FISHING REPORT NUMBER 4
5/13/2010INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Trout fishing has been very good with reports from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Willimantic River, Pequonock River, Pomperaug River, Natchaug River, Mount Hope River, Saugatuck River, Salmon River, Pootatuck River, Blackberry River, East Aspetuck River, Pomperaug River, Mill River TMA, Hammonasset River, Sandy Brook, Pattaconk Brook, Latimer Brook and Eightmile River (East Haddam/Lyme). The “Whopper” of the week is a rainbow trout that went 8.6 lbs and the “Big Stick” is a catch of 33 fish coming from the Salmon River. The recent rains and cool temperatures should create great conditions for the weekend.
Farmington River – Fishing and conditions have been good, with West Branch flows clear, moderate to low and quite fishable, currently 140 cfs at Riverton plus an additional 95 cfs from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s °F.
Current hatches/patterns include Hendrickson (a.k.a red quills; #14-16), Blue Winged Olive (a.k.a. baetis or vagan; #16-20), Blue Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #1, Early Stonefly (#13-16), Quill Gordon (#14), Green Caddis & Brown/Tan Caddis (#16-1, Rusty Spinners (#16-20), Midges (#22-32), Pheasant Tails (#14-1 and Mahogany Duns (#16-1. The Hendrickson hatch has picked up some in the TMA and up through Riverton area (decent spinner fall in the TMA). Caddis (tan/green) are up to the Collinsville area, but not fully active in the TMA yet.
Housatonic River – Conditions are great for trout fishing. Flows are clear and moderate (actually somewhat lower than typical spring levels), about 690 CFS at Falls Village and 1,130 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures are back in the low 50’s °F.
Current hatches include Green Caddis, March Brown/Gray Fox (starting to show up), Brown/Tan Caddis and Midges and patterns include Caddis (#14-18, green, olive & tan), Henryville Special, Adams (#12-20) and March Brown (#10-12). Some Blue Wing Olives are on the water, but caddis are dominant. Streamers fished around 6:30 pm on sinking-tip line have been very effective on overcast days. Your go-to colors are white or yellow. For those nymphing low and slow is working very well.
Rivers and streams stocking update. Scheduled to be stocked this week are the Blackledge River (lower), Fenton River, Five Mile River, French River, Hammonasset River (including TMA), Hunts Brook, Indiantown Brook, Jeremy River, Latimer Brook, Moosup River TMA, Mount Hope River, Bigelow Brook, Natchaug River, Quinebaug River, Roaring Brook (Glastonbury), Salmon River (including TMA), Scantic River (both lower and upper sections), Shetucket River, Shunock Brook, Still River (Eastford) and Yantic River (including TMA) in eastern CT, and the Blackberry River, East Aspetuck River, Farmill River, West Branch Farmington River (except in the TMA), Farmington River (New Hartford to Farmington, including the 'lower" TMA), Leadmine Brook, Little River (Oxford), Mad River, Mill River (Hamden, including the TMA), Muddy River, Naugatuck River (Thomaston-Beacon Falls), Pequabuck River (Bristol), Pequonnock River (Trumbull-Bridgeport), Pond Brook, Pootatuck River (Newtown), Quinnipiac River, Sandy Brook and Still River (Colebrook) in western CT. Note that stocking schedules are subject to change.
Lakes & Ponds are fishing well for trout with reports from Crystal Lake (Ellington), Candlewood Lake, Highland Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake, East Twin Lake, Mount Tom Pond, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Lake Mashapaug, Mohawk Pond, Black Pond (Woodstock), Ball Pond, Rogers Lake, Billings Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Lake Hayward, Gardner Lake, Lake Saltonstall and Lake McDonough. The “Big
Fish” of the week is a 10.8 lb brown trout from Lake Waramaug and the “Big Stick” of 11 fish goes to East Twin Lake.
