FISHING REPORT NUMBER 18: 8/20/2009
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is good to very good at Lake Lillinonah, Lake McDonough, Lake Saltonstall, Moodus Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Highland Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Uncas Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Glasgo Pond (many 4-5 lbs. fish), Wononskopomuc Lake, Rogers Lake, Upper Bolton Lake, Amos Lake, Mudge Pond, Halls Pond, Aspinook Pond (5.5 lbs.), Bishop Pond, West Side Pond and Dog Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Lake McDonough, Coventry Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Candlewood (4-5 lbs. fish), Gardner Lake, Eagleville Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir, Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, Farmington River (Tarrifville) and Housatonic River (excellent).
NORTHERN PIKE are reported from Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
WALLEYE are being reported at Lake Saltonstall, Batterson Park Pond and Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake and Coventry Lake.
CHAIN PICKEREL are being caught at Silver Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake (many 3-4 lbs.) and Mudge Pond.
SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Areas to try include: Candlewood Lake, Winchester Lake, Gardner Lake, Silver Lake, Tyler Lake, Crystal Lake, Stillwater Lake and Park Pond.
TROUT
Rivers and streams –Water levels remain stable for this time of year. Some good reports last week are from the Upper West Branch Farmington River, Mill River TMA, Housatonic River TMA, Fenton River, Natchaug River, Blackberry River, Tankerhoosen River, Salmon River, Eightmile River (Lyme), Blackledge River, East Aspetuck River and Roaring Brook (Glastonbury).
Farmington River – Temperatures are in the mid/low 60’s°F with 583cfs of clear flows. Insect hatches are mostly stable and unchanging. The newest addition to the list of hatches is the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #24-26). The remaining bugs consist of Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. and Baetis sps.;#16-24, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (#16-18, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #12-14, early morning), Caddis (tan #16-20, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa, #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#18-20, mid day in fast water), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus <http> distinctus, #10-14, late evening) are successful patterns.
Housatonic River – Flows are clear with 854cfs and temperatures in the upper 60’s°F. Insect hatches include: The White fly (Ephoron leukon, #12-14, dawn and dusk) are hatching well in the evening, Sulfurs (#16-18 dusk/dark), Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning and evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Fish will focus on ants when they are on the water (after a rain). Don’t forget streamers (morning and evening). Patterns to try include: White, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes and Ponds – Some lakes are still producing good fishing. Areas to try include Saugatuck Reservoir (brown 27”), Crystal Lake (Ellington), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Mashapaug Lake, East Twin Lake, Beach Pond, Long Pond and West Hill Pond. Trout action reported from East Twin Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Highland Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Mashapaug Lake and Coventry Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS action is good in the lower river. NORTHERN PIKE are being taken at the confluences of rivers and streams. Some fish are being found in the coves and in the mainstem near Middletown and Haddam Meadows. LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves around Hartford-Middletown and in the lower river. SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported in the Enfield area and near the mouth of the Farmington River. CATFISH continue to provide excellent action at night on cut bait and sunfish. Target the outside bends in the river and the upstream side of the deeper holes of the river near structure.
TIPS and TRICKS for WALLEYE
· Jigs and bait on outside edges of weeds near drop-offs.
Night bait fishing
Fish in 15-19 feet of water with a lure 70-90' behind the boat and troll between 1.5-3 mph.
Jointed Rapala trolled about 100 feet back (5-7 feet down).
Try a Wally Diver trolled about 90 feet back (9-10 feet down).
Troll a Shad Rap at speeds between 2 and 3 mph.
Try pumping the lure; one forward motion followed by a pause. Always keep a tight line when falling back.
Use 12# leader.
Fish one rod on the bottom with a slip sinker rig. On the other rod use a slip bobber rig set several feet off the bottom. Both rigs should be baited with live medium to large shiners.
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is good to very good at Lake Lillinonah, Lake McDonough, Lake Saltonstall, Moodus Reservoir, Gardner Lake, Highland Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Uncas Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Glasgo Pond (many 4-5 lbs. fish), Wononskopomuc Lake, Rogers Lake, Upper Bolton Lake, Amos Lake, Mudge Pond, Halls Pond, Aspinook Pond (5.5 lbs.), Bishop Pond, West Side Pond and Dog Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported at Lake McDonough, Coventry Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Candlewood (4-5 lbs. fish), Gardner Lake, Eagleville Lake, Saugatuck Reservoir, Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, Farmington River (Tarrifville) and Housatonic River (excellent).
