ICE FISHING REPORT NUMBER 5 2/3/2011
SAFETY REMINDER: DEP reminds winter anglers that SAFETY COMES FIRST! Be aware that ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to a number of environmental factors including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please check the ice carefully before venturing out and check repeatedly to make sure that ice thickness is sufficient. Local bait and tackle shops are often excellent resources for the most current information on ice conditions. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return.
SHARE THE EXPERIENCE
TTTa
This winter has been great for ice formation, so anglers are finding generally abundant ice cover. However, with a lot of deep snow to cross to get to their favorite fishing hole, anglers do have to work to get to their fish this year. Snowshoes or even cross country skis have been useful. The many recent snows have also impacted access to some lakes and ponds throughout the state, with a number of access and parking areas currently buried in several feet of snow & ice and currently difficult to access. kkke sooomeooonnne fffishhhinnnggg!
TROUT – For trout try Highland Lake (4 lb brown among the catches), East Twin Lake (target 10-18 feet over 25-40 feet of water), Mt. Tom Pond, West Hill Pond (18 trout to 3 lbs for one group), Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Beach Pond (6 trout to 18 inches for one group, target 5 feet below the ice).
NORTHERN PIKE – Fishing for these monsters continues to be excellent. Best reports are from Pachaug Pond (4 fish up to 36 inches in length), Beseck Lake, Quaddick Reservoir (4 fish for one angler), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (try the north end), Bantam Lake (28” from the south end) and the coves along the Connecticut River.
WALLEYE – Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake and Gardner Lake all produced some walleye this past week.
ATLANTIC SALMON – No catches were reported this week.
YELLOW PERCH – Pre-spawned jumbos are being caught as perch are getting ready for the spring spawn. These tasty fish are being caught at Bantam Lake (50 fish for two anglers), Coventry Lake (a 300 person CARE Derby iced many fish), Highland Lake, Wethersfield Cove, West Twin Lake (12 fish for one angler), Candlewood Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Kenosia Lake, Roseland Lake, West Side Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond (35 fish for one group), Beach Pond, Long Pond (Salisbury), and Lake Williams.
CHAIN PICKEREL – Excellent pickerel fishing reported at Highland Lake, West Hill Pond, Gardner Lake, Pachaug Pond (24 inch pickerel among the catches) and Lake Williams (20 inch pickerel).
LARGEMOUTH/SMALLMOUTH BASS – Bass are being found at Beseck Lake, Coventry Lake, Highland Lake (catches include a 4.25 lb largemouth), West Twin Lake, Silver Lake, Lake Wintergreen, Quaddick Reservoir, Kenosia Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond, Beach Pond and Lake Williams.
2011 DEP Ice Fishing Report Number 5, 2/3/2011
PANFISH - Early mornings are the best for these winter favorites, jigging with corn or grubs on your favorite lure while moving from place to place is the way to go for these delicious fish. Locations to try include Beseck Lake, Bantam Lake, Coventry Lake, Highland Lake (20 fish, including a 15” Black Crappie), West Twin Lake, Lake Wintergreen, Quaddick Reservoir, Kenosia Lake, Roseland Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond and Long Pond (Salisbury).
TIPS & TRICKS – Winter PANFISH (by Ted Pilgrim)
��
to trigger these fish-especially suspended crappies- keep the bait a foot or more above the top level of the school and give it a few big rod rips.
��
rip the jig really hard-move it a foot to a foot-and-a-half at a time. Or, hold the jig in place, then give it one big rip, then let it flutter back, settling in place well above their eyeballs.
��
Let fish chase and hunt your bait.
��
It's not always better to make it easy for panfish to grab your offering.
��
The key to getting the bigger ones is to bite is to do some radical rip jigging maneuvers-even with tiny ice jigs.
��
When we're on super fussy bluegills, a waxworm tipped on a tiny jighead is still hard to beat.
��
With crappies, try plastics.
��
Their large jaws dictate that they feed differently than tiny mouthed bluegills.
��
While bluegills often nip and peck, crappies engulf the entire package.
��
Try a black jighead with a red tail.
��
When fish are just mouthing the jighead and spitting it out, switch things up, and match jig and plastic colors into one seamless package.
��
Solid jig-plastic combos like black, purple and brown remain great yet overlooked choices.
��
Chartreuse bead.
��
Instead of using a bead on a line try using it on the hook.
��
Use a rubber beads so you can slip it on the hook. Vary your rigs
BASIC PAN-FRIED FISH
by
GRANDMA ‘G’
(courtesy of www.cooks.com)
INGREDIENTS
2 lb fresh fish fillets, steaks or pan dressed whole fish
Salt and pepper
Garlic and onion powder
Pinch cayenne
Lemon pepper (optional)
1 egg
1 tbsp. milk or water
1 cup dry bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, cornmeal or flour
TUCKER®
GOES FISHING
A Fishing Derby at Coventry Lake? OMG That means lots of people. We’re going fishing! Sweet. I can’t wait. Maybe I’ll get to see my BFF Emma. We can see kids catch some fish. We’re going to catch some panfish. Why do they call them panfish? They go in the pan and you eat them. LOL I get it. There should be “No Child Left Inside” when you can have fun like this.
Put something on the ice and cook it with Grandma ‘G’s’ instructions. For Real! Take a child fishing. Later ‘T’
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.
