CT DEP FISHING REPORT NUMBER 31 - 11/17/2010
Final Report of the 2010 Season!
INLAND REPORT
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THIS IS THE FINAL REGULAR SEASON 2010 FISHING REPORT
(weekly reports will resume next spring).
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OCCASIONAL REPORTS WILL BE ISSUED DURING THE ICE FISHING SEASON.
THANK YOU, HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY FISHING!
ATLANTIC SALMON
Broodstock atlantic salmon regulations and areas summary
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Regulations for broodstock on the Shetucket and Naugatuck Rivers. In rivers, angling for Atlantic salmon is restricted to CATCH-AND-RELEASE ONLY through November 30. From December 1, 2010, through March 31, 2011, the daily creel limit for Atlantic salmon will be one. During the open season in the rivers, the legal method for taking Atlantic salmon is limited to angling using a single fly, or an artificial lure with a single free swinging hook and no additional weight can be added to the line above the fly or lure.
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On the Shetucket River, anglers can fish for salmon downstream from the Scotland Dam (Windham) to the Water Street Bridge in Norwich (the first bridge upstream of Norwich Harbor). The salmon are stocked into one designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Area, from the Scotland Dam to the Occum Dam.
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Anglers are allowed to fish for salmon in the Naugatuck River from the confluence of the East and West Branches (Torrington) downstream to the Housatonic River (Derby). Anglers may also fish for Atlantic salmon in the Housatonic River downstream of Derby Dam. The salmon are stocked into two designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas on the Naugatuck River, the “Campville Section” of the upper Naugatuck River from Route 118 downstream to the Thomaston Flood Control Dam (Litchfield-Thomaston) and the “Beacon Falls Section” of the lower Naugatuck, from Prospect Street (Naugatuck) downstream to Pines Bridge Road (Route 42 bridge, Beacon Falls).Note that in the Beacon Falls area, DEP no longer stocks the area along the RR tracks in Naugatuck State Forest due to safety concerns.
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From October 1st through March 31st, fishing for other species in these designated Atlantic Salmon Broodstock Areas is restricted to the gear legal for Atlantic salmon.
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The regulations for broodstock Atlantic salmon released into lakes and ponds are different from the regulations for salmon on the Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers. In each lake, the regulations for methods, seasons and minimum lengths for salmon will be the same as for trout in that specific water body but the daily creel limit will be one salmon per day. (Please refer to the 2010 CT Angler’s Guide for trout regulations).
2010 fall broodstock Atlantic salmon update – DEP has so far stocked over 700 broodstock Atlantic salmon this fall into the Naugatuck River (250 salmon), Shetucket river (255 salmon), Crystal Lake (103 salmon) and Mount Tom Pond (103 salmon). DEP also expects to have several hundred additional salmon available for stocking in early December. These fish are from DEP’s Kensington Hatchery, and average 8 pounds apiece and range in size from 3 to 20 pounds each.
Broodstock salmon fishing is currently fair in the Shetucket River and a bit slow on the Naugatuck River. Crystal Lake is picking up, with a number of salmon in the 10-15 lb range caught in the last week. No reports from Mount Tom Pond this week.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - With the cooler weather, anglers and angling have slowed, but some nice action has been reported from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Salmon River and the Willimantic River TMA. Flows in many rivers and streams throughout the state are moderately high due to Tuesday night’s rain, but should clear and be more fishable by the weekend, especially the smaller rivers and tributaries.
Fall is streamer and nymphing time. White, yellow and brown are good streamer colors, and patterns include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts).
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2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 31, 11/17/2010
Nymphs to bottom bounce include caddis pupa (#14-16), Serendipity (#14-16), Pheasant Tail (#12-20), Prince (#6-1Cool and Hare’s ear (#8-20).
Farmington River – West Branch water temperatures are in the mid 40’s °F. Flows are currently high, nearly 1,000 cfs below the confluence with the Still River (370 cfs from the West Branch at Riverton and 580 cfs from the Still River) due to Tuesday night’s rains. Flows are expected to drop to more fishable levels through the weekend. Expect Blue Wing Olives to be the main hatch, with midges and caddis mixed in. For best action try Blue Wing Olives (#16-20, late morning) and Winter Caddis (#16-18, early afternoon). Also, don’t forget streamers, nymphs and egg patterns.
