FISHING REPORT NUMBER 5
5/20/2010
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Conditions should be good for fishing this weekend, with comfortable temperatures and recent rains have refreshed flows. Fishing has been very good, with reports from the Natchaug River, East Aspetuck River, Hammonassett River, Housatonic River, West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Shetucket River, Branford River, Norwalk River, Naugatuck River, Blackberry River, Sandy Brook, Coginchaug River, Salmon River, Mt Hope River, Saugatuck River, Quinnebaug River, Crystal Lake Brook, Coppermine Brook, Branford River, Deep Brook, Menunketesuck Brook and Myron Kinney Brook. A number of 20 inch and up trout reported this past week.
Farmington River – Fishing has been good and conditions should be comfortable for fishing this weekend. Flows are currently clear and moderate (310 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 110 cfs from the Still River) and water temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s°F.
Current hatches include Blue Winged Olive (#16-2, Blue Quills (#18-20) [a.k.a. paralep], Tan Caddis (#16-18; starting) & Hendrickson (#14-16) [a.k.a. red quills] (ending) and March Browns (#10-12, below the TMA). Anglers can expect fly fishing may be challenging as hatches are shifting. Blue Wing Olives (#18-22, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day) and Midges (#22-32) are the current patterns working. Some Hendricksons (#14-16, done in the TMA except for spinner fall, 4-6 pm.) are still being found in the Riverton area.
Housatonic River – Trout fishing was good to very good last week, and conditions should be great. Flows are clear, moderate (actually somewhat low for mid May) and very fishable, about 740 cfs at Falls Village and 1,180 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures are in the upper 50’s °F (TMA area).
Current hatches include Sulphurs (#14-16), Blue Winged Olive (#16-20, cloudy days), Green Caddis & Brown/Tan Caddis (#14-1. March Browns (#10-12, 4 pm to dark), Blue Wing Olive (#16-20, early morning; spinner fall in evening) and Gray Foxes (#14-16). Green caddis (#14-18, early morning & evening) are on the water. Midges (#22-26) are being seen at the mouths of streams on the Housatonic River.
Rivers and streams stocking update. Scheduled to be stocked this week are the Coginchaug River, Dickenson Creek, Blackwells Brook, Fenton River, Furnace Brook, Hammonasset River (including the TMA), Hop River, Latimer Brook, Mashamoquet Brook, Middle River, Moosup River, Mount Hope River, Natchaug River, Pachaug River, Quanduck Brook, Quinebaug River, Roaring Brook (Stafford), Salmon River (including the TMA), Skungamaug River, Ten Mile River (Lebanon) and Willimantic River (including the TMA). in eastern CT, and the East Aspetuck River, West Branch Farmington River (above the TMA to the Goodwin Dam), Farmington River (from Route 219 in New Hartford down to Route 4 in Farmington), Norwalk River, Pomperaug River, East Branch Salmon Brook and Shepaug River in western CT. Note that stocking schedules are subject to change.
Lakes & Ponds- Trout fishing has been fair to good, with reports from Crystal Lake, Mashapaug Lake, East Twin Lake (better for those casting, those trolling had to work for their fish), Highland Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Candlewood Lake (very good, catches include at least one 4 lb brown, some anglers had good success trolling – 3 colors of lead & mono flat lines worked well), Lake Saltonstall, West Hill Pond, Mohawk Pond, Long Pond, Beach Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Chatfield Hollow Pond, Squantz Pond, Gardner Lake, Pattaconk Lake, Lake Waramaug, Bigelow Pond, Green Falls Reservoir and Lake Hayward. The biggest reported fish of the week weighed in at 7.6 lbs.
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 5, 5/20/2010
Lakes and ponds stocking update. In eastern CT, Bashan Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield), Black Pond (Woodstock), Cedar Lake, Dodge Pond, Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Millers Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake and Uncas Lake are all scheduled for stocking this week (5/17 – 5/21). In western CT, Colebrook Reservoir, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake, Lake McDonough, Mohawk Pond, Mount Tom Pond, Stillwater Pond, Tyler Lake, West Branch Reservoir, West Hill Pond and West Side Pond are scheduled for stocking this week.
Trout Parks - The Black Rock Pond, Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond), Southford Falls Pond and Stratton Brook Park Pond in western CT, and the Day Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, Natchaug River and Chatfield Hollow Trout Parks in eastern CT will all be stocked this week.