DEP ICE FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep
SAFETY REMINDER: DEP reminds winter anglers that SAFETY COMES FIRST! Be aware that ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to a number of environmental factors including in-lake water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the type and amounts of recent precipitation. Please check the ice carefully before venturing out and check repeatedly to make sure that ice thickness is sufficient. Local bait and tackle shops are often excellent resources for the most current information on ice conditions. Always let someone know where you are going and when you’ll return.
SHARE THE EXPERIENCE
TTTa
This winter has been great for ice formation, so anglers are finding generally abundant ice cover. However, with a lot of deep snow to cross to get to their favorite fishing hole, anglers do have to work to get to their fish this year. Snowshoes or even cross country skis have been useful. The many recent snows have also impacted access to some lakes and ponds throughout the state, with a number of access and parking areas currently buried in several feet of snow & ice and currently difficult to access. kkke sooomeooonnne fffishhhinnnggg!
TROUT – For trout try Highland Lake (4 lb brown among the catches), East Twin Lake (target 10-18 feet over 25-40 feet of water), Mt. Tom Pond, West Hill Pond (18 trout to 3 lbs for one group), Crystal Lake (Ellington) and Beach Pond (6 trout to 18 inches for one group, target 5 feet below the ice).
NORTHERN PIKE – Fishing for these monsters continues to be excellent. Best reports are from Pachaug Pond (4 fish up to 36 inches in length), Beseck Lake, Quaddick Reservoir (4 fish for one angler), Mansfield Hollow Reservoir (try the north end), Bantam Lake (28” from the south end) and the coves along the Connecticut River.
WALLEYE – Mashapaug Lake, Coventry Lake and Gardner Lake all produced some walleye this past week.
ATLANTIC SALMON – No catches were reported this week.
YELLOW PERCH – Pre-spawned jumbos are being caught as perch are getting ready for the spring spawn. These tasty fish are being caught at Bantam Lake (50 fish for two anglers), Coventry Lake (a 300 person CARE Derby iced many fish), Highland Lake, Wethersfield Cove, West Twin Lake (12 fish for one angler), Candlewood Lake, Quaddick Reservoir, Kenosia Lake, Roseland Lake, West Side Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond (35 fish for one group), Beach Pond, Long Pond (Salisbury), and Lake Williams.
CHAIN PICKEREL – Excellent pickerel fishing reported at Highland Lake, West Hill Pond, Gardner Lake, Pachaug Pond (24 inch pickerel among the catches) and Lake Williams (20 inch pickerel).
LARGEMOUTH/SMALLMOUTH BASS – Bass are being found at Beseck Lake, Coventry Lake, Highland Lake (catches include a 4.25 lb largemouth), West Twin Lake, Silver Lake, Lake Wintergreen, Quaddick Reservoir, Kenosia Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond, Beach Pond and Lake Williams.
2011 DEP Ice Fishing Report Number 5, 2/3/2011
PANFISH - Early mornings are the best for these winter favorites, jigging with corn or grubs on your favorite lure while moving from place to place is the way to go for these delicious fish. Locations to try include Beseck Lake, Bantam Lake, Coventry Lake, Highland Lake (20 fish, including a 15” Black Crappie), West Twin Lake, Lake Wintergreen, Quaddick Reservoir, Kenosia Lake, Roseland Lake, Lake Zoar, Pachaug Pond and Long Pond (Salisbury).
TIPS & TRICKS – Winter PANFISH (by Ted Pilgrim)
��
to trigger these fish-especially suspended crappies- keep the bait a foot or more above the top level of the school and give it a few big rod rips.
��
rip the jig really hard-move it a foot to a foot-and-a-half at a time. Or, hold the jig in place, then give it one big rip, then let it flutter back, settling in place well above their eyeballs.
��
Let fish chase and hunt your bait.
��
It's not always better to make it easy for panfish to grab your offering.
��
The key to getting the bigger ones is to bite is to do some radical rip jigging maneuvers-even with tiny ice jigs.
��
When we're on super fussy bluegills, a waxworm tipped on a tiny jighead is still hard to beat.
��
With crappies, try plastics.
��
Their large jaws dictate that they feed differently than tiny mouthed bluegills.
��
While bluegills often nip and peck, crappies engulf the entire package.
��
Try a black jighead with a red tail.
��
When fish are just mouthing the jighead and spitting it out, switch things up, and match jig and plastic colors into one seamless package.
��
Solid jig-plastic combos like black, purple and brown remain great yet overlooked choices.
��
Chartreuse bead.
��
Instead of using a bead on a line try using it on the hook.
��
Use a rubber beads so you can slip it on the hook. Vary your rigs
BASIC PAN-FRIED FISH
by
GRANDMA ‘G’
(courtesy of www.cooks.com)
INGREDIENTS
2 lb fresh fish fillets, steaks or pan dressed whole fish
Salt and pepper
Garlic and onion powder
Pinch cayenne
Lemon pepper (optional)
1 egg
1 tbsp. milk or water
1 cup dry bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, cornmeal or flour
TUCKER®
GOES FISHING
A Fishing Derby at Coventry Lake? OMG That means lots of people. We’re going fishing! Sweet. I can’t wait. Maybe I’ll get to see my BFF Emma. We can see kids catch some fish. We’re going to catch some panfish. Why do they call them panfish? They go in the pan and you eat them. LOL I get it. There should be “No Child Left Inside” when you can have fun like this.
Put something on the ice and cook it with Grandma ‘G’s’ instructions. For Real! Take a child fishing. Later ‘T’
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.
DEP ICE FISHING REPORT
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106
www.ct.gov/dep