Housatonic River – Flows are clearing, moderately high and may be difficult to fish in areas for some anglers (currently about 1450 cfs at Falls Village and about 1,900 cfs at Gaylordsville). With dry weather forecast, flows may decrease some for the weekend (call FirstLight Power at 1-888-417-4837 for updated flow information). Morning water temperatures have risen some, and are now in the low 50’s°F. Hatches/patterns continue to include Blue Wing Olive (#18-26,), Midges (#20-26) and Tan & Winter caddis (#14-18, late afternoon). Fish late mornings through early evenings (after it’s warmed up some).
Lakes & Ponds- Late season trout fishing remains variable. Quonnipaug Lake is providing some steady action, Crystal Lake fishing is picking up, and anglers have been finding some trout at Colebrook River Lake (try the upper end). Anglers are having to really work to catch trout at Beach Pond, East Twin Lake and Highland Lake. Anglers are finding good action at many of the designated Trout Parks, including Chatfield Hollow, Day Pond, Valley Falls Park Pond and Black Rock Pond. These areas can provide some good late fall family fishing adventures (note that some of these areas are walk-in only during the “off-season”).
IMPORTANT REMINDER
TO ANGLERS AND BOATERS-
Zebra mussels have recently been found in Lake Zoar and Lake Lillinonah.
Prior to this discovery, zebra mussels had been found (1998) in CT only in East Twin Lake and West Twin Lake (Salisbury). During 2009 zebra mussels were discovered in Massachusetts in Laurel Lake and in the mainstem Housatonic River. Anglers fishing in any of these waters and western Connecticut in general should use extra care to avoid transporting water, aquatic vegetation, and possibly zebra mussels to new locations.
The zebra mussel is a black and white striped, bivalve mollusc that was introduced into North American waters through the discharge of ship ballast water. This mussel can disrupt aquatic ecosystems and is notorious for clogging power plant, industrial and public drinking water intakes, and fouling boat hulls and engine cooling water systems.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally slow to fair, but with some nice fish being caught. The best reported action was from Ball Pond, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Cedar Lake, West Thompson Reservoir and Highland Lake. Recent nice catches included a 6.7 lb largemouth from West Twin Lake, a 6.3 lb fish from Amos Lake and a 7 lb bass from Hopeville Pond. Many anglers are reporting tough fishing from a number of lakes including Pachaug Pond, Amos Lake, East Twin Lake, Mudge Pond, Winchester Lake and Jurovaty Pond
SMALLMOUTH BASS- Smallie fishing at Candlewood Lake seems to be picking up nicely with much better action reported last weekend (a pair fishing a tournament had an eight fish, 31 lb bag). Some action also reported from Rainbow Reservoir and Lake Zoar.
WALLEYE fishing has been good to excellent at Saugatuck reservoir, and fair to good at Squantz Pond.
NORTHERN PIKE – Some catches reported from Quaddick Reservoir and Bantam Lake. Tough fishing reported from Pachaug Pond.
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2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 31, 11/17/2010
CONNECTICUT RIVER – BLACK CRAPPIE are providing some good action in the coves (shiners work great). NORTHERN PIKE fishing is fair to good (try large shiners or spinnerbaits). Areas to try include the Haddam Meadows/Salmon River Cove area, Chapmans Pond, and the coves in the Wethersfield/Glastonbury area. BLACK BASS fishing has been fair to good south of Hartford. Jigs and craw patterns dragged slowly along the bottom are reported to be working well for largemouth in the Hartford to Glastonbury area. Smallmouth are also providing some surprising action below Hartford with an early morning bite. Recent catches include a 3.5 lb smallie from Wethersfield Cove. STRIPED BASS have been really hard to find (even in the lower river).
NOTES & NOTICES:
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Current drawdowns include:
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MOODUS RESERVOIR (Lower & Upper, down 2.5 feet, launching of trailer boats will be difficult to impossible) and TYLER LAKE (down 2.5 feet, launching of trailered boats may be difficult) are currently drawn down to facilitate dam repairs.
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“Winter” drawdowns of a number of Eastern CT lakes are in progress. Reported lake depth status for the following water bodies is current as of Wednesday, November 17th: BASHAN LAKE (down 26 inches), BEACH POND (down 23 inches), BESECK LAKE (down 40 inches), GARDNER LAKE (down 35 inches), GLASGO POND (down 39 inches), LOWER BOLTON LAKE (down 23 inches) and MIDDLE BOLTON LAKE (down 38 inches).