Lakes and ponds stocking update. In eastern CT, Amos Lake, Angus Park Pond, Bigelow Pond, Gay City Park Pond, Green Falls Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Shenipsit Lake, Somersville Mill Pond, Uncas Lake, Wangumbaug Lake (Coventry Lake) and Wyassup Lake are all scheduled for stocking this week (5/10 – 5/14). In western CT, Ball Pond, Fountain Lake, Highland Lake, Hop Brook Lake, Nells Rock Reservoir, Pickett's Pond, Pootatuck River (Lower), Scoville Reservoir, Wononskopomuc Lake and the Mad River flood Control Impoundment are scheduled for stocking this week.
Trout Parks - The Day Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, Valley Falls Park Pond and Natchaug River Trout Parks in eastern CT, and the Kent Falls and Wharton Brook Pond Trout Parks will all be stocked this week.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing Is generally fair to good, with the best reports from Amos Lake (including a 5.6 lb largemouth), Red Cedar Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Candlewood Lake (including a 6.7 lb bass), Pachaug Pond (including a 7-lb beauty), Bashan Lake and Batterson Park Pond, and fair reports from Hopeville Pond, Aspinook Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Gardner Lake, Rogers Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake, East Twin Lake, Lake Housatonic, Dooley Pond, Cedar Lake, Billings Lake and Highland Lake (including a 6.5 lb largemouth), but Mansfield Hollow Reservoir continues to challenge anglers. Additional places to try include Silver Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Beardsley Park Pond, Mono Pond, Halls Pond, Bishop Swamp Pond, Black Pond (Meriden), Beseck Lake, Wyassup Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Dog Pond, Pickerel Lake, Kenosia Lake and Quaddick Reservoir. A 30 fish catch & release was the heavy catch day.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Candlewood Lake (very good), Lake Lillinonah (good, catches include several 4-lb smallies), Mashapaug Lake (good), Lake Housatonic (fair), Colebrook Reservoir, Bashan Lake, Gardner Lake (slow), Highland Lake (plenty of fish, but hard to hook) and Rainbow Reservoir.
WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall. Some catches also at Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS are now throughout the river. A group of three anglers brought 170 fish to the boat, with a 40 incher being the big fish of the week. Keepers are now in the river all the way up to Enfield. Fish are responding to tube & worm, bait and soft plastics. CATFISH up to 9 lbs are responding very well to dead bait, chunking and sandworms. SHAD action reported in the mainstem, with many catches reported at the confluence of the Farmington River. CARP catches went way up this week with the big fish coming in at over 25lbs. One angler enjoyed an 8 fish day. Give these bulldogs a try.
NOTES & NOTICES:��
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.
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 4, 5/13/2010
TIPS & TRICKS4
WALLEYE - The most productive lure recently was a white Zoom Superfluke.
TROUT - Fishing minnows off a Dipsey diver produced many fish while trolling at 5-6 colors of lead line. Also, spoons, either Mooselooks in silver or a 4" flutter spoon in silver. Fishing a Flutter spoon; start by making a long cast and letting the spoon fall on slack line. Slack line is the key to flutter spoons, as it gives the bait its distinctive dying shad fluttering action. Once the bait hits bottom, reel up your slack, holding your rod at the 9 o’clock position. Raise your rod to the 12 o’clock or even 1 o’clock position, pulling the spoon way up off the bottom. Some days you want to raise the spoon very briskly, while other days a slow steady lift works better. Once you’ve lifted the spoon, leave slack in the line and let it fall back to the bottom. Repeat this process all the way to the boat, making sure to leave slack in the line each time it drops for that key fluttering action. If the fish are suspended instead of on the bottom, follow this same process, except count the bait down to the desired depth instead of letting it fall all the way to the bottom on the initial cast. Bites on the spoon will feel like a very sharp thump and your line will often jump.
LARGEMOUTH BASS - The largemouth are up shallow in rocks or just inside the weedline while the smallies were on top of the deeper weed edges. Dropshotting is working well. Most fish were shallow in less than 5 ft of water. Some fish were caught on wacky rig stick baits, and other assorted soft plastics, with a few spinnerbait fish brought to the boat. Crankbaits & spinnerbaits produced well as did Gulp 3” minnow and grub in a black to natural color.
