Variety is the spice of life – the Deerfield River offers a variety of habitat, trout food, scenery and wildlife for the enthusiastic naturalist and fisherman.  Sections of the river near the source look and fish more like a brook than a river.  Other sections flow with class three and four rapids when water from her several impoundments is released – typically on a daily basis.  Trout may be tempted with the fly in pocket water, riffles, rapids, and pools.

Stocked trout and ‘wild’ trout – natural reproduction rainbows and browns and truly native brook trout – are distributed along the 75 mile stretch of the river from her source in Vermont to the confluence with the Connecticut River.  True to her reputation, the Deerfield flows vary and this can present a challenge to the angler, but there is always a tributary or section that can be fished by wading.  Safely wading on the Deerfield means being attentive to changes in the flow and understanding the affects of water levels on river access.  Year-round access to open water is possible because of the outflow from dams.