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QUADDICK RESERVOIR has been drawn down, and the launching of trailer boats from the state boat launch at Quaddick State Park will be very difficult to impossible. The launch can still be used to put in canoes and kayaks. The boat launch will remain open through Monday, November 29th and then close for the season.
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A 5 foot drawdown of HIGHLAND LAKE began on October 15th.
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The BAYBERRY LANE State Boat Launch (Groton) is closed for renovations until December 31st.
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The state boat launches on LAKE HOUSATONIC (at Indian Well State Park) and HOPEVILLE POND (at Hopeville Pond State Park) are both closed for the season and will reopen sometime in April, 2011.
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Anglers are reminded that the fishing season closes after November 30th at a number of areas including BUNNELLS POND (Beardsley Park), GREAT HOLLOW POND, LAKE MCDONOUGH, the MALTBY LAKES, LAKE SALTONSTALL, MOHEGAN PARK POND (Spaulding Pond, Norwich), LAKE CHAMBERLAIN and at most designated “children’s areas”. (Please refer to the 2010 CT Angler’s Guide for complete regulations).
SPECIAL NOTICE TO ANGLERS AND HUNTERS:
During the 2010 session of the General Assembly, legislation was approved and signed into law in April reducing many of the fees for sportsmen’s licenses and permits. This was followed in June by legislation authorizing a credit to be applied against the fee for any 2011 sportsmen’s license, permit or tag when purchase of a license, permit or tag had been made at the higher prices in place between October 1, 2009 and April 14, 2010. The credit amount will be the difference between the higher amount paid during that time period and the amount set by the new fee structure established April 14, 2010.
For information about these credits, please visit the DEP website license fees and credits page: www.ct.gov/dep/sportsmensfeereduction
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2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 31, 11/17/2010
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MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the low 50’s °F. Check out the following web sites for more detailed water temperatures and marine boating conditions:
http://www.mysound.uconn.edu/stationstat.html
http://marine.rutgers.edu/mrs/sat_data/?nothumbs=1
http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
http://www.wunderground.com/MAR/AN/330.html
TAUTOG fishing is still hanging in there on the local reefs and rock piles and should hold right through Thanksgiving! Tog spots include any of the rocky reefs and outcrops in Fishers Island Sound, New London Ledge and Sarah Ledge at the mouth of the Thames River, Bartlett Reef, Crane Reef, Southwest Reef, Sixmile Reef, Falkner Island area, the multiple reef complexes from Guilford to Branford, New Haven Harbor breakwaters, Charles Island area, Stratford Shoal/Middle Ground, The Cows off Penfield Reef, Norwalk Islands including Greens Ledge, Cable and Anchor Reef, Smith Reef and The Cows off Stamford, Greenwich Point, and Little and Great Captain Islands. Shore anglers can hit Fort Trumbull fishing pier and Eastern Point Beach in the Thames River, Harkness Memorial State Park, the rocks off Dock Rd. State Boat Launch, McCook Point, Rocky Neck State Park, Hammonasset Beach State Park, Lighthouse Park in New Haven, St. Mary’s Beach in Fairfield, Sherwood Island State Park, and Calf Pasture Point fishing pier in Norwalk.
STRIPER fishing has mainly switched over to the tidal rivers such as the Thames and Housatonic Rivers. Overcast days or right at dusk are the times to fish.
TIP Hotline – Please call 1.800.842.4357 to report fishing violations.
For regulation updates and fishing/crabbing information, please check out our web site at: www.ct.gov/dep/fishing or pick up the 2010 Angler’s Guide.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
The Department of Environmental Protection is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and service provider. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DEP makes every effort to provide equally effective services for persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities who need this information in an alternative format, to allow them to benefit and/or participate in the agency’s programs and services, should call 860-424-3051 or 860-418-5937 or e-mail Marcia Bonitto, ADA Coordinator, at Marcia.Bonitto@CT.Gov. Persons who are hearing impaired should call the State of Connecticut relay number 711

Posted Thu Nov 18, 2010 8:13 pm

And the depression begins to set in.........

Posted Fri Nov 19, 2010 10:34 am

untill the ice shows up! Very Happy

Posted Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:36 am

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