CATFISH - chunk bait produced fish up to 9 lbs this week.
REMINDER TO SPORTSMEN
Pursuant to the recently adopted state budget (Public Act 10-3):
��
MANY FISHING, HUNTING AND TRAPPING LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES HAVE BEEN DECREASED (effective 6:30 pm on April 14, 2010).
��
Among the other fees that were decreased are state park and forest fees, including parking fees, season passes and camping fees.
��
Fishing & hunting licenses and permits are available at www.ct.gov/dep
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 4, 5/13/2010
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the upper 40’s to low 50’s ° F. Unfortunately, the recent high winds have put a damper on the fishing scene.
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 remains consistent in most of the tidal rivers, harbors and coves (when the wind diminishes). Striper spots include 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), Norwalk Islands, and Stamford and Greenwich Harbors. There is a mixed bag of sizes from “dinks” (8 – 12 inches) to 28 inches and larger. Reports of stripers measuring in the 40+ inch range have been caught near the Derby Dam.
Millstone Point (Millstone Power Station discharge) remains the early season spot for BLUEFISH.
WINTER FLOUNDER fishing has picked up in the Pine Island area (Groton), Niantic River (including the bay) and the Connecticut River (east breakwater). Flounder measuring in the 14 to 16 inch range have been reported.
HICKORY SHAD should be showing up any day in the Niantic and Connecticut Rivers.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing season opens May 15th.
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. The guide contains all current marine fishing regulations and more.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford,
5/13/2010INLAND REPORT
TROUT
Rivers & streams - Trout fishing has been very good with reports from the West Branch Farmington River, Farmington River, Housatonic River, Willimantic River, Pequonock River, Pomperaug River, Natchaug River, Mount Hope River, Saugatuck River, Salmon River, Pootatuck River, Blackberry River, East Aspetuck River, Pomperaug River, Mill River TMA, Hammonasset River, Sandy Brook, Pattaconk Brook, Latimer Brook and Eightmile River (East Haddam/Lyme). The “Whopper” of the week is a rainbow trout that went 8.6 lbs and the “Big Stick” is a catch of 33 fish coming from the Salmon River. The recent rains and cool temperatures should create great conditions for the weekend.
Farmington River – Fishing and conditions have been good, with West Branch flows clear, moderate to low and quite fishable, currently 140 cfs at Riverton plus an additional 95 cfs from the Still River. Water temperatures are in the low 50’s °F.
Current hatches/patterns include Hendrickson (a.k.a red quills; #14-16), Blue Winged Olive (a.k.a. baetis or vagan; #16-20), Blue Quill (a.k.a. paralep; #1, Early Stonefly (#13-16), Quill Gordon (#14), Green Caddis & Brown/Tan Caddis (#16-1, Rusty Spinners (#16-20), Midges (#22-32), Pheasant Tails (#14-1 and Mahogany Duns (#16-1. The Hendrickson hatch has picked up some in the TMA and up through Riverton area (decent spinner fall in the TMA). Caddis (tan/green) are up to the Collinsville area, but not fully active in the TMA yet.
Housatonic River – Conditions are great for trout fishing. Flows are clear and moderate (actually somewhat lower than typical spring levels), about 690 CFS at Falls Village and 1,130 cfs at Gaylordsville. Morning water temperatures are back in the low 50’s °F.
Current hatches include Green Caddis, March Brown/Gray Fox (starting to show up), Brown/Tan Caddis and Midges and patterns include Caddis (#14-18, green, olive & tan), Henryville Special, Adams (#12-20) and March Brown (#10-12). Some Blue Wing Olives are on the water, but caddis are dominant. Streamers fished around 6:30 pm on sinking-tip line have been very effective on overcast days. Your go-to colors are white or yellow. For those nymphing low and slow is working very well.
