CT DEP FISHING REPORT NUMBER 19
8/25/2010
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair, with reports from Lake Saltonstall, Candlewood Lake, Lake Waramaug (a 6-lb bass among the catches), Winchester Lake,Bantam Lake (catches include a 20-inch plus bass), Crystal Lake (Ellington), Long Pond (recent catches do include an 8.28 lb largemouth), Pachaug Pond, Farmington River (Simsbury), Glasgo Pond, Powers Lake, West Hill Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc and Lake Zoar. Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Stillwater Pond were reported to be slow last week. Other areas reporting some bass action include Cedar Lake, Dog Pond, Bishop Pond, Billings Lake, Wyassup Lake, Amos Lake, Hopeville Pond, Moosup Pond and Park Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is good at Candlewood Lake and very good in the upper Housatonic River. Some catches also reported from Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Lake Zoar, Bantam Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Squantz Pond and the Willimantic River.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond and Mashapaug Lake.
Good CHAIN PICKEREL action reported from Lake Waramaug (including a 22-incher) and Wononskopomuc Lake.
SUNFISH have been providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Local ponds are usually good sunnie locations, for larger areas try Winchester Lake, East & West Twin Lake, Tyler Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden), Beseck Lake, Rogers Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), Wood Creek Pond, Winchester Lake, Park Pond, Quinebaug Lake, Bishop Pond and Batterson Park Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – Flows are back up to more typical late August levels. Night fishing for CATFISH (7 lb and up fish) is working well, with good action on cut bait (chunking), good spots to find fish include near brush piles adjacent to deeper holes and on the outside of bends. Try live lining a sunfish for some good action. CARP are being caught and released on barbless hooks in good numbers with home-made “Boilies” being the preferred bait. NORTHERN PIKE are being caught again. Coves are best, and give the Salmon River area a try. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has been tough for many anglers, try during the outgoing and slack tides. SMALLMOUTH BASS action (including several nice 20 inch plus fish) reported in the upper river (upstream of Hartford). Try the confluence with the Farmington River.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - The recent cool rains improved conditions for trout fishing in many areas, with increased flows and moderated water temperatures. As summer (and many summer hatches) is winding down, fly anglers should definitely be including terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal. Good reports for trout from the West Branch and mainstem Farmington Rivers.
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are still closed to fishing. These areas will reopen on September 1 (next Wednesday). There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Page 1 of 4
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 19, 8/25/2010
Farmington River – Trout fishing continues to be good on the river. Flows are clear and remain low, currently 63 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River providing another 38 cfs below Riverton. As Colebrook Reservoir remains low (the West Branch watershed did not receive as much precipitation as other areas in southern New England) and another extended period of dry weather is currently forecast, anglers can expect flows to remain low.
Hatches/patterns include the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-26, morning; spinner mainly), Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning to early afternoon), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening in the Riverton area), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#20-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #16-22, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #12-18, evenings), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).
Housatonic River – The cool weather and rains earlier this week have improved conditions on the Housatonic River. Morning water temperatures have moderated, currently in the mid 60’s °F (and rising some during the day) and flows are clear and moderate, currently 270 cfs at Falls Village and 480 cfs at Gaylordsville. With warmer temperatures and dry weather currently forecast for the next week, anglers should expect low flows and warmer water temperatures to return.
Hatches/patterns include the Leadwing Coachman (#10-12, main evening hatch), White Wulff (#10-12), Light Cahill (#12-16, evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-16, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains). Streamer (morning & evening) patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds- Fair to good late summer trout action reported from Crystal Lake (Ellington), Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, East Twin Lake and Lake McDonough.
8/25/2010
INLAND REPORT
LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing is generally fair, with reports from Lake Saltonstall, Candlewood Lake, Lake Waramaug (a 6-lb bass among the catches), Winchester Lake,Bantam Lake (catches include a 20-inch plus bass), Crystal Lake (Ellington), Long Pond (recent catches do include an 8.28 lb largemouth), Pachaug Pond, Farmington River (Simsbury), Glasgo Pond, Powers Lake, West Hill Pond, Lake Wononskopomuc and Lake Zoar. Mansfield Hollow Reservoir and Stillwater Pond were reported to be slow last week. Other areas reporting some bass action include Cedar Lake, Dog Pond, Bishop Pond, Billings Lake, Wyassup Lake, Amos Lake, Hopeville Pond, Moosup Pond and Park Pond.
SMALLMOUTH BASS fishing is good at Candlewood Lake and very good in the upper Housatonic River. Some catches also reported from Lake McDonough, Highland Lake, Lake Zoar, Bantam Lake, Rainbow Reservoir, Squantz Pond and the Willimantic River.