ATLANTIC SALMON – Several holdover broodstock have been reported from Mashapaug Lake.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing generally good, with the best reports from Quaddick Reservoir (excellent, catches include a 6.1 lb bass), Long Pond, Wononskopomuc Lake, Ball Pond, Cedar Lake, Gardner (including 5.6 lb bass), Lake Saltonstall (very good), Quonnipaug Lake and Red Cedar Lake. Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (including a 6.7 lb largemouth), Lake McDonough, Bashan Lake, Messerschmidt Pond, Amos Lake, Pattagansett Lake, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Pachaug Pond, Batterson Park Pond, Aspinook Pond are also providing anglers some action. Other places to try include West Hill Pond, Lake Waramaug, Crystal Lake, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Bishop Swamp Pond and Quinebaug Lake. This week’s “Big Stick” went to two anglers that found 60 bass. The “Whopper” weighed in at 7.75 lbs.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Candlewood Lake (very good to excellent with a number of fish in the 3-5 lb range), Coventry Lake (fair), Colebrook Reservoir (fair), Lake McDonough (good), Squantz Pond and Gardner Lake (tough). Best bag was 5 smallies totalling 19.7 lbs for one tournament angler at Candlewood Lake.
WALLEYE action reported from in Batterson Park Pond (some catches up to 23 inches), Squantz Pond (very good action, fish have been up shallow in beach areas) and Lake Saltonstall (good action here). Several nice walleye (8 lb and 6 lb fish) were recently caught in Keeney Cove along the Connecticut River.
NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond, Quaddick Reservoir and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
PANFISH – Rock bass are keeping anglers really busy, with best reports from at Tyler Lake, East Twin Lake and Coventry Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – Flows have dropped back to levels lower than typically found in the spring and water temperatures have warmed again. STRIPED BASS are in the river up to Enfield. Lots of legal size fish are being caught in the Middletown/Haddam area. Artificial lures and bait are producing well. SHAD continue to be in the river up through Holyoke (MA), and as temperatures, fishing has picked up again (32 shad for a pair of anglers earlier this week). CATFISH (including an occasional 10 lb fish) are being caught. NORTHERN PIKE action reported from the Haddam Meadows area and Wethersfield Cove. LARGEMOUTH BASS are providing some action in some coves and backwaters including Chapman Pond.
A REMINDER TO CONNECTICUT RIVER ANGLERS: Wild adult salmon are now returning to the Connecticut River system and may be accidentally caught by shad or striper anglers. We remind all that it is illegal to fish for or take Atlantic salmon in Connecticut. The only exceptions to this prohibition are those specific areas stocked with surplus broodstock Atlantic salmon and designated as open to salmon fishing (see the 2010 CT Angler’s guide for regulations and locations).
Anglers should be aware that roughly handled and photographed salmon can die before they can be captured for breeding at upstream fishways. We encourage all anglers who catch a salmon never to
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 5, 5/20/2010
remove it from the water (photograph it at the surface) and release it as quickly as possible. If you must leave tackle in its mouth, contact DEP’s Diadromous Fisheries Program (860-447-4316) and we will return the tackle if it is still present when the salmon is captured.
NOTES & NOTICES:
��
GLASGO POND had been drawn down approximately 4 feet to facilitate dam repairs, making launching of trailered boats at the state boat launch difficult to impossible. Refilling is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 21, and it is expected that the boat launch will be usable for the Memorial Day weekend.
��
The Valley Forge Road bridge crossing of the Saugatuck River at Devil’s Glenn will be closed for repairs. The section of the Saugatuck River from Saugatuck Reservoir Dam down to Davis Hill Road will not be stocked this year.
��
The Butts Bridge Road bridge over the Quinebaug River/Aspinook Pond is currently closed for road reconstruction. The state water access area on Butts Bridge Road is open to public use, but can be accessed by vehicle from the east only.
��
Anglers and boaters should be aware of the following special events scheduled for Saturday, May 22nd:
Lake Lillinonah – Lake clean-up – operating out of the Route 133 boat launch.
Candlewood Lake – Lake clean-up – operating out of Danbury Town Park.