NORTHERN PIKE are reported from Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
WALLEYE are being reported at Lake Saltonstall, Batterson Park Pond and Gardner Lake, Mashapaug Lake and Coventry Lake.
CHAIN PICKEREL are being caught at Silver Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake (many 3-4 lbs.) and Mudge Pond.
SUNFISH are providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Areas to try include: Candlewood Lake, Winchester Lake, Gardner Lake, Silver Lake, Tyler Lake, Crystal Lake, Stillwater Lake and Park Pond.
TROUT
Rivers and streams –Water levels remain stable for this time of year. Some good reports last week are from the Upper West Branch Farmington River, Mill River TMA, Housatonic River TMA, Fenton River, Natchaug River, Blackberry River, Tankerhoosen River, Salmon River, Eightmile River (Lyme), Blackledge River, East Aspetuck River and Roaring Brook (Glastonbury).
Farmington River – Temperatures are in the mid/low 60’s°F with 583cfs of clear flows. Insect hatches are mostly stable and unchanging. The newest addition to the list of hatches is the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #24-26). The remaining bugs consist of Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, evening), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. and Baetis sps.;#16-24, mid-late afternoon), Sulphurs duns (#16-18, morning; afternoon to early evening for spinners), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #12-14, early morning), Caddis (tan #16-20, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa, #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Black Ants (#18-20, mid day in fast water), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus <http> distinctus, #10-14, late evening) are successful patterns.
Housatonic River – Flows are clear with 854cfs and temperatures in the upper 60’s°F. Insect hatches include: The White fly (Ephoron leukon, #12-14, dawn and dusk) are hatching well in the evening, Sulfurs (#16-18 dusk/dark), Blue Wing Olive (#18-26, early morning; spinner fall in evening), Leadwing Coachman (#10-12 evening), Light Cahill (#12-14, evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning and evening). Midges and stoneflies are located at the mouths of streams. Golden stonefly nymphs hatch at first light and adults egg-lay after dark. Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#18-22, mid day in fast water) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid). Fish will focus on ants when they are on the water (after a rain). Don’t forget streamers (morning and evening). Patterns to try include: White, Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn, Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes and Ponds – Some lakes are still producing good fishing. Areas to try include Saugatuck Reservoir (brown 27”), Crystal Lake (Ellington), Coventry Lake, Highland Lake, Mashapaug Lake, East Twin Lake, Beach Pond, Long Pond and West Hill Pond. Trout action reported from East Twin Lake, Crystal Lake (Ellington), Highland Lake, Mt. Tom Pond, Mohawk Pond, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Mashapaug Lake and Coventry Lake.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS action is good in the lower river. NORTHERN PIKE are being taken at the confluences of rivers and streams. Some fish are being found in the coves and in the mainstem near Middletown and Haddam Meadows. LARGEMOUTH BASS are being taken in the coves around Hartford-Middletown and in the lower river. SMALLMOUTH BASS are reported in the Enfield area and near the mouth of the Farmington River. CATFISH continue to provide excellent action at night on cut bait and sunfish. Target the outside bends in the river and the upstream side of the deeper holes of the river near structure.
TIPS and TRICKS for WALLEYE
· Jigs and bait on outside edges of weeds near drop-offs.
Night bait fishing
Fish in 15-19 feet of water with a lure 70-90' behind the boat and troll between 1.5-3 mph.
Jointed Rapala trolled about 100 feet back (5-7 feet down).
Try a Wally Diver trolled about 90 feet back (9-10 feet down).
Troll a Shad Rap at speeds between 2 and 3 mph.
Try pumping the lure; one forward motion followed by a pause. Always keep a tight line when falling back.
Use 12# leader.
Fish one rod on the bottom with a slip sinker rig. On the other rod use a slip bobber rig set several feet off the bottom. Both rigs should be baited with live medium to large shiners.