Rivers and streams stocking update. Scheduled to be stocked this week are the Blackledge River (lower), Fenton River, Five Mile River, French River, Hammonasset River (including TMA), Hunts Brook, Indiantown Brook, Jeremy River, Latimer Brook, Moosup River TMA, Mount Hope River, Bigelow Brook, Natchaug River, Quinebaug River, Roaring Brook (Glastonbury), Salmon River (including TMA), Scantic River (both lower and upper sections), Shetucket River, Shunock Brook, Still River (Eastford) and Yantic River (including TMA) in eastern CT, and the Blackberry River, East Aspetuck River, Farmill River, West Branch Farmington River (except in the TMA), Farmington River (New Hartford to Farmington, including the 'lower" TMA), Leadmine Brook, Little River (Oxford), Mad River, Mill River (Hamden, including the TMA), Muddy River, Naugatuck River (Thomaston-Beacon Falls), Pequabuck River (Bristol), Pequonnock River (Trumbull-Bridgeport), Pond Brook, Pootatuck River (Newtown), Quinnipiac River, Sandy Brook and Still River (Colebrook) in western CT. Note that stocking schedules are subject to change.
Lakes & Ponds are fishing well for trout with reports from Crystal Lake (Ellington), Candlewood Lake, Highland Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake, East Twin Lake, Mount Tom Pond, Beach Pond, Long Pond, Lake Mashapaug, Mohawk Pond, Black Pond (Woodstock), Ball Pond, Rogers Lake, Billings Lake, Colebrook Reservoir, Lake Hayward, Gardner Lake, Lake Saltonstall and Lake McDonough. The “Big
Fish” of the week is a 10.8 lb brown trout from Lake Waramaug and the “Big Stick” of 11 fish goes to East Twin Lake.
Lakes and ponds stocking update. In eastern CT, Amos Lake, Angus Park Pond, Bigelow Pond, Gay City Park Pond, Green Falls Reservoir, Mashapaug Lake, Shenipsit Lake, Somersville Mill Pond, Uncas Lake, Wangumbaug Lake (Coventry Lake) and Wyassup Lake are all scheduled for stocking this week (5/10 – 5/14). In western CT, Ball Pond, Fountain Lake, Highland Lake, Hop Brook Lake, Nells Rock Reservoir, Pickett's Pond, Pootatuck River (Lower), Scoville Reservoir, Wononskopomuc Lake and the Mad River flood Control Impoundment are scheduled for stocking this week.
Trout Parks - The Day Pond, Mohegan Park Pond, Valley Falls Park Pond and Natchaug River Trout Parks in eastern CT, and the Kent Falls and Wharton Brook Pond Trout Parks will all be stocked this week.
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing Is generally fair to good, with the best reports from Amos Lake (including a 5.6 lb largemouth), Red Cedar Lake, Mashapaug Lake, Candlewood Lake (including a 6.7 lb bass), Pachaug Pond (including a 7-lb beauty), Bashan Lake and Batterson Park Pond, and fair reports from Hopeville Pond, Aspinook Pond, Lake Lillinonah, Gardner Lake, Rogers Lake, Wononskopomuc Lake, East Twin Lake, Lake Housatonic, Dooley Pond, Cedar Lake, Billings Lake and Highland Lake (including a 6.5 lb largemouth), but Mansfield Hollow Reservoir continues to challenge anglers. Additional places to try include Silver Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Beardsley Park Pond, Mono Pond, Halls Pond, Bishop Swamp Pond, Black Pond (Meriden), Beseck Lake, Wyassup Lake, Quonnipaug Lake, Dog Pond, Pickerel Lake, Kenosia Lake and Quaddick Reservoir. A 30 fish catch & release was the heavy catch day.
SMALLMOUTH BASS action reported from Candlewood Lake (very good), Lake Lillinonah (good, catches include several 4-lb smallies), Mashapaug Lake (good), Lake Housatonic (fair), Colebrook Reservoir, Bashan Lake, Gardner Lake (slow), Highland Lake (plenty of fish, but hard to hook) and Rainbow Reservoir.