NORTHERN PIKE fishing is reported to be good at Bantam Lake, Lake Lillinonah and Winchester Lake.
WALLEYE catches reported from Lake Saltonstall, Squantz Pond and Mashapaug Lake.
Good CHAIN PICKEREL action reported from Lake Waramaug (including a 22-incher) and Wononskopomuc Lake.
SUNFISH have been providing excellent summer time action throughout the state. Use worms, grubs, jigs or small poppers for them. Local ponds are usually good sunnie locations, for larger areas try Winchester Lake, East & West Twin Lake, Tyler Lake, Silver Lake (Meriden), Beseck Lake, Rogers Lake, Black Pond (Woodstock), Wood Creek Pond, Winchester Lake, Park Pond, Quinebaug Lake, Bishop Pond and Batterson Park Pond.
CONNECTICUT RIVER – Flows are back up to more typical late August levels. Night fishing for CATFISH (7 lb and up fish) is working well, with good action on cut bait (chunking), good spots to find fish include near brush piles adjacent to deeper holes and on the outside of bends. Try live lining a sunfish for some good action. CARP are being caught and released on barbless hooks in good numbers with home-made “Boilies” being the preferred bait. NORTHERN PIKE are being caught again. Coves are best, and give the Salmon River area a try. LARGEMOUTH BASS fishing has been tough for many anglers, try during the outgoing and slack tides. SMALLMOUTH BASS action (including several nice 20 inch plus fish) reported in the upper river (upstream of Hartford). Try the confluence with the Farmington River.
TROUT
Rivers & streams - The recent cool rains improved conditions for trout fishing in many areas, with increased flows and moderated water temperatures. As summer (and many summer hatches) is winding down, fly anglers should definitely be including terrestrial fly patterns in their arsenal. Good reports for trout from the West Branch and mainstem Farmington Rivers.
Anglers are reminded that the thermal refuge areas on the Housatonic, Naugatuck and Shetucket Rivers are still closed to fishing. These areas will reopen on September 1 (next Wednesday). There is no fishing within 100 feet of the mouths of posted tributaries to these rivers.
Page 1 of 4
2010 DEP Fishing Report Number 19, 8/25/2010
Farmington River – Trout fishing continues to be good on the river. Flows are clear and remain low, currently 63 cfs at Riverton, with the Still River providing another 38 cfs below Riverton. As Colebrook Reservoir remains low (the West Branch watershed did not receive as much precipitation as other areas in southern New England) and another extended period of dry weather is currently forecast, anglers can expect flows to remain low.
Hatches/patterns include the Trico (Trycorythodes stygiatus, #22-26, morning; spinner mainly), Ephemerella needhami (#22-26, early morning to early afternoon), Leadwing Coachman (Isonychia bicolor, #10-12, fast water, afternoon/evening in the Riverton area), Blue Wing Olives (Drunella sps. & Baetis sps.;#20-24, mid-late afternoon), Caddis (tan #16-22, all day; green #22-26, evening; summer pupa #18-20 morning), Midges (#22-32, morning), Cahills/Summer (Stenonema ithaca, #12-18, evenings), Black Ants (#14-20, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#16-18, mid day), Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains), Stone Hopper (#8-12, mid day) and Golden Drake (Anthopotamus distinctus, #10-14, late evening).
Housatonic River – The cool weather and rains earlier this week have improved conditions on the Housatonic River. Morning water temperatures have moderated, currently in the mid 60’s °F (and rising some during the day) and flows are clear and moderate, currently 270 cfs at Falls Village and 480 cfs at Gaylordsville. With warmer temperatures and dry weather currently forecast for the next week, anglers should expect low flows and warmer water temperatures to return.
Hatches/patterns include the Leadwing Coachman (#10-12, main evening hatch), White Wulff (#10-12), Light Cahill (#12-16, evening), and Black caddis (#14-20, early morning & evening). Try Black/Cinnamon Ants (#14-18, mid day in fast water), Black Beetles (#14-16, mid day), Stone Hopper (#8-10, mid day) and Flying Ants (#18-22, mid day, when windy/humid, day after rains). Streamer (morning & evening) patterns to try include White Wooly Buggers, Muddlers, Micky Finn and Grey or Black Ghosts (#4-10).
Lakes & Ponds- Fair to good late summer trout action reported from Crystal Lake (Ellington), Beach Pond, West Hill Pond, East Twin Lake and Lake McDonough.