TIPS & TRICKS
STRIPED BASS are surrendering to a number of techniques. They are on the prowl right now (especially at dawn, dusk and night) and when you find hungry stripers, it can get crazy. Shore anglers are finding that Black Bombers are the ticket for these marauders. For those day-timers success is found by using soft plastics or plugs. Trolling tube and worm, eels & soft plastics all work well. Some anglers are having good luck using 9” Houdini Shad in bubblegum & white colors.
If you don’t have any luck at first with the artificial try downsizing the lure until you hook up. Try varying the retrieval speed and add some twitching to stimulate that feeding response. Target the schools of bait fish and look for the tell tale “blow ups” from the big fish.
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 5, 5/20/2010
Page 4 of 4
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the low to mid 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
Striped bass fishing is consistent with the major reefs and rip areas now heating up as larger striped bass move into LIS. Also, tidal rivers including the Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River (Norwich Harbor down to Montville), lower Connecticut River from the Amtrak railroad bridge down to the breakwaters, Sandy Point (New Haven Harbor), Housatonic River (Derby Dam and from Devon to Milford Point) remains good for schoolie stripers.
Bluefish are in LIS in good numbers. The Race, Millstone Point (Millstone Power Station discharge), Plum Gut, Long Sand Shoal, Sandy Point (New Haven Harbor), Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands and across to the north shore of Long Island are worth a shot.
Winter flounder fishing is still hanging in there in the Pine Island area (Groton), Niantic River (including the bay) and the Connecticut River (east breakwater).
Hickory shad are around but are still a hit or miss in the Niantic and Connecticut Rivers (mixed with small stripers).
Summer flounder (fluke) fishing season has commenced with the north shore of Long Island your better bet or fishing 50+ feet of water closer to home. Early fluke fishing in the Peconics and Gardiners Bay normally yield big doormats.
For regulation updates and fishing/crabbing information, please check out our web site at: www.ct.gov/dep or pick up the new 2010 Angler’s Guide.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
5/20/2010
INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Conditions should be good for fishing this weekend, with comfortable temperatures and recent rains have refreshed flows. Fishing has been very good, with reports from the Natchaug River, East Aspetuck River, Hammonassett River, Housatonic River, West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Shetucket River, Branford River, Norwalk River, Naugatuck River, Blackberry River, Sandy Brook, Coginchaug River, Salmon River, Mt Hope River, Saugatuck River, Quinnebaug River, Crystal Lake Brook, Coppermine Brook, Branford River, Deep Brook, Menunketesuck Brook and Myron Kinney Brook. A number of 20 inch and up trout reported this past week.
Farmington River – Fishing has been good and conditions should be comfortable for fishing this weekend. Flows are currently clear and moderate (310 cfs at Riverton, plus an additional 110 cfs from the Still River) and water temperatures are in the low to mid 50’s°F.
Current hatches include Blue Winged Olive (#16-2, Blue Quills (#18-20) [a.k.a. paralep], Tan Caddis (#16-18; starting) & Hendrickson (#14-16) [a.k.a. red quills] (ending) and March Browns (#10-12, below the TMA). Anglers can expect fly fishing may be challenging as hatches are shifting. Blue Wing Olives (#18-22, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #14-18, all day) and Midges (#22-32) are the current patterns working. Some Hendricksons (#14-16, done in the TMA except for spinner fall, 4-6 pm.) are still being found in the Riverton area.
Housatonic River – Trout fishing was good to very good last week, and conditions should be great. Flows are clear, moderate (actually somewhat low for mid May) and very fishable, about 740 cfs at Falls Village and 1,180 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures are in the upper 50’s °F (TMA area).
Current hatches include Sulphurs (#14-16), Blue Winged Olive (#16-20, cloudy days), Green Caddis & Brown/Tan Caddis (#14-1. March Browns (#10-12, 4 pm to dark), Blue Wing Olive (#16-20, early morning; spinner fall in evening) and Gray Foxes (#14-16). Green caddis (#14-18, early morning & evening) are on the water. Midges (#22-26) are being seen at the mouths of streams on the Housatonic River.