WALLEYE are being reported from Lake Saltonstall. Some catches also at Squantz Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – STRIPED BASS are now throughout the river. A group of three anglers brought 170 fish to the boat, with a 40 incher being the big fish of the week. Keepers are now in the river all the way up to Enfield. Fish are responding to tube & worm, bait and soft plastics. CATFISH up to 9 lbs are responding very well to dead bait, chunking and sandworms. SHAD action reported in the mainstem, with many catches reported at the confluence of the Farmington River. CARP catches went way up this week with the big fish coming in at over 25lbs. One angler enjoyed an 8 fish day. Give these bulldogs a try.
NOTES & NOTICES:��
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.
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 4, 5/13/2010
TIPS & TRICKS4
WALLEYE - The most productive lure recently was a white Zoom Superfluke.
TROUT - Fishing minnows off a Dipsey diver produced many fish while trolling at 5-6 colors of lead line. Also, spoons, either Mooselooks in silver or a 4" flutter spoon in silver. Fishing a Flutter spoon; start by making a long cast and letting the spoon fall on slack line. Slack line is the key to flutter spoons, as it gives the bait its distinctive dying shad fluttering action. Once the bait hits bottom, reel up your slack, holding your rod at the 9 o’clock position. Raise your rod to the 12 o’clock or even 1 o’clock position, pulling the spoon way up off the bottom. Some days you want to raise the spoon very briskly, while other days a slow steady lift works better. Once you’ve lifted the spoon, leave slack in the line and let it fall back to the bottom. Repeat this process all the way to the boat, making sure to leave slack in the line each time it drops for that key fluttering action. If the fish are suspended instead of on the bottom, follow this same process, except count the bait down to the desired depth instead of letting it fall all the way to the bottom on the initial cast. Bites on the spoon will feel like a very sharp thump and your line will often jump.
LARGEMOUTH BASS - The largemouth are up shallow in rocks or just inside the weedline while the smallies were on top of the deeper weed edges. Dropshotting is working well. Most fish were shallow in less than 5 ft of water. Some fish were caught on wacky rig stick baits, and other assorted soft plastics, with a few spinnerbait fish brought to the boat. Crankbaits & spinnerbaits produced well as did Gulp 3” minnow and grub in a black to natural color.
CATFISH - chunk bait produced fish up to 9 lbs this week.
REMINDER TO SPORTSMEN
Pursuant to the recently adopted state budget (Public Act 10-3):
��
MANY FISHING, HUNTING AND TRAPPING LICENSE AND PERMIT FEES HAVE BEEN DECREASED (effective 6:30 pm on April 14, 2010).
��
Among the other fees that were decreased are state park and forest fees, including parking fees, season passes and camping fees.
��
Fishing & hunting licenses and permits are available at www.ct.gov/dep
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 4, 5/13/2010
MARINE FISHING REPORT
Surface water temperatures in Long Island Sound (LIS) remain in the upper 40’s to low 50’s ° F. Unfortunately, the recent high winds have put a damper on the fishing scene.
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 remains consistent in most of the tidal rivers, harbors and coves (when the wind diminishes). Striper spots include 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), Norwalk Islands, and Stamford and Greenwich Harbors. There is a mixed bag of sizes from “dinks” (8 – 12 inches) to 28 inches and larger. Reports of stripers measuring in the 40+ inch range have been caught near the Derby Dam.
Millstone Point (Millstone Power Station discharge) remains the early season spot for BLUEFISH.
WINTER FLOUNDER fishing has picked up in the Pine Island area (Groton), Niantic River (including the bay) and the Connecticut River (east breakwater). Flounder measuring in the 14 to 16 inch range have been reported.
HICKORY SHAD should be showing up any day in the Niantic and Connecticut Rivers.
SUMMER FLOUNDER (fluke) fishing season opens May 15th.
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. The guide contains all current marine fishing regulations and more.
DEP WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford,