The Department of Environmental Protection of the State of Connecticut maintains a leased site for fishing just below the dam in Derby. Long a popular spot for anglers of all ages, the site offers some parking and direct access to the Housatonic River. No longer such a well kept secret, the site is now teeming with fishermen on both sides of the river where the Housatonic Rivers tidal waters meet the fast flowing torrents flowing over the Ousatonic Dam.
Prior to the dam being built in the 1800's, shad (Now the official state fish of Connecticut!) swam upriver as far as New Milford. The opening of the dam put an end to both commercial ship building and shad fishing above the dam, but anglers are returning in droves as word spreads of the good fishing still to be found.