Rivers and streams stocking update. Scheduled to be stocked this week are the Coginchaug River, Dickenson Creek, Blackwells Brook, Fenton River, Furnace Brook, Hammonasset River (including the TMA), Hop River, Latimer Brook, Mashamoquet Brook, Middle River, Moosup River, Mount Hope River, Natchaug River, Pachaug River, Quanduck Brook, Quinebaug River, Roaring Brook (Stafford), Salmon River (including the TMA), Skungamaug River, Ten Mile River (Lebanon) and Willimantic River (including the TMA). in eastern CT, and the East Aspetuck River, West Branch Farmington River (above the TMA to the Goodwin Dam), Farmington River (from Route 219 in New Hartford down to Route 4 in Farmington), Norwalk River, Pomperaug River, East Branch Salmon Brook and Shepaug River in western CT. Note that stocking schedules are subject to change.
Lakes & Ponds- Trout fishing has been fair to good, with reports from Crystal Lake, Mashapaug Lake, East Twin Lake (better for those casting, those trolling had to work for their fish), Highland Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Candlewood Lake (very good, catches include at least one 4 lb brown, some anglers had good success trolling – 3 colors of lead & mono flat lines worked well), Lake Saltonstall, West Hill Pond, Mohawk Pond, Long Pond, Beach Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc, Chatfield Hollow Pond, Squantz Pond, Gardner Lake, Pattaconk Lake, Lake Waramaug, Bigelow Pond, Green Falls Reservoir and Lake Hayward. The biggest reported fish of the week weighed in at 7.6 lbs.
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 5, 5/20/2010
Lakes and ponds stocking update. In eastern CT, Bashan Lake, Black Pond (Middlefield), Black Pond (Woodstock), Cedar Lake, Dodge Pond, Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Millers Pond, Quonnipaug Lake, Rogers Lake and Uncas Lake are all scheduled for stocking this week (5/17 – 5/21). In western CT, Colebrook Reservoir, East Twin Lake, Highland Lake, Lake McDonough, Mohawk Pond, Mount Tom Pond, Stillwater Pond, Tyler Lake, West Branch Reservoir, West Hill Pond and West Side Pond are scheduled for stocking this week.
Trout Parks - The Black Rock Pond, Wolfe Park (Great Hollow Pond), Southford Falls Pond and Stratton Brook Park Pond in western CT, and the Day Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, Natchaug River and Chatfield Hollow Trout Parks in eastern CT will all be stocked this week.
ATLANTIC SALMON – Several holdover broodstock have been reported from Mashapaug Lake.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing generally good, with the best reports from Quaddick Reservoir (excellent, catches include a 6.1 lb bass), Long Pond, Wononskopomuc Lake, Ball Pond, Cedar Lake, Gardner (including 5.6 lb bass), Lake Saltonstall (very good), Quonnipaug Lake and Red Cedar Lake. Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, Candlewood Lake (including a 6.7 lb largemouth), Lake McDonough, Bashan Lake, Messerschmidt Pond, Amos Lake, Pattagansett Lake, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Pachaug Pond, Batterson Park Pond, Aspinook Pond are also providing anglers some action. Other places to try include West Hill Pond, Lake Waramaug, Crystal Lake, Twin Brooks Park Pond, Bishop Swamp Pond and Quinebaug Lake. This week’s “Big Stick” went to two anglers that found 60 bass. The “Whopper” weighed in at 7.75 lbs.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Candlewood Lake (very good to excellent with a number of fish in the 3-5 lb range), Coventry Lake (fair), Colebrook Reservoir (fair), Lake McDonough (good), Squantz Pond and Gardner Lake (tough). Best bag was 5 smallies totalling 19.7 lbs for one tournament angler at Candlewood Lake.
WALLEYE action reported from in Batterson Park Pond (some catches up to 23 inches), Squantz Pond (very good action, fish have been up shallow in beach areas) and Lake Saltonstall (good action here). Several nice walleye (8 lb and 6 lb fish) were recently caught in Keeney Cove along the Connecticut River.
NORTHERN PIKE are reported in Winchester Lake, Bantam Lake, Pachaug Pond, Quaddick Reservoir and Mansfield Hollow Reservoir.
