used to be. But still happens when the timing is right

Dries, and dry droppers work well and like the Saugatuck River on Ford Road in Westport, an elk hair caddis dry and a caddis pupa or an Adam’s parachute and a black Zebra midge are a great way to fish. Don’t forget about your blue wing olives or Griffith’s gnats.

Wets (partridge and orange) or soft hackles like a beadhead Hare’s Ear soft hackle can be fun.

Nymphing even small flies like zebra midges (red, black, or cream) can bring results, but olive caddis pupa, and smaller pheasant tails in size 16-18 work well.

Streamers like Woolly buggers or smaller clouser minnows, even can bring good results even in mid-day in the deeper water or riffles.

In the early Spring you will find stoneflies, both little black stoneflies (size 16-20) early black and brown stoneflies (size 14-16). Caddis hatches can be more sporadic, but a size 14 or 16 elk hair caddis in olive or tan works well in Spring and Fall. Blue winged olives (BWO’s) are prevalent and a good pattern to have in your box is an BWO RS2 (Sz. 18) or a BWO parachute (Sz.18).

Light Cahills (size 14 & 16) and the sulphers (size 18-22) hatch in early summer, but timing is everything. Look for a later hatch an hour or two before dusk.

Midges are a prevalent in cream, black, and olive. Griffith’s gnat’s or smaller Adam’s or Adam’s parachute can work for dries, and a Zebra midge as a nymph or on a dropper works well in slower water.

Minnows are prevalent! Try smaller streamers like clousers or woolly buggers in size 8-12 in olive, white, or black. Like any places olive tends to work best!

Like the Saugatuck River, the Mianus gets a lot of pressure. This is not just from fishing, but poaching, and off leash dogs. Summertime is not recommended for fly fishing due to the higher water temperatures.

Winter fishing can be challenging, but fun as well as rewarding! Fishing a midge hatch in the snow is fun and challenging!

Trail Maps:

Mianus River Park

Mianus River TMA and Open Trout Stocking Map (State of Connecticut, DEEP)

A state of Connecticut fishing license and a trout and salmon stamp is required to fish the Mianus River.