PANFISH – Rock bass are keeping anglers really busy, with best reports from at Tyler Lake, East Twin Lake and Coventry Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – Flows have dropped back to levels lower than typically found in the spring and water temperatures have warmed again. STRIPED BASS are in the river up to Enfield. Lots of legal size fish are being caught in the Middletown/Haddam area. Artificial lures and bait are producing well. SHAD continue to be in the river up through Holyoke (MA), and as temperatures, fishing has picked up again (32 shad for a pair of anglers earlier this week). CATFISH (including an occasional 10 lb fish) are being caught. NORTHERN PIKE action reported from the Haddam Meadows area and Wethersfield Cove. LARGEMOUTH BASS are providing some action in some coves and backwaters including Chapman Pond.
A REMINDER TO CONNECTICUT RIVER ANGLERS: Wild adult salmon are now returning to the Connecticut River system and may be accidentally caught by shad or striper anglers. We remind all that it is illegal to fish for or take Atlantic salmon in Connecticut. The only exceptions to this prohibition are those specific areas stocked with surplus broodstock Atlantic salmon and designated as open to salmon fishing (see the 2010 CT Angler’s guide for regulations and locations).
Anglers should be aware that roughly handled and photographed salmon can die before they can be captured for breeding at upstream fishways. We encourage all anglers who catch a salmon never to
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 5, 5/20/2010
remove it from the water (photograph it at the surface) and release it as quickly as possible. If you must leave tackle in its mouth, contact DEP’s Diadromous Fisheries Program (860-447-4316) and we will return the tackle if it is still present when the salmon is captured.
NOTES & NOTICES:
��
GLASGO POND had been drawn down approximately 4 feet to facilitate dam repairs, making launching of trailered boats at the state boat launch difficult to impossible. Refilling is scheduled to begin on Friday, May 21, and it is expected that the boat launch will be usable for the Memorial Day weekend.
��
The Valley Forge Road bridge crossing of the Saugatuck River at Devil’s Glenn will be closed for repairs. The section of the Saugatuck River from Saugatuck Reservoir Dam down to Davis Hill Road will not be stocked this year.
��
The Butts Bridge Road bridge over the Quinebaug River/Aspinook Pond is currently closed for road reconstruction. The state water access area on Butts Bridge Road is open to public use, but can be accessed by vehicle from the east only.
��
Anglers and boaters should be aware of the following special events scheduled for Saturday, May 22nd:
Lake Lillinonah – Lake clean-up – operating out of the Route 133 boat launch.
Candlewood Lake – Lake clean-up – operating out of Danbury Town Park.
TIPS & TRICKS
STRIPED BASS are surrendering to a number of techniques. They are on the prowl right now (especially at dawn, dusk and night) and when you find hungry stripers, it can get crazy. Shore anglers are finding that Black Bombers are the ticket for these marauders. For those day-timers success is found by using soft plastics or plugs. Trolling tube and worm, eels & soft plastics all work well. Some anglers are having good luck using 9” Houdini Shad in bubblegum & white colors.
If you don’t have any luck at first with the artificial try downsizing the lure until you hook up. Try varying the retrieval speed and add some twitching to stimulate that feeding response. Target the schools of bait fish and look for the tell tale “blow ups” from the big fish.
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 5, 5/20/2010
Page 4 of 4
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) are in the low to mid 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
Striped bass fishing is consistent with the major reefs and rip areas now heating up as larger striped bass move into LIS. Also, tidal rivers including the Pawcatuck River, Mystic River, Thames River (Norwich Harbor down to Montville), lower Connecticut River from the Amtrak railroad bridge down to the breakwaters, Sandy Point (New Haven Harbor), Housatonic River (Derby Dam and from Devon to Milford Point) remains good for schoolie stripers.
Bluefish are in LIS in good numbers. The Race, Millstone Point (Millstone Power Station discharge), Plum Gut, Long Sand Shoal, Sandy Point (New Haven Harbor), Penfield Reef, and the Norwalk Islands and across to the north shore of Long Island are worth a shot.
Winter flounder fishing is still hanging in there in the Pine Island area (Groton), Niantic River (including the bay) and the Connecticut River (east breakwater).
Hickory shad are around but are still a hit or miss in the Niantic and Connecticut Rivers (mixed with small stripers).
Summer flounder (fluke) fishing season has commenced with the north shore of Long Island your better bet or fishing 50+ feet of water closer to home. Early fluke fishing in the Peconics and Gardiners Bay normally yield big doormats.
For regulation updates and fishing/crabbing information, please check out our web site at: www.ct.gov/dep or pick up the new 2010 Angler’s Guide.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep